As reputations die – for dVerse

· by · in dVerse, poetry, sonnet. ·


as conversations turns to poison snakes
and dagger whispers cutting piece by piece
when claws of slander ripping hearts in ache
are hateful words ‘n acceptable caprice?


as reputations die with single tweets
repeatedly when updates fly around
you cannot hide behind you mama’s sheets
as lies and rumours spread to bring you down


when suicides originate on internet
becoming youtube memes instantly
conforming everything that’s different
as bullies still escape their penalties


so please stand up, defend the innocence
and promise me your steadfast vigilance

Jealousy. From the series The Green Room by Edward Munch

Jealousy. From the series The Green Room by Edward Munch


Today it’s finally Open Link Night again at dVerse. I will link up this little piece. Doors open at 3PM EST. See you there.
—
January 7, 2014

74 responses to “As reputations die – for dVerse”

  1. A wonderful commentary on how far we haven’t progressed in treating modern communication with the respect that it deserves and demands…..
    Happy New Year to you, Bjorn – and hurrah for the return of Open Link night!

  2. amen. the net is full of bullies…i have met quite a few in my journey online…its a microcosm of our world…we cant expect it to be much different…and sadly it does push some that are bullied to make fateful decisions…sad…and of course the bullies feel little remorse…..

  3. There are bullies in the internet and sadly if we don’t watch for it, we can be dragged down with the mess ~ Teens and children killing themselves over bullies are the saddest things to read about ~ Lovely sonnet Bjorn ~

  4. Another masterful poetic message delivered in classic form, brother. Often wonder about that aspect of human nature that allows for bullying; something deep-seated in terms of needs, insecurity needing bolstering perhaps; nice job.

  5. ugh…bullying is terrible…and with the fast spreading over the internet it has really increased to a new sad dimension…def. it’s good to keep the eyes open and defend those that are being attacked… great pic as well.. i love munch..not as much as chagall but yep…smiles

  6. Bjorn, you have written a cautionary tale here. Frightening really when the negative forces have their way. Social media really can be a double-edged sword. I do fear especially for the young and vulnerable. Well expressed thoughts in sonnet form, Bjorn.

  7. Happy New years my friend.

    I love this piece a lot! It tell us how the majority of internet users haven’t treated social media as a tool. They rather treated as a vessel without any memory whatsoever.

    Beautifully written.

    I am back! and ready to post again. Speaking of posting…I just posted a new blog poem. Check it out. it will blow you away. 🙂

  8. Unfortunately social media have not turned bullies and idiots into better people. The problem is that the Internet increases speed, viewers and ultimately harm. Very sensitive modern day sonnet, Björn!

  12. yes, internet bullying is horrid… so many have made youtube videos, sent out tweets or facebook status updates as their last goodbye to the world… it breaks my heart. when people are behind a keyboard, they show their true colors/pure hatred… I think these days tell us words certainly do hurt….

  16. Wow Bjorn. You have said a mouthful and how important your words are. I used to write upon a site. Man a troupe of people came after me. It was UNBELIEVABLE. I stood my ground but was truly traumatized. These are folk who really believe in what they are doing and continue to do so. They get a sense of satisfaction from what they do. It is pure ugliness.

  18. Bullying has always been, always will be – and today, word spreads so quickly, the damage is often done so quickly, that things become so distorted in the victims mind. Poison indeed. I have tried to teach my children to have self esteem, to be not followers – so far so good. They speak out, stand up for others/themselves – but so many sweet children don’t have the support they need. Sigh.

  19. A sad commentary on the world we live in today… Hopefully at some point our hearts will catch up with technology… There is power behind your words.

  23. Excellent capture of a very real problem in this day and age. Be ever vigilant of the “bullies.” And realize that whatever they say is absolutely a reflection of their own insecurities, instabilities, and issues.

  25. The internet has so much promise and potential; it’s such a shame that it has quickly become yet another medium by which to express the worst of human nature.

  27. I guess there are bullies everywhere. Good that you expose this with your poem.
    Hope your holidays were good. Nice to see you again.

  28. It is an interesting question you bring up. I will not condemn hateful words as a response to bullying. But I believe the bullied one will know how to respond if he is empowered, putting him on top. Hateful words, as response, puts him not on top.

    SUPPORT

    The innocence,
    itself defence,
    needs only this:
    To know it is.

  29. Yes, there is so much scope for things to go horribly wrong online. Almost as though rules don’t apply because people are invisible. It’s a thought-provoking piece, Bjorn, and you’ve chosen an interesting form to house it. Good to be back on the trail..

  31. Well said! Great message…great poem. I have no patience with bullies and I hate that our kids are having to deal with it in the cyberworld as well as the real world. Thank you for this poem!

  37. People have different perspectives (and may graciously agree to disagree) but bullying is NOT excusable (cyber or otherwise)! Thanks for stimulating discussion and vigilance.

  38. you’ve captured it
    the need for caution
    in such a world as this
    tweets and status updates, sound bytes

  39. I just read a piece in the NYTimes about the need to take a stand against bullies and trolls rather than ignore them in hopes they’ll go away. And I agree… we must stay vigilant. Timely, and well-penned.

  45. great message indeed and it does not just affect the young…cruelty extends to all ages and stations in life…let us guard the inner peace of all…bkm

  46. ..hit someone in our family this year and that person is still struggling…oh, the promises of a young mind and heart and spirit trampled on by persons with nothing to offer …the insecurity is in the perpetrators..the innocent or unaware is simply not innocent or unaware anymore..as always, I love the form 😉

  48. I am glad you said you love feed back because you are getting a lot for this poem from me:)

    Firstly, excellent execution of the sonnet form and choice of relevant subject.

    Secondly
    You have addressed a very important issue and I am sure some of us are familiar with what you are talking about. You are addressing the ugly part of the human condition which, with the internet is more evident and real because before the internet you could have an exclusive group which you moved in and your parents and way of life kept you from being exposed too much to the dross element but now being an internet user you are exposed to everything.

    .I think particularly for a young person it can be devastating and even fatal to suffer harassment on line and I can only think it will get worse. Having said this I thing the internet is a marvellous tool for accessing information instantly and if you survive character assassination and attacks which can extend to your immediate family ( and this mind you being only on poetry sites) you will gain true freedom because you genuinely do not give a rat’s arse what anyone says or thinks about you at all. Of course it takes a while to get to this stage. Also I would advise controversial outspoken types, who make enemies quickly, never to mention or give details of family even in poetry because it is easier to cope with attacks on yourself but not on family … the dross know this and will use family or other as ammunition to bring you down. Scary isn’t it…fortunately I was born with a heightened sense of the ridiculous!

  50. Too darned right!!! I was so glad to see justice done yesterday in that court case against 2 tweeters who sent hate messages.

  51. Ah, so well done, Bjorn! An important message…and love the very apt artwork along with it. Thank you for sharing!

  53. A well done piece. I once received a curse on my blog from a troll (years ago.. different blog to the one I have now) so I can understand completely how vulnerable people can be, particularly youngsters. Open speedy communications are a step forward in interaction but unfortunately available to the gutter mentality. Beautifully gruesome image 🙂

  54. often, I get indulge in your poems. you give such some fantastic imagery and pictures in your writtens. thanks for sharing this.

  56. Absolutely! Weighs heavy on the heart to know that something as silly as a tweet can ruin someone’s reputation. Weighs even heavier that people can be bullied into depression and suicide, because the bullies never let up!

  59. I always love the contrast of a good sonnet on a very modern topic. And yeah, I’ve been reduced to tears by a faceless bully more than once, but I fear more for our children growing up with less distinction between real and online, so bullies may hurt more. Well crafted.

  61. In the (HA!) old days, a bully has to hit or hurt you, in face-to-face attack of words, slurs, fists or swords. Long even before Cain, bullies existed, I guess.

    The world now faces a new type of bullying…dangerous in its scope and lacking of timely defensive response. This is one of those situations I (shanefully) don’t think much about until it happens to a friend…or ME!

    Thanks for the reminder/call to “stand up” and be counted, Bjorn…especially in such forceful poetic phrase.

  62. Could we just bring back the good old days – no mobiles, no social media, no TV – what a different world we would become again. An important message and well written.

  63. The internet’s not a nice place for soft hearts..that’s for sure..
    It’s the hardest ones with the hardest heads..that seem to get ahead…

    Thank GOD for the power button..as although my he ART may be tough..it’s never easy for some to survive..without help from others who WILL as you SAY stand UP and take notice of abuse…
    And truly do something..
    To makE IT STOP…

    Those are the bright days..my friend..
    The darker ones..are still aflight…
    Instead of Light…
    But hope takes us TRULY aHEAD!!
    in the LIGHT OF TRUE ACCEPTANCE..AS ALL OTHERS..
    AS US..WHOEVER us might be…as ONE!

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