'When did callous indifference become fashionable?'

It's not. Righteous grand standing, now that's fashionable! Callous indifference is the necessary counter-culture balancing out the ubiquitous 'think of the children!' shrieks.

I'm constantly bemused by older people thinking just because the internet is used as a tool for something, that something becomes suddenly new and exciting.

Kids pass notes around the bus saying Severin smells, and nobody cares. But if they post it on 'that exciting new thing called twitter, that all the kids are using' it suddenly becomes 'the evil internet' and 'we must protect our kids from it'.

Hey, everybody. The internet. Not new! Not exciting! Part of life now, like paper! Get over it! There's bullys, always has been always will be. The internet doesn't make it any more interesting.

BTW: Thanks Severin, nobody previously knew what a bully is. I've got a new idea, Fractelle, can you research socks for us? How to put them on and stuff, maybe different colours and the history of the use of socks.

'lack of personal concern and effort'.

Hahaha. I'm sure the bullys read OLO and will stop. Or the government will base policy on the comments here, or on the screeching of MTR.

I hereby declare I have no intention of displaying 'personal concern and effort' about bullying on OLO. I just don't need to win the 'I'm a good citizen and I'm more empathetic than you' contest some others are running for.

'clichéd discussion-killer, 'deal with it'. '

As opposed to 'think of the children'? Tomatoes, tomatoes...

BTW: I'm liking the Nazi stuff. These kids are hard core huh. I think we should ban the internet. If we could save just one child, it would be worth it.

We are unique (if only you were)

I'm happy to discuss experiences, as long as the discussion involves actually reading arguments and presenting counter-arguments, not just vague, unsubstantiated claims about other people.

I believe that there is strong pressure on blokes not to sleep around. This can be anything from name-calling, rumors and physical violence to other women (quite understandibly) choosing not to have anything to do with these blokes. I have also seen the hurt that these blokes have caused to female friends. Like Pynchme, I believe that social pressure is alright (to a point) to convince these blokes to think of others.

Name calling towards (female) sluts is simply another example of pressuring people to think of the greater good.

So, benk - what is the colloquial term for a promiscuous man that is the equivalent of "slut"? Also, can you please point us to a Facebook page that is dedicated to shaming them?

Sorry, CJ, its probably better if I don't use that sort of language here and I'm not about to spend my valuable time trawling Facebook. Suffice to say, you have your work cut out convincing me that sleazy blokes walk away from their victims without facing any criticism. No-one craps on about how liberated and independent these creeps are.

"Kids pass notes around the bus saying Severin smells, and nobody cares. But if they post it on 'that exciting new thing called twitter, that all the kids are using' it suddenly becomes 'the evil internet' and 'we must protect our kids from it'. "

What makes you think nobody cares? Houlley bullying has been around for a while it is not a modern concept and there has been a great deal of attention paid to anti-bullying practices in schools.

The Internet has just allowed a wider audience and greater humiliation for those who are listed on sites like this. It is a much wider medium for harassment and bullying that is not easily managed such as a round table discussion with teachers, principals, parents and kids; or suspension in cases of overt bullying where there is no remorse.

The internet is here but if we don't recognise that advancements in technology create new and complex problems in the information age we ignore some of the negatives of those advancements.

A kid handing around a note on a bus saying X smells will no doubt be dealth with, a kid doing the same on the internet according to you can be let run riot as he/she feels free.

Not the same at all.

benk: << Sorry, CJ, its probably better if I don't use that sort of language here >>

Yet you seem quite comfortable using the word 'slut'.

QED.