The very current topic of “Bullying and Cyberbullying” touched on one of the most burning behavioral issues in the youth world and was addressed in the conference organized by the Curinga Athletic Association, which was held in our town in the beautiful Mother Church.
Problems that have worsened in recent years with the ever-increasing negative contribution and involvement of digital platforms.
The coordinator Dr. Patrizia Maiello, in her introduction, highlighted how the bullying phenomenon deserves great attention and specific knowledge and the Atletica Curinga association, of which she is an active member, wanted to raise awareness of this through the testimonies of operators in the field , the various problems linked to the increasingly growing phenomenon.
Before the official reports, brief greetings were brought to the large and attentive audience by Elisabetta Prinzi, president of the “ASD Atletica Curinga”, who highlighted how sport is a valid means of combating bullying among young and very young people. The Councilor for Public Education spoke on behalf of the Municipal Administration. Laura Panzarella, who expressed her deep satisfaction with the event organized by the Curinga Athletic Association, highlighted how the bullying phenomena to which the municipal administration is very attentive are fortunately very limited in our municipality. The parish priest Don Pino Fazio, greeting the participants, reiterated that the Church and the Popes have also expressed themselves in favor of sport as a creative alternative to violence.
The report of the psychologist Dr. Caterina Gimigliano, also professionally involved in the world of schools, has opened a wide window on the Bullying and Cyberbullying phenomenon. Dr. Gimigliano, summarizing, explained that these are negative phenomena, characterized by violent and intentional manifestations, of a verbal, physical, social nature, repeated over time by a single or several people, including online (cyberbullying), exponentially growing phenomenon. A complete and timely report, supported as we mentioned above, by her professional experience which leads her to be in direct contact with bullied subjects, who tell their dramatic experiences and also with the so-called Bullies who are most often supported by a group.
The intervention of the Commander of the Carabinieri Company of Girifalco, cap. Pasquale Cuzzola, opened a further insight into the phenomenon of “Bullying and Cyberbullying”; in this speech, as well as the various classifications and methods, analyzing active and passive subjects, Captain Cuzzola clearly highlighted how the phenomenon developed following the widespread use of online means of communication by pre-adolescents and adolescents. He underlined the ease of access to PCs, smartphones and tablets, which allows the cyberbully to commit acts of physical and/or psychological violence, even anonymously, through social networks, and to offend the victim by spreading denigrating material (texts , photos and images). It is certainly an inappropriate use of the internet, made outside the control of adults. Clearly reiterating that all these acts are illegal and therefore punishable by law, starting with the warning in the presence of a parent. Much attention must therefore be paid to the use of information technology, pointing out that what is placed online will always remain online and can be taken, manipulated and disclosed by anyone throughout the world.
The monologue proposed on Bullying by Barbara Paonessa, Chara Zarola, Concetta Panzarella, Vincenzo Trovato, Caterina Brizzi, Annalisa Brizzi, Vito Paonessa was interesting and received long applause from the audience.
Excellent cultural initiative of the “ASD Atletica Curinga”, which has planned, in addition to the multi-year August marathon now in its 16th edition, various initiatives that will be announced shortly.
