We Ride Sport and Trail Magazine February 2017 | Page 50

SOCIAL MEDIA & CYBER BULLYING

Bullying is something kids do and adults grow out of, right? Wrong. In fact, I feel that it even gets worse as some age. The high school clicks that you were sure would dissipate as more important parts of our lives develop seem, at times, to rear their heads again later in life among groups you would expect to be mellow and supportive. Here are tips to deal with adult bullying so that you can always take the high road and keep positive.

My husband and I opened a trail riding facility in 2014. I can happily say that 99% of everyone we meet has positive thoughts and actions towards us and our goals. However, that 1% can present challenges to maintaining friendships and sometimes may even cause business issues. Learning how to deal with this behavior and to keep myself emotionally safe has been a process.

The Kenny Rogers song says it all. “You’ve got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away, and know when to run”.

Social media can sometimes create monsters out of very good people who become emboldened online and say things I know they would never say face-to-face. They feel safe on social media, as if there were no future ramifications for their behavior. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love Facebook and enjoy keeping up with people from different

avenues of my life

come full force on social media. From posting sly comments that only myself and that person would understand, to only sharing and supporting my competitors marketing posts, to leaving bad reviews that aren’t warranted are all pieces of bullying done by grown people in the equine world. I have other friends in other career fields, and they say it is the same for them.

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By Brandy Von Holten

Brandy is a ranch owner, horsewoman, instructor, competitor, judge, equestrian event host, a wedding host, a black belt in martial arts as well as a former biology teacher ranging from college to middle school for 11 years. She is driven, ambitious and confident. Operating out of her family ranch in Mora, MO, Brandy and her husband David are in the business of hosting a wide variety of equine events.

Mara Thomas and Cherokee

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"According to stopbullying.gov, bullying is an unwanted, aggressive behavior that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. Bullying includes actions such as: making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose."

Rambling Cowgirl Photography