“My name is Tony Stark and I’m not afraid of you” – Tony Stark aka Iron Man in Iron Man 3 (2013)
Some of you might have seen the screenshot of the message that I received on Friday. I wanted to ignore it, because frankly, it annoyed me more than it upset me, but I thought about it and by ignoring it, I am making light of the bullying that so many teens and girls have to endure day after day.
To the person who sent it, I have this to say. I wonder how you got my number because I don’t give it out in a hurry so I’m guessing that I know you. I don’t even care to know who you are, I just urge you to not do this to anyone else. I am not afraid of you, as a Muslim, I fear Allah only.
Please sit down and ask yourself what you hoped to achieve by sending this anonymous text. Did you want me to feel bad about the way I look and my body? Because all you’ve done is made me love and appreciate what Allah has given even more. Did you want me to feel alone and isolated? Because you’ve just made me love and appreciate my friends, family, followers and readers even more. You have made me realize that if my presence can impact someone enough to take the time to buy a prepaid sim card and send an anonymous text, then my presence means something and it can inspire people to innovate and follow their dreams. You gave me a beautiful lesson in how strong I can be. Body shaming and making light of eating disorders is just not okay. Most people are just trying to find ways to love themselves and you have no right to play God and try to take that love away from them!
Bullying is a disease; it is a plague that knows no borders and boundaries. With technology now, anonymity is the order of the day and it is so easy to say horrid things to someone without them knowing who it is. We have to make an effort to be kind to each other.
To anyone reading this that is being bullied, I have this to say. You are NOT alone. There are many helplines you can call and websites you can visit, which I have put into an image below. If you are getting anonymous text messages that are hateful and harass you, you can report them to the police and open up a case because that is not legal. Remember that the person who is bullying you is the one with the problem and not you. What they are saying isn’t true at all. God made you your beautiful unique self and you shouldn’t let anyone take that away from you.
Have a look at Cybercrime’s definition for Cyberbulling here.
Victim shaming is also something that is quite rampant in our society. Parents, siblings, teachers, any figure of authority or trust reading this; if someone tells you they are being bullied, please take them seriously. Don’t say stuff like “it’s your fault.” We have to breed a society where our children and teens can feel safe and be kind. Believe me; you don’t want it to be too late. And if someone can be hurtful and violent with their words, there is no guarantee that they won’t be violent with their hands and feet.
I’ve listed some resources below that might be able to give you some extra insight and help you out if you or someone you love is being cyberbullied.
DOC – Department of Communications – Child Online Protection
ECS-CSIRT – Electronic Communications Security – Computer Security Incident Response Team
FPB – Film and Publication Board – Pro Child
ISPA – Internet Service Providers’ Association – Code of Conduct
SAPS – South African Police Service – Youth Desk
UJ Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security
ECS-CSIRT – Electronic Communications Security – Computer Security Incident Response Team
FPB – Film and Publication Board – Pro Child
ISPA – Internet Service Providers’ Association – Code of Conduct
SAPS – South African Police Service – Youth Desk
UJ Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security
I just hope that this experience can be a productive lesson to us all, instead of something ugly and allowing the bully to win. I am a Muslim and my religion teaches me about peace, love and acceptance.
If you are having issues with bullies and you want to talk to someone about it, you can email me on zaakiram@hotmail.com
Until next time,
Love, peace, kindness and sparkles
Zaakira xox
Absolutely shocking and completely unacceptable for people to treat others like this. Big Hugs to you. You are beautiful, talented and kind hearted – you do not deserve this kind of treatment and good for you to share this and turn it into something positive. XXX
Your response is perfect and will be inspiring to others, good on you for not letting it get you down! I have been incredibly lucky with social media and my blog, but I was bullied as a child and I know it can really affect a person's life.
Wow, what a sad, cowardly, immature act. I battle to comprehend that people like that exist. One can only surmise that they are deeply miserable & lost souls without lives. Keep shining. -x-
That's disgusting! I can't believe someone would take the time to send such a disparaging message to someone else. Your response has been admirable. You don't deserve that. You're a beautiful person and you need to shrug that negativity off 🙂 xx
Zaakira, thank you for being an inspiration to girls out there struggling with accepting their appearance in this crazy world!
I love that rather than stooping to their cheap level, you responded in the most dignified manner!
People really don't understand that just one message, if sent at the wrong time, could push the person over the edge!
It is disgusting what people will do for a bit of attention. Insecure people will always try and put confident and successful people down. You are beautiful, both inside and out, and have an insane sense of fashion, you are you, nobody can take that away from you, thank goodness! Keep your head high, and keep doing what you do. This is an excellent post, and I am sure it will make a difference in at least one persons life. Allah will deal with those with dirty hearts, you just keep yours clean as you have until now 🙂
I am shocked and utterly disgusted in that message you received!!!! Cyberbullying happens for many of the same reasons as any other type of bullying, but it may be even more appealing to some because it can be done anonymously. Cyberbullying allows bullies to avoid facing their victims, so it requires less courage and provides the illusion that bullies won’t get caught….which is totally unacceptable!!!! I think you addressed this topic well!!! You are incredible, adorable, lovable, wonderful, powerful, perfectly beautiful just the way you are.. words cant bring you down, no matter what they say 🙂 xx
So Proud of you for turning a negative into a positive, such a shame people have to bring others down in order to feel better about themselves.
You rock and you keep up the awesome blogging.
x H
I'm so sorry this happened to you, no matter how confident you may already be, this kind of thing is something no one should ever have to experience. Well done for sharing it and offering advice to others. I really hope the person who sent this reads it, and perhaps thinks twice before sending something else again. xx
Thank you so much for your kind words honey! xxx
I am so sorry to hear that you were bullied as a child 🙁 You are such a lovely woman today and so strong too! Thanks for your lovely comment! xxx
Thank you hun! xxx
You are always so sweet and kind Chicara! xxx
Thank you so much for your comment sweetie! You are so right! Not everyone has strong support systems and people don;t understand how dangerous their words are! xxx
Thank you so so much for your compliments! You are so sweet! InshaAllah 🙂 xxx
Thanks so much for your lovely words Heather! xxx
Thanks for your comment hunny! I really hope so too! xxx
What a brilliant post, Zaakira! It was the best response to that disgusting, evil, grammatically poor message.
Bullying is an issue which needs to be taken more seriously, and posts like yours are definitely going to be incredibly helpful to many.
xx, Charlene 🙂