Yesterday,
my granddad (I call him Poppa) asked me what Summer in the City was
about and why I make videos and do all other sorts of things on the
internet, and suggested to me isn't it all a bit “codswollop”?
Yes, he said codswollop. He thinks it's pointless.
I
use the internet mainly for social networking. I've met most of my
friends via youtube and other social sites and it introduced me to
the wonderful world of vlogging and the youtube community. It
introduced me to gatherings and Summer in the City, events that make
me feel like I am part of something unique and special that also
provides me with the opportunity to travel to places I've always
wanted to go, like Edinburgh, and a great excuse for frequenting
London. I once appeared on an episode of “Genius” by Dave Gorman
because of twitter.
I
explained to Poppa that not just youtube, but there are many
adventures the internet can take you on, whether it be new career
opportunities, raising money for charity or meeting amazing people
you never thought you would meet. The internet is changing the world
as we know it, and I thought it was about time I explained why I
think the internet is important. There is a lot of current bad press
about the internet at the moment in regards to bullying and the
ask.fm website, which is why I want people with concerns about it to
stop freaking out.
I
spoke to Poppa and explained that many successful youtubers have gone
and worked with the BBC, such as Chris Kendall, and Dan & Phil
who have regular slots with BBC radio. YouTubers who have made a
career for themselves as a musician, even getting their music in the
top ten charts. People like Charlie McDonnell and his mum who raised
a lot of money for charities. There were many examples, and I think
he at least has only started to learn that the internet isn't an evil
place full of trolls trying to make other people's lives a misery.
Poppa
mentioning to me what has been going on in the news with people
calling out for more restrictions on the internet, I had an idea. How
about encouraging people to beat bullying in a more encouraging way
rather than discouraging from the internet all together. I made a lot
of my best friends via the internet, and people who are having a hard
time can do so too if they feel like they have no one else to talk
to.
My
idea is to create a website, a forum in which people can post advice,
experience and their current problems in regards to bullying. A place
for a community to be born to help fight bullying. Bullying won't go
for good, it's every where you go, you can't escape from it. It's in
schools, work, the internet. It's in every day life, and no amount of
fighting it will ever get rid of bullying. It will always exist.
That's the sad fact.
That
doesn't mean we can't make ourselves stronger and build immunity to
it however. So I've decided to create the mentioned forum. When it's
ready, I will post it in the information box in this video and
mention it again in my next video. You can also look out for it being
mentioned on my twitter at @tarka98, or my facebook page in which
I'll provide the links for below.
In
the meantime, if you'd like to share with me the reasons you use the
internet such as youtube, tumblr, facebook, twitter – any of those
social networking sites, please comment below, as I'd love to read
them.
If
you have any stories on bullying you'd like to share, please comment
below, and I will try to share some advise with you, and I encourage
other readers to do the same too.
