I am truly at a lost on what words to say because there have a few instances in my life that is indeed common with this subject (verbal abuse, lack of confidence, sexual abuse) but I feel that deep down I was taught to learn forgiveness. It is something that many in today’s society lack and it is something that is extremely hard to do.

However, in order for us to move forwrad, it is something that we all have to try. But make no mistake, it is NO excuse for this sort of behavior and it is something that I wish to not EVER partake in.

By far and without a doubt, an extremely moving article that i will pass along to my friends and family members. I sincerely thank you for contributing this.

I can say in almost 20 years of marriage I have NEVER hit my wife. She has angered me to rage a couple times, but none were, or ever will be acceptable reason to strike her. We rarely EVER fight, and honestly, we seldom argue. Some say that kind of relationship doesn’t exist, but I’m here to say it does. So If your a female who is trying to justify your boyfriend, fiance, or husband (or any other partner) hitting you, then you need to remind yourself that love doesn’t include physical violence. PERIOD! If your relationship includes violence, your in the wrong relationship!!! You need to get out ASAP, and find one FAR AWAY from the one your in that doesn’t include violence.

Oh and Norse, now I have to google Eric Hoffer, cuz that quote hits home in so many ways.

Honestly, if you tube had existed, who knows where it would have went. I forget sometimes about crazy people. Although they totally deserved what they got, they didn’t deserve some crazy ending them. Although, one of them did end up dying, because he was stupid. Moron decided to wo swimming in a culvert drain thing, in a flood, duh.

— Eric Hoffer

And maybe it’s time to change that.

We say we wanna stop abuse and harassment on Home. That’s fine and dandy, but simply reporting it won’t change anything. We need to start a grassroots movement, seeking to change the mindsets and beliefs of all Home users. The only way to fight City Hall is to rally all the people together (or summon Godzilla, but I don’t have the resources to pull that together)

Next time you see this abuse happen? Of course report it, but send a message or a couple of comforting words to the abused party. Be a friend. Lend them a shoulder or an open ear. Stand up to the abuser and tell them to back off. Write a strongly worded (yet polite and in TOS) to the abuser saying it won’t be tolerated.

Also, while you’re at it, write a strongly worded letter to Sony saying you’d like them to do far more considering Home abuse. Tell your friends about how abuse sucks and you don’t want anything to do with it. Have a Home party dedicated to informing others about this type of behavior and promoting a community aspect.

The fact is that we are a community, whether you want to call it that or not, and we must become a people of “WE”, not “ME”. We have to start looking our for each other. We may not like each other and we may not solve all of our problems, but let’s face it; We’re all in this hell-hole we call “Life” together. Let’s try to make it as joyus and happy as possible.

Im personally thinking these 2 stats are way off. I know how hard it is to say you got your rear end beat in by a guy, esp when you are in high school. More so if you have a dad like mine that you dont want to see in jail forever. My dad and I have problems but if I had told him what a couple of boyfriends did to me, yeah, hed be rotting in prison.

Being that I AM my father’s daughter, I arranged a get together at a motel with the offenders (who were more than willing to show up) and “took care of the issue”. But not all girls have ways and means to do that.
On a side note I think Terra will appreciate, Tori Amos was blaring when I took care of my *problem*

But it’s not just the male user base (although their overall numbers are in the majority) that are displaying aggressive or hostile behavior. Studies show that such behavior is on the rise in girls and young women, too (this age group fits right in to the penultimate stat in the article of having grown up in households where there was domestic violence).

And Nos is right; just because they have experienced violence in their lives growing up doesn’t excuse them from choosing to perpetuate the cycle in Home. But if no one steps in and shows them that there is a much better, healthier alternative, what choices do they have? The so-called “fams” aren’t the answer either, as some are just as culpable of instigating inappropriate behavior as the ones saying they defend against it.

If the discussion Nos referred to in the Sony forums with regards to harassment and tools has been buried, then another needs to be made. And another, and another, until Sony gets their proverbial thumb out and realize that this is really what their Home user base wants. Not another hairstyle. Not another outfit. Not another personal or public space. Not in a box. Not with a fox. (*cough* /Seuss Moment) We want our improved anti-harassment tools and we want them now.