anti-bullying day

[nature boy]

anyone wear pink for anti-bullying day? i didn't because i don't own anything pink and i also won't see anyone while i sit in my office waiting for winnie to go into labour.

anyway, a bunch of metro vancouver schools put together this "flashmob" video (i'm starting to think that the definition of "flashmob" is becoming more and more undefined with overt misuse). this is the video:



not the greatest choreography, videography, editing, and even execution, but the intent is there and hey, they're a bunch of kids. the funny thing is that the group we've talked about before, the burnaby parents' voice, are again up in arms:
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/BritishColumb ... ce_120228/

i seriously don't get what's wrong with people.

[geForce]

The sad thing is, despite all this awareness, bullying is becoming an increasingly bigger problem.

Awareness is good, don't get me wrong, but I think more is needed.

[Duncan]

[geForce]

Regarding the Gaga thing...

Despite her shock and awe style of self-promoting, I think she has probably faced a lot of bullying in her day. Doesn't matter if you're pro-gay or anti-gay, bullying is bullying and it isn't acceptable.

[Duncan]

i'm not saying it's acceptable. I'm just saying from what i read in the article nathan posted, the Parents' Voice group had an issue with Gaga and the song, not with the antibullying campaign. I'm not arguing that her view on acceptance is wrong, i'm just saying that she's not a good role model or platform to launch something like this for. Using Gaga could potentially cause more harm than good is what they're trying to say.

I think the issue is that it creates the picture that thet're endorsing Gaga's views, which includes anti bullying but it also includes a lot of other views.

[geForce]

I think that's what Nathan is saying is wrong with that Parents group... Gaga is a great role model for bullying. It seems the Parent's group is more concerned about Gaga being a hermaphrodite than about her being a good anti-bullying role model.

[Duncan]

gaga being a hermaphrodie isn't the issue. The article said that the song could be offensive to a large group of audiences.

i think their point is valid though, using an icon like gaga to promote anti bullying has ramifications. when you promote gaga's song, you indirectly promote gaga and all other things she does and stands for. like i said, i'm sure there are better role models out there to promote awareness.

[nature boy]

if you really are saying that lady gaga isn't a good role model, then i'm curious as to what you think is a good role model. lady gaga stands for equality, human rights and being yourself. true, she has an odd way of showing it but i don't think that makes her a bad role model. she doesn't preach hatred, bigotry or arrogance like the parent's group is doing. it's like people saying that ellen isn't a good role model because she's openly gay. seriously? she is one of the most generous, caring and loving celebrity out there right now and because of her sexual orientation (the way that she was born), all the good lessons that she teaches should be silenced?

so yes, i was talking about the parent's group.

they say that it's not ok to bully people, but it's ok to bully gays? because being gay isn't ok in their mind? so what if being a nerd isn't ok in my mind? should i bully them? what if i think it's not ok to be black? maybe i should keep black slaves too then, because they don't apply to the "no slave" rule, because they obviously are wrong for being black.

try listening to/reading the lyrics of "born this way". it's NOT about being gay, it's about self-respect and acceptance. it's about anti-racism, anti-bullying, and learning to love yourself for who you are (instead of killing yourself out of hatred for yourself). i don't see that as a bad message at all.

[nature boy]

[nature boy]

and just to add, i don't think this is about lady gaga at all. it's about this song. if you look at this one song, there really isn't anything wrong with it. it's like me saying that all of michael jackson's songs are crap because he's weird and is accused of being a child molester. so let's screw the millions of dollars that he's donated to various causes and the initiatives that he put in place for social justice and environmental issues because i don't want my kid to dress funny and think that it's cool to have a fake nose.

sorry guys, but that's bull$hit.

[Duncan]

[nature boy]

i think i was a bit rash in my previous replies, and i apologize for that. i wasn't bashing you, dunc, but mostly the burnaby parent's voice or whatever. i know you're not for bullying, so many of those comments i made are directed more towards what that group stands for and what they are inadvertantly saying that they believe in. i think they're extremely close-minded and for them to push that close-mindedness on something that is as innocent as a bunch of kids trying to raise awareness for anti-bullying IS in a form bullying and downright silly (because of what they claim to stand for).

for them, it's not about lady gaga. it's about being gay. watch the video.

as for role models, why do you choose the ones that you have? is it because of their personality, their reasons for doing what they do or for what they actually do? those are three very different things and i'm willing to bet for every role model out there the first two are never even in the picture. to say that lady gaga isn't a good role model is then saying that NO ONE can be a good role model (except for maybe Jesus, but he would probably be a lady gaga fan so let's scratch him from the list too) because really, everyone has a past and skeletons in the closet.

about lady gaga's drug use, do you actually know the history behind her drug use? and the fact that she (at least claims) that she no longer uses? what she does in her private life is her business, but i don't remember any song or promotion on her part that says that taking drugs is ok. i realise i could be wrong about that, but i do remember an interview with someone (howard stern maybe) where she said that she used to use when she was bullied as a kid as an escape, but she no longer uses now because she's accepted who she is and can live with it.

this is how i see it: a group of well-meaning kids made a video to display something that they believe in. they rallied a bunch of other schools (even one as far as new york) to work together on a multi-media project. using the technology and pop culture's fascination with flash mobs, i think it would make sense to use a song that is familiar and well liked and more importantly, highlights what they want to portray. i think "born this way" is a perfect choice. people like the burnaby parent's voice may disagree, and so be it, they don't have to watch it. but in trying to stop others from watching it because they think there is a possibility that others maybe could be possibly be offended by it is ridiculous. to go to the premier to ban a well-mannered video put together by school children is ridiculous. talk about bad role models? how about one that puts kids down for trying to do something good by saying that their song choice was bad? and then going so far as to trying to ban this video that probably took however many hours of planning, practice and production? really?

what i'm saying is (and again, i'm not arguing with you dunc, it's the parents voice people that i have beef with) that i cannot see how a song that advocates being happy with yourself the way you are could be offensive to anyone except for those who think being fake and/or suicide is best option for our kids.

[nature boy]

[nature boy]

[geForce]

I've actually never heard any rumours about Gaga being into drugs or alcohol... just weird stuff like kinky sex and goth stuff.
I agree with the point that this campaign doesn't feature or even remotely emphasize Gaga as a role model. It merely uses the song and the underlying message of the song in their video. I mean, if you really want to drill down into it - a lot of musicians are into bad stuff like drugs and alcohol, so if you apply the Parents group's criteria to any other song that was picked, then the list of music that they're limited to using would be pretty small. Does the Parents group want everyone to only listen to conservative Christian music? I think THAT would be an irresponsible view to put on people.