Easy way to sovle this problem.. igonre them and get a life off the internet.

We need to remember we're talking about *children* here, before we start lashing out at any of them. Obviously they weren't raised with a respect for other people, and somehow feel themselves "above the rest". That attitude comes from poor parenting...nothing more, nothing less.
These kids will get out into the real world (if they get off the internet long enough) some day, and discover that they're no great shakes to anyone other than the people who share their DNA. Sadly, it's doubtful that their attitudes towards people in general will change.
I think I'd watch who I pick on, though...the person you're "downing" today, could be your boss tomorrow.....

I've had some serious problems with internet bullies and stalkers, too long to mention. But what I have discovered is that ineffectual, inadequate people who are powerless in their own lives are who strike out in this cowardly way online, the only place they have the nerve to. But don't think that means none of them are dangerous. Inadequate people are often prone to violence against those weaker than them, and of my two worst ones, one had a history of two battery charges against women and the other had been accused (falsely he said) of molesting his infant. Still, in person these people are often harmless seeming, and the more dangerous of them are sociopaths able to wriggle out of any trouble they get into by being deceptively reasonable with judges, police, etc. The only hope is that they focus on someone else, so be sure they get that opportunity - and dont' expect to get any help from internet providers, servers or police/FBI unless you have signed threats (which of course will never happen).

As a former plastic I just have a few things to say. I really liked everyone in the group but Jon. He and two of his lackies that were in the group felt the need to take their "bullying" beyond just the group and make a fake profile containing my picture. Then they used it to constantly harrass me, even after I left the group. It got to the point where I had to delete my profile and make another one just to get away from them. I am sorry that Justine, Jessica, and Chris were made out to be "bad" because they really aren't. Jon on the other hand is a jerk. What you saw about him on the show is REALLY his personality. I love the rest of you guys.

ha! I was in that group...
Then I kicked myself out basically when I tore them all to shreds. Most of them are severely unattractive and roayally f***ed up in the heads...Entertainment at it's best!

Ok John. Really?.. The Plastics?.. How original!!!
John you really have some personalissues that I think you should seek help on. Find yourself!
I used to be that way, but then I found out that I was mad at myself.
Now i just feel sorry for you cause when you step out from your computer and on to the real world, the real world is gonna chew and spit you out. Good Luck in life!

I'm writing this because of my past experiences with people who I like to refer to as " Internet Gangsters" LOL. To all the people out there who are dealing with these people, please don't feed into their crap. That's what they want. They don't know who you are. We are all beautiful people. Apparently these people are doing this for a reason. I believe it's just to get attention. Which they aren't getting in their real lives. Just ignore them, sooner or later they'll go look for it elsewhere's.

i think u really need to back up off john hes kool and he just speaks his mind ...after watching this show he becme my hero some what of a role maodel ! he speaks freely with out holdin back and yeah bullie isnt right but ya know what obviously they did something to be bullied like being ugly or mean..cuse most ugly people are mean ..cummon just cuse ur ugly dont take it out on us....
GO JOHN!!!!!
luv always
non-ugly mariah

I find it funny. Jon says he dosent condone picking on teens under 18, but he allowed me in the group AND allowed me to be basically attacked with a verbal onslaught.
He says he's a nice person in real life, but anyone shallow enough to pick on someone my age must be a real coward.

Dr. K love your show!! I did not have a problem with the anger illness until I saw your follow-up with Jon about Cyberbullying. He is a cocky arrogant and whatever fits his attitude. Please do not waste your time on this jerk. Your show is top notch and should not stoop to his low end behavior. Keep up the good work. I am retired due to health reasons and look forward to your show every day. Thanks Carl

I'm confused about where these losers live. Please dont tell me it's in any sort of cosmopolitan city. Seems like they're just trash from Ohio or Indiana or somewhere.

I just saw the show where you brought guests back to see if they had changed. I am commenting on Jon. I think that perhaps he is having a problem with his sexuality and maybe if he would address that he wouldn't be such a bitch! He is obviously gay and I'll bet you someone he cares about has not accepted that and that is why he has to "bully" others to make himself feel important. I think he is just pathetic!

Dr.Keith,
my mom made me watch your show today about cyberbullying cause i am on myspace alot. i went to look at chris's group the "plastics" and i quickly went to see if there was a group that was against this. i found one group started by a girl i joined this group and this groups url is as follows
http://groups.myspace.com/nonplastics
i think you should promote this group and the leader too she is a very nice person for fighting this.

Dr. Keith,
One thing I have learned about people who like to be bullies online is the computer gives them a perfect place to hide from the people they are hurting. These people are cowards. Also I believe they are belittling people only to take the focus off of themselves. When someone wants to make someone else look bad is only because they probably have their own problems they don't want to deal with.

Dr. Keith,

I absolutely hate when adults think they know the inner workings of kids these days. They keep judging them by how children acted in their day. It is DIFFERENT now, a lot different. The leader of "The Plastics" is not some hurting teenager. He is a cruel, malicious person who doesn’t realize how his actions affect others because he simply doesn’t care to. I was tortured through middle school and high school and no one believed me until I became an adult myself and explained everything that happened to me. It wasn't just name calling, it was being thrown down stair cases, spit on, thrown into lockers, called things I myself could never repeat. I am now a coach and one of my students is being bullied so badly at school that even the bully’s parents are telling the bullies what to say to her to make her even more miserable just because they don't like her mother. One of my three year old students did something that could have gotten us both badly hurt and when I told her "that was very bad" she said "I wanted to see you bleed, I wanted to see you die" A THREE year old. When I told her mother, she brushed it off as nothing. Children these days are desensitized to everything. It isn't that they are hurting inside; it's simply that they don't know what real hurt is, and they just don’t care. Go back to school Dr. Keith. Talk to my friend’s mother. Kids don’t do things because they themselves are hurting inside anymore. Kids do things because it’s “fun”.

I'm part of The Plastics myspace group. I've been in it multiple times, eventually banned and then reinvited. I'm quite a bit meaner than most of the members of the group online and in real life. I really don't see the problem with what's happening. People discuss opinions, people disagree, people then insult and attack one another. It's a natural, entertaining and often productive instrinsic human trait. The boy who was cyberbullied and killed himself obviously had underlying issues which made him a ticking time bomb, responding situationally and was going to eventually harm regardless of the source. Furthermore, I'm sure the people who cyberbullied him were people he knew.

And U think the 3rd world with all our shyness and defensive protectiveness of our privacy can fully embrace the internet and freely give out our biodata and other personal details in a holds bared attitude? something needs to be done to protect all this personal data details being collected online. or the west will have difficulty having the 3rd embrace the info super high way.

Bullying people is so wrong and rude... I dont see how people can and will do it... Its mean! Just put yourself in that persons shoes.... Its sad and you dont want it happening to you. EVERYONE should pick up the December issue of Seventeen and read the realife article on page 98. Its really sad... And im not going to sit there and say why you should read it.. But just read it...

Dr. Keith, I have 11 Grandchildren and 2 Great grandchildren. I have been watching your show ever since it came on. The day the plastics were on your I ask 2 of my grandchildren if they knew about the plastics,and both of them said they did. I HATE CHATE ROOMS!! I have tried to tell them to stay out of chat rooms at least when they are on my computer. I am speaking of girls that 13 and 17 years old. I even told them when they go to a chat room even if it is MY SPACE because how do they know that the picture they look are looking at is the the same person the is doing the typing of the conversation. I tried to show the 17 yr. how on DATELINE on the tv has went to different cities and had a girl that says she is 13 yr. old and they have the POLICE at the house ready to arrest the guy that thinks he has been talking to a 13 yr.old girl. They can do the thing on MY SPACE,all they have to do is find a picture any young girl, fake everything on the profile and they can do the same thing. Just because on MY SPACE they are talking to one picture, that does not mean they are talking to the person who in the picture. Also how can a computer tell you are the person that matches the picture. I think they need to OUTLAW ALL CHAT ROOMS! Making a comment on a computer is different than thinking you are talking a person that has a picture on a profile. Do they keep chat rooms legal just because they can arrest a man who is looking for sex with a young girl? Get rid of all chat rooms and you do not have worry about a bully that thinks he or she is better than you. I even called FOX and told them that I had two grandchilden ages 13 &17 that was talking on MY SPACE so I would appreciate it if they would quit talking about NT SPACE every morning. Since I made that complaint the only time I have heard them say anything about it is when a Plano student got killed in a car wreck. They found out he was street racing & they showed on his profile on MY SPACE he had said that HE WANTED TO DIE IN A WRECK. Please can't we do something about CHAT ROOMRS especilly MY SPACE!! Thank you Dr. Keith, signed Grandma Connie

I watched about 10 minutes of the show. It was funny and stupid at the same time. These kids are so hard up for attention, that they make friends with other internet losers to make fun of more internet losers.That kid Jon needs to get out of his house and away from his computer. He needs some sun badly! I want the link to the group because I want to make fun of them.

In reference to what Diann posted, "Troy became angered when Fierce and Jon became part of the cabinet and he did not." I was already a member, and so was Jon! At this point in time Fierce was not (he could be now for all I know I have not kept up with the group lately), so that is a lie. I became angry when Jon and Chris were stirring up drama within the group. We all got along well, but then lots of shady things happened, and back stabing occurred. I was over it and left. And this whoel ting you speak of, I commented on MINORS is totally outlandish, and you're just pulling things out of your ass. Clearly you have mistaken me for someone else, because that is a flat out lie. It's not like you were anyoen important in the group, so what you say doesn't have and weight or merrit to it, but still I have to right to defend myself and not allow people to make false claims against me. That is all.

I just got done watching this TV show and I am completely amazed. I can not believe how these children presented themselves. Considering this group goes by the name of the "Plastics", none of them resembled a the barbie doll figure thatthey're TRYING to resemble. They appeared to be the bullied kids at school and seem to get a since of power by being able to bully once they get home. I think its quite funny that they try to portray this "beautiful and most popular" attitude, because if they were so popular and looked up too, wouldnt they have more friends in PERSON and not have so much free time to spend sitting online criticizing everyone else. They hide behind these computers because they are looked down upon in real life.

It's funny how I was requested into this little group awhile back, and for giggles, I accepted. I soon found that these people can be terribly mean. For stating an opinion, I was harassed and made fun of. A few monthes passed and they requested me to join again.

They aren't terrible people, but they're harsh and quick to judge.

The posts below are correct. In the end, words do hurt. I, for one, have never let them get to me. Call me a narcissist or conceided, but I never needed anyone's approval to make me feel better about myself. Yet other people may be hurt easily.

Cyber bullying is a problem, yes, but the truth is, we can limit it, but we cannot stop it. I walk through the hallways of my school and the bullying, alone hasn't stopped. Despite the consiquences, despite it all, we can never fully put it to an end.

In the end, the "Plastics," as they like to call themselves, are nothing more than insecure people hiding behind loads of makeup and photo editors.

The plastics seemes to have their own self image problems and decided to attack people who they deemed "not plastic material." The plastic group was made for the simple fact of putting people down who was not what a society labels as beauty. People seem to put a sterotype on what beauty is and beauty is not all about the outer shell of a person, its the person in a whole. Society puts so much emphasis on what people look like that teenagers place pressure not only on themselves but also on others to be "beautiful." So I dont blame the 'plastics" I blame society for crippling the people that are influenced by all the glitter and glam. People in the entertainment business get paid insanely amounts of money, while teachers who mold young children get paid hardly enough to raise a family on.

while i was lurking through groups about a year ago, i found 'the plastics' i quickly learned what they were about and did not post. Jon, Chris, Jessica,and Justine are not BAD. Dusti was bad, i remember she told people to "drink clorox", among other insults. she lied to the plastics about her age, and when the plastics asked to tone down on her insults, and not jump on people's throats so soon, she turned on the plastics. i hate the way they portrayed Dusti as a victim, when she is nothing but a wannabe that couldn't fit in and decided to turn on the plastics. Troy also was angered when Jon, and Fierce became part of the cabinet and he did not. The page where Troy made comments to MINORS was also LINKED to the plastics, and very many people saw it. it was NOT just a lie.

Dr. Keith,
Next time, do a little research, your victims in this show where NOT victims. (Besides the mother, whose child killed himself, but then again that was NOT related to the Plastics).

Hey My Name Is Lacey, the day i moved into my new house and set the cable on i seen your show for the first time the show was about bulling i was amased at the stuff these people would do just to make them happy and at the end realized that it was wrong and wouldent do that any more im suprised at some of the kids reaction like pththt what ever type crap but i have too children and when they come at age and deal with that type of stuff ill me more hand on with how to deal with that these children have no right doing what there ding and im going to help as many people as i can off the net sites i hope i can help change some thing for some people

Rob
you are an obvious case of bitterness due to a childhood of being bullied, here is how it is.... the plastics started because they liked the movie mean girls, the group got big and people 30+ would come in the group and ask if they were beautiful enough... my logic was "this person is pitiful if they need the approval of a myspace group" more and more types of those people would come in the group and we would have fun with them... there are a million religious, friendly, welcoming support groups on myspace, those people had a choice to come into the plastics, no one forced them. I'm sure you are no Holy Spirit yourself with everything you've said about me I feel somewhat "cyber-bullied" and I may take legal action

OK...let's say that you might a private group for you and your friends, and people wouldn't leave you alone, and kept harrasing you trying to get in? Is it your job to be nice to them and patronize them? The plastics is a private group, much like many other private groups in our society. There is nothing wrong with it. The people who want in are confrotational and angry, and they get that in return.It is really sad that people are bullied to the point of suicide, but I really don't think an internet group is to blame. People need to look at their real life, and stop looking for excuses.Dr. Keith's show has just made it easier for depressed people to use the internet as a scapegoat. If you are really hell bent on killing yourself, you'll probably do it.

As a former plastic I just have a few things to say. I really liked everyone in the group but Jon. He and two of his lackies that were in the group felt the need to take their "bullying" beyond just the group and make a fake profile containing my picture. Then they used it to constantly harrass me, even after I left the group. It got to the point where I had to delete my profile and make another one just to get away from them. I am sorry that Justine, Jessica, and Chris were made out to be "bad" because they really aren't. Jon on the other hand is a jerk. What you saw about him on the show is REALLY his personality. I love the rest of you guys.

As I read these posts I noticed that all the Plastics got onto this forum and began ripping each other apart. They say here that the show didn't do their side of the story justice but I think here in this forum they are simply taking the show's message and reaffirming it. I am disgusted at all of them even more so than I was at the airing of the show. Grow up, all of you, and learn some human decency!!!

Dr. Keith,
You really nailed the guest Jon. I'm sure for his sake you didn't delve deeper into his problems/pain. That is one sick, perverted individual.
Who on earth would even count this person as a friend?? He has no compassion for anyone; if he does allow someone into his life, he would be easily willing to discard them.

Jon is a textbook case of Narcissistic Personality Disorder, but I have to say I resent the comments on here about his sexuality. I don't know if Jon is gay, but if he is, that does not excuse his behavior. Being gay does not make someone a bully. I think Jon is a spoiled little brat who's never had to answer to anyone his whole life, and it's about time he got what's coming to them, but let's keep the homophobic comments to ourselves please.

according to THE PLASTICS. I have been on their myspace and read the posts. they said that the whole thing was scripted. They deny everything they had said on the show and that it was all fake and that the whole show was fake too. Well it really happens in real life. The bullying happens, because I was one of those who got bullied alot through out school. (it started in grade school and did not stop until I was out of school.) I was lucky I had friends, but some kids are not so lucky. On lifetime there are two shows that kids should watch. "odd girl out" and "not like everyone else." those two shows are very good. Whether the show was staged. As the plastics are telling everyone, it's really happening to kids everyday and I know from experience that it can leave a scar even when you "grow up" and are out in the real world. Personally it has made me want to reach out to kids who are going through the same thing I went through those years ago.

WOW I cannot believe that you guys are crucifying these kids for being part of a group. It is clear to me (who is an outsider that just happen to see the show) that these kids come to the group and then get mad when the group says some stuff about them. You know what? then leave! no one is twisting your arm and making you stay there to get made fun of even more. Why aren’t these people just leaving in my eyes “The Plastics” are not guilty of anything other than being a group. And like Chris said if you’re a parent and reading this you really better wonder what your kids do behind your back…

The losers that express their cowardice by picking on others are selfish & pathetic themselves,I'm amazed that they had the guts to appear on tv. They should be ashamed of their actions, but made no apologies. People like this just make the world a colder place.

I think that the plastics should take a good look at them selves before judging others. They might be good looking on the out side but they are very ugly on the in side some of the comments that were made reminded me of my life and the way I was treated growing up.
I was tought to treat others the way you wanted to be treated. A simple rule to live by. It makes life a lot easer and more fun.

ummmm can we say coached or reality tv???
yea these kids spoke there mind and the ppl asked for it
When i say asked for it i mean they really did.
They would come in like "am i good enough?" or "am i hott?" knowing how TRUTHFUL these ppl were going to be.
you cant pin down all the bullies to this one group.
If u dont like a co-worker at work does that mean u should quit ur job? no
Why, because they dont determine ur future, they honsetly dont care. Would you?
I say those ppl should just keep being them and the who ever's offended dont bother with them then.They dont go after ppl. Ppl come looking for them

My first thought about the name "The Plastics" is that it means shallow, phony, and immature. Immaturity lights up like a neon sign when someone thinks they are exempt from responsibility for themselves in what they say or do.
Dr. Ablow did a great job exposing the real deal with these kids. Everyone saw and heard what was really going on loud and clear. Thank you for your professionalism and caring.

This is in regards to the "plastics" comments on suicide. Considering my brother commited suicide, I'd like to think that I know what I am talking about. And when you said that you didn't really think people would commite suicide, you really weren't thinking at all becuase it does happen and people like you do make it happen. This is real and I feel so angry that you have no emotion, you are raw. And in regards to all of this I am mainly talking to the guy with the pink shirt. You have no feeling if you can sit there and take no responsibily for this. I am glad Dr. Ablow called you on what you are doing and some of the members quite because of it. To bad you don't have anything left of yourself to quite as well

Dusti and Roger were the WORST members of the plastics for a long time... esp Dusti... she loved the group and was sooo mean to any new member.

Honestly, most of the victims of the Plastics are people who joined and wanted to be a part of the group, knowing that we were harsh and often kicked people out for being ugly... so they are really just hypocrites if they talk down about the group.

This is just something I came across...don't these kids know that the people that ask questions like "Should I kill myself?" are usually just looking for that ONE person, whether they know them or not, to tell them to go ahead? To tell them that they aren't worth anything? You never know if that one person just needed that little bit of encouragement to go ahead and make the worst decision of their lives!! I feel that the show probably gave you guys a little more publicity than you deserve, but it's a real problem and needs to be addressed. Thanks

I agree with everyone's comments about this plastics group. The four that we on the show were benighted. They put down others to make theirselves feel better. To be honest they were all putting down other people, all of them were just as ugly as their inside. People like this need to seek God, and seek professional help.

Oh come off of it you guys. I was in the group for ages, and none of these people are sociopaths, or "bullied" anybody. They were bitchy, I was bitchy, Roger was bitchy, Dusti was bitchy, we were ALL bitchy. Anybody who would stick around for a while and see it was all in fun soon became bitchy too.
All you people posting personal life stories... we're not the kids who shoved you in a trashcan or pushed you in the mud or whatever else it is you're complaining about.
Get off your high horse... are you sure YOU'RE perfect? Do you ever judge someone when they walk down the street? Have you ever thought something like, "She shouldn't be wearing that at her age" when you see a mother wearing clothes from Abercrombie, or "Why doesn't he take some pride in himself and lose some of the extra pounds" when you see someone morbidly obese, or "They make condoms for a reason" to the woman with four or five small children, or how about "Why can't you control your damn child?" when a parent is just standing next to a tantruming 6 year old.
M:aybe that mother is just trying to connect with her daughter. Maybe that man has a health issue that CAUSED his weight gain. Maybe that woman comes from a background that doesn't believe in birth control. Maybe that child is autistic.
We all judge, and until you can HONESTLY say that you don't. get off the cross.

Dear people of the web.
All it takes if for evil to prevail is good people to do nothing.
If you know better then get an avatar and fight the battle one on one. That is the only way the internet will change. Good people getting involved and providing guidance.
~warning~ no good deed goes unpunished.

I saw bits and pieces of the show, and I thought that it was very interesting.

Now, I'm not saying that I have this problem. Several months ago I posted/reposted my stories for like the second, third time. For the longest time, people were giving me heat about that, and it made me mad. I even told them to go f*** themselves. They were also saying things like, "If so-and-so did this, would you give them heat?" It got to the point where if I heard so-and-so's name one more time, I would take serious action (namely causing physical harm or something), but I didn't have to. Someone else said something along the lines of "What's the big deal? I like her stories, and so-and-so's stories, so lay off", and it hasn't happened since.

Anyone ever consider that this was one big joke to Chris, Jon, Justine, Jessica as well as Roger and Dusti? Do you think that any of them actually CARE? It was a free trip to NY and a chance to be on TV. The Plastics are not "cyber-bullies" and the people who went on the show were never informed that they would be made to look like....well....murderers. If there is a 13 year old child who is online, un-supervized, and thus commits suicide -please forgive me for stating the truth- then there were obviously deeper problems, and where were the parents? You can't shift the blame off of the way the child was raised. I know plenty of people who were "bullied" in school, relentlessly, the REAL kind - getting beat up after school, etc. They are now happy and healthy adults. It's part of life, and parents need to raise their childen to realize that it doesnt matter what other people think of you, it matters what YOU think of you and that the only people that matter are your family. As a parent, you can't always control your child's enviornment, but when a 13 year old commits suicide based on being bullied online, then the PARENTS should be held accountable. Sad, yes....sad that there wasn't an adult there to step and and realize that they child needed help, beyond anything that could ever be said over a keyboard.

Of course it's easy for all of you to sit and criticize, but as someone who knows these people, I watched and laughed. It's a talk show, and talk shows aren't real life. The show was produced to stake-and-burn the "cyber-bullies" for the sake of entertainment. If that's not a case of twisted irony, then I don't know what is.

I don't really understand what the whole show was about. Am I to understand that these kids "sought out" being a member of this Myspace group? So, they were going to the website only to find themselves unwelcome? Were the group members stalking these people online?
This show was about people not being allowed to join a private group. So what. If they don't want you they don't have to have you. Disappointment is part of life and not everyone has to accept you.
I mean, it's just a Myspace group. Who cares? Make your own group and then you can accept everyone into it.

The show yesterday caught my attention while I was getting ready for work, so I had to sit and watch part of it. "Cyberbullying" isn't just something that you do if you have no real life. I remember being in high school, totally involved in music and sports and drama and still taking part in it. It's just that a part of life is wanting to be accepted and part of a group. I could see if from Dr. Keith's perspective, but then I could totally agree with the Plastics. The only reason why I would throw online insults to people wanting to be part of our group (yeah, a stupid little msn chat clique I was in), is because some idiot would come in, not know anybody and not know their "place." Sure, it may have been petty fun, back then, but the ones who really wanted in would back up and wait to find out what their position was before trying to wiggle back in. Thus is life. If you've been to high school within the last 10 years or so, you know that it gets more and more brutal every year. Now, I've actually gotten in touch with some of the same kids I would tease back then through myspace, and they're doing well. Does it mean I'm dysfunctional? No, I was just a kid, making sure that people (whether in person or online) knew I was in the "it" crowd, just like any other kid my age would have wanted. Now, I'm 19 going to school for Business, and I'm working in one of the top-ranked financial institutions in the country. These "tormented" kids are now in other areas of the country successful in school, work, or their families. Words do hurt, but you're gonna get that at school, at work, at home (sometimes), so why not the internet?

I am highly disappointed on the focus placed on the plastics group. I do not believe their cyberbullying is what is killing our children. The last two people did. Your show should have been aimed at the last 2 people on the show. Real cyberbullying is when someone who knows you takes it online and makes your life a living hell in your neighborhood and your school. The show gave a moments worth of time to that and gave worthless time to those 15 minute wanna be stars. If you really want to do a show on cyberbullying bring in the kids whose life at home has been ruined and of those who finally took their own life because of it. I never even saw the show mention how Debbie and her husband have now devoted their lives to make a difference so that it may never take another childs life like it did Jeffs. I felt like you used the last 2 stories to make those wannabes feel guilty and truly never got to the guts of cyberbullying. Words do not just hurt they kill...and no one is the same after a suicide.

It's nothing, It's just online pretend....BUT IT ISN'T!!!
Just volunteer on a suicide hot line; what may not make allot of people make the choice to end it all, is what pushes someone over the edge everyday. You cannot really know what is going on in another person's mind or life that may drive that extreme pain.
We would all like to think we are compassionate and nice and that the games, in Middle School, High School, Parent Groups, Clubs, which people play with each other are just THAT--GAMES!
But the reality is, when you hurt someone and cannot recognize an inappropriate pattern, it could cost someone their life and the people around them their lives.
Stop the Hate!

Teenagers don't believe there's Life after High School...no matter what they've be told.

Volunteer, Learn Compassion, make a good difference is someone's life.....TODAY!

I was directed here by a person who watched the show and is in the process of having to get a restraining order against someone who is harassing him online. This issue is not limited to kids, believe me.

Fully grown adults have found this method apparently much more satisfying than having a "real" life. I've seen what this does -- the same person is to some extent causing my family the same grief and there are many others she's stalking. This woman is in her 50s and apparently has nothing better to do than lash out at those of us who are trying to make a difference.

Sadly, ten years ago, I was the recipient of another woman's venom, she is of the same age as the one I'm dealing with now, and happily no restraining order was needed. However, the stakes are higher now, as more and more personal information is available online. People who are supposedly adults are using information from the internet to ruin other people.

Looking at the cyber-terror laws can give you a feeling of safety. The government will protect us from people who do this, right? Wrong, yet again. If an American citizen is doing this to another American citizen, there's no protection. The police just laugh at you -- no one will help, and the feeling of powerlessness is awful.

This new attacker has guns, and has stated she's not afraid to use them. Because we're told this online, the police don't take this as a threat. Why is this any different than a telephone call?

Anyway, I would have loved to see your show. Perhaps you can put your show "On Demand" as I've thought since seeing your commericals I'd love to see it only I can't due to working.

Thanks for opening the door for dialog on this major issue. And people, do not think it's just kids who do this. I've seen it happen by adults more often than I thought possible.

This show brought me to tears. I am 24 years old and remember high school all too well. The teen years are a trying time for many and needlessly so. What I would like to express to any individual experiencing the discrimination described in this show is that: LIFE GETS BETTER. Though when you are in high school these negative cliques consume your world- it is not real- it is by no means any indication to what your future may hold. I ask anyone thinking of suicide to please hold on. You are worth so much more than what these insignificant children may attempt to define you as. It can and it WILL get better. Stay in school, get your degree, go to college or find a career to focus on and you will find that as you accomplish these healthy goals, your life perspective will expand to one which allows yourself to be who you truly are. There are many people who care for you. You matter so much more than those who want nothing but to hurt you by passing on their own pain. We believe in you. Please hold on.

Dr Keith, re: Chris's attitude. I just posted a comment regarding Chris and how he got the way he is. I re-read some of the comments that he had made in this forum. He said that he was raised in a religious household and that he parents would wash his mouth out with soap if he called his sisters derogatory names. He said that his parents taught him right from wrong and how to be a productive citizen. But he seems to say that when he reached a certain age, he veered from his upbringing and started making his "own" decisions. A good psychologist like yourself could really help this young man get back on track.

I am reminded of recent true crime that was committed in Las Vegas. A young girl, Sherrice Iverson, was in a casino area in 1997 with her father when she was raped and murdered by Jeremy Strohmeyer. His friend, David Cash,walked in on the crime in progress. Instead of helping the little girl, he walked out of the bathroom where the crime was being committed and waited for his friend to finish. Afterwards, Cash and the murderer/rapist left and went on with their night. Strohmeyer was caught and is spending time in jail, but Cash wasn't charged and went on to college. Later, when Cash was interviewed by 60 Minutes, I believe, he said that he didn't help the girl and turn his friend in because "it wasn't his business". He disassociated himself from the life and horror that Sherrice endured. The rape and death of that little girl meant nothing to him.

I feel that the way the guests, particularly Chris and Jon, showed little compassion for the people that they bullied is like the guy who watched his "friend" rape and kill a child and then went out to party. Sadly though, I know that they won't get it. They or their ilk will become the next disassociative criminals. I can only thank you for exposing these parasites.

i only saw the end of this episode, but the subject made me want to say something. As a teenager, myself i can see both sides of the story. People get into stupid arguments, and pick on others all the time on the internet. That's why you can block people. If someone is being hurtful to you, you have the option to ignore them...i myself have been to the point of near suicide, and i know what that is like.. i think it is completely stupid to trash-talk, make fun of, or try to lessen the value of anyone!! And arguing over the internet is stupid too!! Anyways, my point is.. if this child was telling people that they were going to commit suicide, they have probably already talked themselves into it. i think talking to the "bullies" was a last effort to look for a reason NOT to commit suicide..and it just so happens that they were "cyber bullies", which is really too bad. Ok, so i'm almost done venting, but basically i'm trying to say that the guys should own up to their actions and straighten up...or mature rather. As for all cyber-bully victims, just block them, ignore them!! and dont ever forget that you ARE loved!

This show was a real eye-opener for me. As a mother of five, with one child being a teen, I have not yet experienced any of the cyber-bullying. The show taught me what to look for with my own children. I found it quite disturbing that these "plastics" could be so awful to people they didn't even know...or didn't even want to get to know. I thought that the three of them that decided that the group was not how they wanted to be defined was great. I worry about the one boy, though, that must be hurting so deeply that he can't even see why this is wrong...Hopefully, some day soon he will realize the problem and move past all of it.

I don't really care about myspace groups, personally I like facebook a lot better because you only add people you actually know. You can't even look at their pages if you don't go to the same school.

but really NO ONE has the right to make you feel that way! Don't say you are sorry if you don't mean it Jessica. . . "from the show" . . . I have never been bullied when I was in high school or junior high. Up until this point. . . where that guy on the internet has been sending me death threats. . . People don't understand how it feels until it happens to them. My favorite quote of all time, "Karma is a bitch"

Chris,
You said that the show was edited and that "they" made you "say certain things". I watched the show feeling ashamed for all of you. Towards the end of the show, I saw a tear in your eye and you said that you didn't want to be part of that group anymore. What part was a lie? Most of the people commenting here have said almost everything that I felt. You and your kind, have no heart, compassion or feeling. I just wonder if you have shared this part of yourself with people that you date or friends. Does your family know that you are capable of these kinds of comments? And if they do, are they disgusted that they share the same bloodline? If there are demons walking the earth today, I believe that they have captured your soul and have taken over your body. If you believe in any supreme being, such as God, do you think that they would be pleased with your behavior?

today was the first time that I've watched your show, and when I tuned in, you were talking about that poor 14 year old girl, ashley, who was being bullied over the internet. when I heard about the things that people were saying to her, I couldn't help but be horrified that kids would say such horrible things to such a sweet, beautiful girl like her. I'm 16, but I've never experienced bullying like that. Dr. Keith, if you could, tell ashly that there is someone out there who thinks she is one of the most beautiful girls that I've ever seen, and that people that believe rumors over the internet aren't worth her time. these people that are saying these things to her should be ashamed of themselves for saying such awful things to someone they don't even know. it's terrible, and ashley doesn't deserve it.

Jon lied blatantly when he said that the Plastics didn't go looking for people to harass. They went into other, unrelated groups (I know of at least three) and attacked people there, just for fun. Often these were groups where people were helping each other deal with problems. They would go in and make fun of anyone who admitted being troubled about something, and try to make them feel as rotten as possible.

Surprise, it was Jon who led the charge in each of these cases. Often the people they attacked had nothing to do with the Plastics at all. So you can add "liar" to his list.

Dr. Keith was way too sympathetic to Jon. He seemed to believe Jon had a scared little boy living inside the soulless monster who appears on the outside. That may have been true at one time, but trust me, the monster devoured the little boy a long time ago.

I think that the plastics need help, they obviously are insecure and dont have a good social life because all they do is worry about "other peoples looks" instead of theirs and they dont have feelings for others. They need to keep their thoughts to themselves. They're Evil.

I was in the plastics.
And the people who made it to the top were actually really hot and smart.
Every one is saying how mean and awful the plastics were , but really people never realised that we were only helping them by telling them what they need to fix about them selves to be the ultimate plastic.
But the sad thing is nobody seemed to take the advice , they would just go off crying or go on a spanning spree to try take us down.
It was up to us to save them but ohwell.

I watched the show today and was appalled by how insensitive these kids were and I was thinking that they were not "with the program" and to be honest,none of the four people were all that nice looking.I was expecting something like George Clooney or Mariah Carey(LOL)but was surprised to see it was nothing but a bunch of young kids trying to make others feel bad about themselves.I am a mother of four kids and if I ever caught them doing what these four kids were doing,I would remind them that they were not brought up that way.I am 36 years old,have four kids and can fit into a size ten,and I think that's pretty good for me!!! I don't need a group of kids to put me down.I don't wear makeup and nor do I wear what's up to date but I have natural beauty and that has to say alot.It still amazes me how insecure kids are.I have had issues with self-esteem but my husband has made me feel that I am important and taught me not to care so much of what people think.He loves me for me and I wish these young people will soon realize that.

before any of you would like to accuse me of being insecure or have this idea that we maliciously attack random helpless people, maybe you should actually see the group. The exact type of critism you guys are giving the plastics is the same type we give to the insecure 30 yr old women that some to our group, so does that make you all cyber bullies?!?!?!

This has got to stop! I sincerely am happy that these gutless cowards are now looking at a felony charge if they engage in this behavior.
I myself have been viciously harassed and bullied on myspace.com....and i'm 36 YEARS OLD!
Last year my ex and his little group of friends put up THREE fake profiles(including pictures they stole off my own page).
I can't repeat here alot of the things on those pages but here's some of it:
"I'm a whore.I prostitute to pay my rent.I'm a meth head.I'm bipolar because my father molested me.I should have my ass beaten."Bitch,slut..etc...including the "c" word.They also said I was a pill popper and an alcoholic.
I am in fact,legally and permanently disabled.They also ridiculed that.
Every sick disgusting piece of libelous garbage they could spew they do.
Everytime I complained to myspace it took them a week to take one of these profiles down and when they did another profile would pop up in it's place.
Of course there is the ongoing disgusting blog that is STILL up on myspace which describes "solvent being poured down my throat,my skull split open,my nerves shattered" and the latest comment from the ex from just a week ago..."Put the s@#* in a 55 gallon drum and incinerate it."
I am still infuriated by this.The police did nothing.Myspace did nothing.My reputation has been permanently tainted by these vipers.
As I was viciously bullied through my entire childhood this has just thrown me back emotionally to a hurt child.I can see how very poisoning this would be for a child.
I hope the law hunts these sorry people down and show no mercy...be it an adult or a 14 year old kid.Maybe when people get the pants sued off of them and the parents of these brats lose their homes over legal bills they'll learn.
Unfortunately this isn't just something kids are victims of.Everyone is at jeopardy for assault from these pieces of human garbage.
Currently i am contemplating a restraining order against the one person who still has this blog going.
I would love to drag all this scum into court and teach them a lesson.

I recommend that EVERY SINGLE PERSON who is a victim of this hate should take legal action.

i find these comments very entertaining...more so then the show itself.

the plastics was a group formed by a bunch of bored people...
people join at their own risk...fully aware of how they will be treated.

basically if you cant take the heat get out of the kitchen.

dear mr keith,

i'm currently watching your show right now on cyberbullying..and its terrified me. brought me back to my bullied days. =[ i truly know how the bullier are going through. i been there done that. 4 years of online bulling. just got me to ignore it. but the more i ignore it the more everything my life got worst. but i have to admit. i'm almost 21 and i'm pretty happy but i just wish some people can find the mentality 2 grow up. thank for your show..!

I just wanted to say that I can not believe these kids. I am mother of two, I was a very popular girl in school and never treated fellow classmates like they were less then me. I think its very humorous that they call themselves the plastics they are nothing close to being cute. They are all 20 years old I think its time they grow up some and get out of high school. We have enough uglyness in the world were do these kids feel its there place to bully anybody. I love how they can be a jerks online to innocent people yet put those not so cool kids in front of them and they cant deal with it. They can dish it out yet cant take it. And for the meanest girl saying about people killing themselves where are there parents? I ask where are yours? if any of you were my kids I would kick your ass myself. God help us all if your parents know what you are doing and support it. Just so all of you cyberbullies understand hopfully once you have kids of your own you will regret this the rest of your life. And if not just know that life is to short keep this bully up and you are sure to amount to nothing and die miserible.

IM FROM THERE GENERATION AND BELIVE THAT BECAUSE THEY DONT FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES THEY USE OTHER PEOPLES FLAWS TO MAKE THEM SELVES FEEL BETTER EVEN IF IT MEANS HURTING PEOPLE CAUSE LIKE DR. SAID THEY HAVE THERE OWN PROBLEMS TO DEAL WITH.AND TO THE PLASTICS I DONT KNOW WHO YOU GUYES THINK YOU ARE...NOT ATTRACTIVE,NOT SMART AND MAKING A FOOL OUT OF YOURSELVES ON T.V SO NOT COOL.....BEAUTY IS ONLY SKIN DEEP.YOU KNOW AND JUST BECAUSE SOMEONES PRETTY ON THE OUTSIDE DOESNT MEAN THE SAME THINGS ON THE INSIDE.IF I WENT TO THERE SCHOOL I WOULD PERSONALY BEAT THEM UP

hey im with u dr. keith i think the plastics kids are doing thhat bcuz they r hurt through the inside and im i think they need help i've never being bullied around but ive never bullied anyone either and last i want to say that i love ur show!!!

Entering the Plastics is like going on American Idol when you cant sing, entering Americas Next Top Model when you know you dont look good....and so on. America makes a habit out of laughing at the "worst of the worst" on these types of shows, and no one says that is mean, becuase the people put themselves out there (or they ask for it). Same with entering an internet group known for picking on people. The Plastics don't seek people out, people find them. If you don't like it, no one is going to make you enter the group. Simple. You make your own choices, sometimes it is just easier to pin it on someone else.

Unfortunately, this topic is really just a sign of the times. I teach Middle School and see this attitude every day. Some kids have the misimformed idea that "the truth hurts" and it's their job to speak the truth. I don't know where it comes from. My generation was taught to keep negative comments to ourselves. This generation has not been taught the art of self comtrol. It's embedded in their tv shows, music videos, movies and now, their art of communication.

Sydney, both Dusti and Roger had been accepted by the plastics for a long time.
They failed to mention that, didnt they?

Dr. Keith,

Jon from the Plastics comments on your show made me come here to comment. His comments and their group are so completely ridiculous. It is the classic happenings of society that allow this type of clique to form and endure. None of these people from the Plastics are beautiful, smart, funny, or even interesting. They lack the social graces that make them contributing members in society and little do they realize they themselves will suffer as a result. If anything, their group demonstrates the true insecurity in all of them, Jon being the most insecure of them all. Additionally, their lack of maturity will surely cause them to lose jobs, friends, and relationships throughout life.

To the Plastics: Why not be positive and do something worthwhile with your time and energy. You can do so much more in this world than you are doing and the strength of your friendships can be a powerful force in reducing the pain found in this world. Beautiful people do beautful things.

First, Thanks for the show and the many issues that are facing people today. It makes me thankful for the way I have it. God is good.
I didn't watch the whole show, just the last half of it, but it was sad. As far as Jon goes, he probably was teased in school about being gay and all. That could be a possibility that his attitude is like it is. I was teased(not bullied) also, and man did I hate it.
I agree that people shouldn't let the internet affect there feelings, but it's real and it does affect people greatly. Some choose to use it to make themselves look good and others choose to help others out with it.
I would do the opposite of cyber bullies and let people on myspace and wherver that they are extremely loved by God and He has a great purpose for them. Ok I'm done preaching.

I saw the show this afternoon and I just had to make a comment about the four people on the panel. It saddens me that these young people cannot do anything better with themselves so they decide to form some silly group on myspace and riducule other folks. As you can see Jon was most likely bullied through out his childhood. His parents divorce and Jon being DIFFERENT! from the rest of his peers has a great effect on him and the only way to make him feel any better is to hide behind a computer and cyber bully people. I had no idea that there was such a thing. I'm computer literate and I'm familair with myspace ,but cyber bullying,I mean come people.Jon has the nerve to call someone ugly but he is not to hot himself. Jon is truely hiding the fact that he is hurting inside,he probably does not have any friends, which is why his is always on the computer bullying people, he's obviously does not have a relationship with his siblings, he needs to seek help soon. Bottom line these people need to get lives.

I have a couple of comment's to make about this group.First of all if the panel on the show represents the members of this group then it's laughable that they could make any comment on any one's looks or style.They need to take a strong look at themselves in the
mirror.
Second of all I was always taught that people who put other people down are just insecure about their on self image and this picking on others makes them feel good about themselves.Which is sad that they would have to go to such extreme to get a ego boost.

You’re very welcome Jessica!

If you ask someone’s opinion you’re inviting criticism. Why did the two people (the gay guy and the 30yr old women) on the show continually post if they felt they were being treated unfairly? Another thought, had they been accepted by “The Plastics” would they have been so compassionate to new members?

I would have to agree with the members of the myspace group, The Plastics...if someone is going to stoop to the level of letting what someone says on the internet about them, get to them that much, and cause them to do things that could be harmful to them...I think that they are taking it out on the wrong people. They make the decision to read the things that other people say to them, and they make the decision to take it in the way that they do. If you are going to allow yourself to be a member of a group such as this one, you should take into account what kind of group that it is. Obviously its a group for people who have high self esteem and think well of themselves....its not the kind of group that someone should join if they are looking for sympathy or compliments...like I said...if you make the decision to be a part of the group...be able to take what they dish to you. And I think that people who are blaming the members of the plastics group...have issues...dont go blaming your problems on a group of people who have nothing to do with your life. If you let them bring you down, as much as you do, I believe that it is your own fault...bc you out yourself in the posistion to be bullied. I enjoyed the show, and I think that you 4 have not drawn people to kill themselves or anything...its all in their own heads, not yours. and if they let you guys get to them, its their problem, and not yours, you should not be blamed.

If I would have taken everything Dusti said to me seriously I probably would have hurt myself. The reason I didn’t is because unlike Dusti, or any other person who got their feelings hurt online, the internet is not my life. I don't spend my all time consumed on the internet. I have many extra-curricular activities and barely have two hours to spend on the computer.

Dusti: I can’t believe a mother or an almost 30 year old would spend so much time online criticizing people’s appearance or personality. In 10 years, if someone were to tell your son the things you said to other people, HE WOULD BE ASHAMED. You didn’t really hurt my feelings but I will say this, for how old you are and how mature you should be I can’t believe you would go along with saying you’re strictly a victim.

Also I would like to say to the people who think the four people who sat up on those chairs are horrible people, you don’t know them. All you saw was what the editors wanted you to see, cold, heartless people. But those same people said very nice things to me and some even donated money when I told them about my friend who had cancer and couldn’t afford his treatments.

Thank you very much Sydney. In all honesty if we acted the way the show made us out to act then we would need to be apologetic but we don't. I honestly regret apologizing to him because I feel like I admitted to doing something that I never did but when they had that poor woman out there who lost her son I couldn't help it. Myspace is something to pass the time and it really is funny the way they turned that into an entire show. Dusti and Roger are cool people also and they didn't deserve to be made out to look like helpless pathetic victims and I'm sure they didn't appreciate being made out to look that way. Basically we all got screwed lol.

I caught the Keith Ablow show this morning. IMO “The Plastics” were treated inequitable, and not permitted to express their perspective w/o being attacked. I for one concur with Jon regarding the “older” women. If you allow a MySPace account to dictate your self-esteem there are much larger issues at play. Are she and the other rejected members’ masochist, who enjoy being humiliated? Is this the reason she continually posted, only to be rejected and deprecated? The internet is a ‘big’ place move on.

As for the thirteen year old boy who was harassed and shamed that was criminal and in no way compares with the older women rejected by “The plastics”. My thoughts are with the boy’s mother.

Jon, Chris & the other two ladies from the show, I hope the false empathy from Dr. Keith and the audience doesn’t dissuade you. You did nothing wrong.

I have strong opinions about cyber bullying. Cyber bullying is the hardest form of bullying to stop not only because that there isn't a place to get away from it but because a lot of bullies have this field of inviolability. People like some of the "plastics" tend to hide behind a metaphorical mask and create a new personality. They act the opposite of how they would act with people in person. Some of these people were probably bullied when they were kids and by bullying others they feel better about themselves because they can say things to people that maybe they could say to the people bullying them.

Many people don't think that this is a big deal but these people can't picture being told that you are ugly, your fat, and that you should kill yourself on a daily basic. People that say the they are just "joking around" forget that people are looking for acceptance and that they take what people say seriously.

I have never been affected by bullying in general, but I think that penalties for bullying should be increased, and those involved in it be forced to attend meetings with people who's children killed themselves due to being bullied. People don’t take bullying seriously and then they are surprised when some kids go into schools and kill people. Maybe people will understand fully, when it happens to somebody they know or happens where they live.

I was personally disgusted that bullying has become such a serious internet issue. I have a teen daughter and I keep a close eye on what she is doing and who she is conversing with online. To the bullies...get a life and look at yourself before judging others.

Dr Keith,
For three years I belonged to an Internet “Fight Club” and it was great!
The first three times I went into the room, they chewed me up and spit me out.
I changed my Internet name four times, before I understood what the point of the game was.
Once I learned how the “Fight Club” rules worked I then became a part of the club.
I do believe the movie called “Fight Club” was in a way based on that Internet scenario.
After being a member of the club, I became a pro at the fight club site.
Most all of the members used the Fight Club as a way to blow off steam!
I cannot tell you what that room did for me.
Some of the same things the members on the “Plastics Club” did were very similar.
Most all that were regulars of the fight club were college professionals.
The fight clubrooms were equipped with audio and video.
Also in the background we would text chat each other as how to surround the person we were trying to blow off.
The fight club was the best thing that ever happened to me. It taught me how to stand up for myself, and never back down.
Yes at times a person with low self-esteem would wonder into the room. They had to make up their mind to learn how to play the game, or never come back.
The fight club gave me courage, and also helped me to blow off steam.
For persons who are having psychiatric problems, they should never go into a fight room.
When I first started in the fight club there were nights that these people were hitting every hot button I had. That is when I knew I needed to learn how to play the game.
I finally was accepted into the “FIGHTERS HALL OF FAME”
I had a horrible up bringing, and had very low self esteem. I was also afraid of authority figures.
After being a member all of my past went away. It was better than therapy.
I am a better person to this day all because of my involvement.
I no longer am afraid of authority figures. Also, my self-esteem is at the top.
I no longer take cruelty from others.
The Internet site was shut down and we all went in separate directions.
I wish all the original members would reorganize so we could carry on.
The average age range in the Fight Club was middle to late 30’s.
Heck we had psychiatrists, famous rap artist, as I said most were professionals.
It was a Mecca to rid ones self of low self-esteem, and a range of other things.
I think the “VICTIMS” you portrayed on your show. Are People who like being “VICTIMS”
There is an abundance of horrible people. But, and I am no longer afraid!
I learned how to stand up for my self. And to never take rude or violent behavior from anyone.
There is a good side to verbal fight rooms. You need to take a look at how if to stay with the program, you become desensitized to bullies, and bad basses, in fact anyone who tries to take advantage or bully you.
It works very well.

This whole thing is hilarious to me...if someone joins a group knowing that group has a tendancy to pick on others than thats there own fault...heck im not perfect but if someone comes to me and asks me "hey what do you think of this picture" and they look fat im gonna tell them they look fat...im not going out to people saying hey can i see a picture of you WOW that makes you look fat....if you cant take critisizm than please dont ask for it..

Dr. Keith,
I think that this is not only the internet to bullys to take the blame, it is also society fault. Yes we have Young Adults, that thinks it is okay to protray this attitude. Society Makes us who we are I say. Society says if we are just a little bit over weight we are fat, they also say if we are to skinny that we have a mental problem. I understand that this is wrong, but yet so is Society for protraing the young kids mind with wrong full things. Okay we see it in movies about having sex, but when do you ever see the consiqences of having sex? In this day and age kids are out having sex, doing drug, and even making fun of people. IT is called Economical Segratation. It will always be around there is no stopping it. All I am saying is that it is not just Bullies on the Internet, they are in schools and even in the work enviornment. Who is to blame then if it is not just the Internet?

Cyberbullys Wasn't anything funny at all. It's just that these youths couldn't come up with anything new,being a bully has gone on forever. Seems these are just wanting to hide behind a computer. Smoke cause some woman's trama is boring. The best thing for trama is to talk it out and how wonderful to talk to the same "types" as tramatized you. Yes, bullying is trama and yes if the person being bullied is having mental problems with their life the added stress could push them over the edge. Do you know anyone well enough to tell them yeah go ahead and kill yourself. Some of the group on the show showed remorse others didn't but what about the thousands of others doing this.How mean can you all be?

Just saw the cyber-bully show this morning and have found one myself. It involves a disgruntled customer who was towed out of one of our 5 parking spaces for a 200 seat restaurant.the spaces are very clearly marked you'll be towed at your expense! she's angry and forwarding untruths about us to all her friends. Isn't she a cyber-bully too? And the original email isn't known who it's from - we got it from a friend shocked to receive it. And a coward she is too.

I have to blame the internet on this one. Those kids "The Plastics" actually look more like kids who get picked on BY bullies, and maybe that's what's going on at their own schools , so they're using the net to get back at everyone. It's very easy to be tough and mean through a pc screen, i just hope their whole bully plan doesn't backfire on them cause now many people know what they look like and i hope they don't get hurt or stalked or worse... because of all this.

I just found it funny how Chris[?] didn't understand almost anything Dr. Keith was trying to explain. It basically seemed like it was going absolutely nowhere, and I wanted to scream. It's really not that hard to open your ears and listen, or is it? Either way, I hope you 'get it' eventually. Good luck!

I think that these kids need some sort of counseling because there has to be something deeper than what is being said. To me bullying is just a way of takeing anger out on someone else instead of actually dealing with it them selves. I have never been a fan of bullying I was bullied as a child and I finally got tired of it. I didn't take any action against it like physically or verbally. I just brushed it off because they could say things about me but they were only words. And yes word can be very harmful but my life taught me that a physical pain is much worse then words. But you need a very dramatic childhood to understand that. I don't like bullying or bullies. You can't let them get to you and i agree with the way that you were trying to get them to talk about there past. I learned that if the past is figured out or desifered in a way that the person it happened to understands then that person will have a lot better chance of seeing his/her mistakes up to that point and will change there ways. Hopefully but no one ever knows til they try.

Haha, Jess, I read "medications" too.

In short I have no quall with dusti, roger, jon, jess, justine, or chris...
they're all pretty rad to me...

i just think its funny how something to waste time between classes with became something to go on a talk show and have so much controversy about

Seriously, are you guys still a group on there? I kind of found the show to be funny, aside from the younger girl and not wanting to go to school and all that, that was pretty messed up.

since the last comment wasnt approved I shall rephase it in a more tasteful way. People need to stop saying "where are the parents" I was raised in a strict religious house-hold where if I called my sisters a bad name my mouth was washed out with soap. My parents taught me right from wrong and taught me everything I need to know to become a productive citizen, but there comes a time where your children begin to think for themselves and make their own decisions. It may soon happen to your own children, and I'm sure 90% of you will be suprised what they do behind your back!! so before you make irrational assumptions, just think "where could my child be, or be doing right now?"

I've also never had an issue with either Dusti or Roger and Iwould hardly call either one of them victims.
And Dusti I read your post wrong and thought you said
"...they will be in my medications". I don't know why I find that funny but I do lol.

Dusti if the group hadn't been deleted so much we could post a link showing how mean you really are, we could pull up all the topics where you told people to kill themselves and what is that group you have on myspace that makes fun of fat people? "citizens for a thinner omaha?" you're worse then we are, the only difference is we are honest. Good luck to you too

The plastics and more inportanly I have never caused anybody to kill themselves and it was really lame to even compare what happened to that kid to us. I do feel extremly bad for his mother and his situation in general and I would never treat anybody like that online or in real life. I've gotten in arguments on MySpace but I have never once sought out somebody and "cyber bullied" them.

I love how people are making me out to be this awful person, when the people posting these things are part of The Plastics in the first place. Personally, I think ya'll have a lot of growing up to do.

As for the show, I think it's very important that people check the groups their kids are part of on the internet, especially on Myspace. I'm a mother and I pray that my son doesn't have to go through in life what I have, and that he doesn't get mixed up in groups like The Plastics. Granted, I believe that some of the members are really nice people, just mixed in with the wrong crowd, and what kid hasn't been?

I truly wish everyone on the show a happy future and they will be in my meditations.

You have got to be kidding me!! you are obviously hard up for material for your show. This is the most pathetic episode I have ever seen in my whole life! Any person who goes looking for the attention from a group who are only recognized for their bullying and then turn around and act like they are gonna commit suicide over it is sad. and what kind of a woman nearing thirty needs the approval of 19 year old kids anyways? She obviously needs to get out a little more. If you continue to put on shows like this you need to be taken off the air!

I watched the show about "Cyberbullies", and I was appalled by the fact that your guests, The Plastics, seemed to have no amount of empathy for other people. The fact is that we live in a big world with a lot of people, and I was brought up to recognize that everybody is important, and they deserve to air their troubles and have people listen to them, even if their troubles have nothing to do with the lives of the people who are doing the listening. After all, if we do not listen, we will not learn.

I was sickened by the total lack of human kindness - heck - human anything - that Jon displayed on your show.
I understand your attempt to get to his core issues that might explain his behavior, but personally feel that everyone has issues, but that is no excuse to act this ignorant.
I work in the fashion industry and see beautiful people on a daily basis, and was shocked that Jon would consider himself above anyone in looks.
He's a very average looking, non-articulate young man.

Love your show & catch it whenever i can - Sandi

umm teddi we are over 18, are parents are not the issue, I myself was raised right, and grew up in a strict mormon house-hold. What my parents taught me or how I was raised has nothing to do with this. Once you reach a certain age you start to think for yourself and make your own decisions. Maybe one day your children will do the same and there will be nothing you can do about it, so if you are going to judge anyone judge the people that are on the show and not there parents because that is a really bad assumption

Hah, I'm sitting here laughing at everyone getting so worked up over this.

I was a long running member of "The Plastics" and yes, as maggie said, Dusti was a huge bitch in the group...it was quite amusing. Heres the thing that most people are mis-understanding here... we did NOT go out looking for people to make fun of. They randomly showed up, acted like there were "all that" and we just quickly showed them they weren't.
When saying stuff like "We've been here longer than you, you're speaking out of your place" didn't work, we used tactics we knew would.

Lets think about it in real-life terms, not myspace.
It'd be the same as complete stranger coming in and trying to boss you around...you wouldn't take that...would you? neither did we.

hm...
its just funny...all of this over a way to pass time between classes.

I dont see how I was that mean.... and the "little cyber group" doesnt go out of our way to find people, they come to us. and we would toy with the insecure ones that wanted so desperately to be a part of this stupid myspace group. But yeah Dusti is a liar, she was in the group and was by far the meanest, and she is like 30 years old.

I can not believe what I am hearing from these young people on the show today. Cyber bullying is something I never considered! I am a Mother of 6 children, blended family, but I love them all as my own. We have four teenagers at this point. A couple of our daughters had profiles/blogs on My Space.com, and when I found out about it, they had to remove them. I have heard about many incidents of young girls being stalked or assulted by men on this site. I was scared for their safety. But I never though about bullying going on too. The kids on your show today are very cruel and they must have very low self worth to bring others down, for pleasure. They are dangerous and why are thier parents not putting a stop to this behavior?? Where are the PARENTS and why are they not monitoring their children's behavior and actions?? The internet activity of children needs to be monitored! Now that the parents of these kids have heard what their children are doing, they have no excuse for allowing it to go on!! Get involved parents!! The grown people that your children become, is up to you now!

I'm in the middle of watching your show on 'cyberbullying'.
These kids are 20 and under that are part of the 'plastics'...most just fresh out of highschool. They're still in that highschool mentality of making fun of people and bullying people. But now they can do it from the safety of their homes, with no fear of someone getting in their faces over what they said about/to them.
They aren't 'the beautiful people' in my eyes. Merely because their personalities are atrocious.
Most of the kids that were/are bullies usually don't realize what they've done to people emotionally/mentally until years after highschool.
Talk to these kids ten years from now and at least 3 of them (i believe) will realize what they've done.
Words do hurt.

I think real insight could've been had by bringing these kids parents in and see where this kind of in-human attitude of total disregard for everyone else comes from!!

Today’s show reminded of Groucho Marx’s line, “I wouldn’t want to belong to any club that would have me as a member.” What became very clear to me is that these kids who run the Plastics only have 'power' over the lives of people who give them that power. No one else thinks they are 'all that.'

It is sad that there are people who seek validation by belonging to an exclusive cyber group instead of participating in real life relationships. But it is pathetic that these group moderators would prey on that desire for validation to enhance their own self-esteem. They are no different than the people they want to feel superior to and too shallow to recognize it.

The show on bullying was a horror show of the 21st. century!!! What has happened!!! I was picked on my whole life!! I am a 51 yr. old Grandmother!!! You people, especially John, should be ashamed of yourselves!!! Dr. Keith, that boy John really need's help, he has some deep issues! You and I can tell by his MANNERISMS, that he is struggling with some identity issues!! I'm glad you aired the show, maybe it will help me with my grandchildren, Now that I have insite as to what is going on in these young peoples lives. Thank you!

I seen your show about cyber bullying & my daughter has had a similar problem. The difference with her is she knows her bullies. She graduated from high school last year and was a cheerleader. Some of the other cheerleaders are the ones who were bullying her. My daughter doesn't let it bother her because she knows the things they say to her aren't true. She's smart, beautiful and extremely sweet and I think the other girls are just jealous of her. I think the same goes for Ashley who was on your show. She's a very sweet and beautiful girl and the people who are bullying her are just jealous of her. Dusti is beautiful, also. That Jon jerk is just plain mean and doesn't care at all what he does. Maybe he needs some psychiatric help, Dr. Ablow. He just doesn't get it. As far as being ugly, him and the other bullies should look into the mirror and see what the meaning ugly is. I was bullied back in grade school, but I would always have something good to say back to the bullies. I didn't take their garbage. My friends remember me as the one who would always defend someone who was getting bullied. The statement "sticks and stones may break my bones but words shall never harm me" is absolutely false. Some people can take it, and some people can't, it's that simple. I think bullying should be a crime and these people should go to jail for it! Thank you!

Dear Dr. Ablow,

If Herr Freud is watching you, he is enthralled. What a contribution you are making to so many. The Internet is a positive and a potential curse.

How masterful you were today with Jon and everyone else. What an almost classic example Jon is of repressed hurt bent on retribution. He needs therapy before he becomes a bigger criminal.

Dr. Ablow, you are breaking new ground on TV. Fantastic.

Your so called victim Dusti was one of the meanest people in the group. She made fun of me while I was in that group. Dusti came on the show acting like she came into the group and was a victim. Well thats not the case, the case is she was a big part of the group made a fool of herself and people turned agaisnt her.

Hi I was on the show today, I'm Chris, not to be confused with Jon. FYI they edit ALOT out of the show, and they told us to say certain things... dont be so quick to judge, if any of you have any questions I will be more than glad to answer them c_diddy1987@hotmail.com or my myspace: www.myspace.com/collegefootballguru

I watched your show on cyberbullying and I too am sickened by the things these kids are saying. It is quite obvious there is insecurity within each of them, and it makes them feel powerful to put others down. I find it to be extremely sad they would spend their time doing such a thing, when they could do exactly the opposite and encourage those that don't feel so good about themselves. Think about the difference that could make! Dr. Keith, you are exactly right, those involved in this are all suffering from pain, but can't even admit that. How can they live with the fact they are destroying lives and even encouraging some to take their own lives? It's senseless!! They certainly need your assistance, Dr. Keith, I hope you can help them!!

In the past weren't people like Chris called a sociopath. What is the line between being a sociopath and a psychopath?

Dr. Keith,
I think it is a sad thing that people think they have the right to attack others mentally and emotionally. It would have been interesting to see how the parents of these bullies feel about the way their children are manipulating the lives of other people in a negative way. I have been through a lot of emotional and physical abuse in my past. One thing that really helped me to get beyond (not over) the emotional scares is what someone said to me along time ago. They said, "When you allow someone to control you on an ongoing basis it's like allowing someone to live inside your head rent free". I had to kick them out, in a sense, to have peace. By dwelling on it day after day and year after year, when they were no more apart of my physical life, I was allowing them to continue to hurt me. There may not be any "getting over it", but there can be getting on with life without it.