Matthews-Mint Hill - Carolina Weekly Newspapers

CommunityCyberbullying(continued from page 9)professionals.But why do people cyberbully? Hinduja,whose background is in criminalpsychology, said often the act stemsfrom a lack of self-esteem. “They’re tearingdown victims because they want tofeel better about themselves,” he said.Peer pressure to bully can also play arole, Hinduja said.“When you think about traditionalbullying it’s kind of conceived of asa right of passage, just part of adolescence… it’s justreally interestingto see with howtechnology thereare a lot morejerks coming outof the woodworkand being moreof jerks becauseyou’re an anony-Cyberbullying ResearchCenter founders (left)Justin Patchin andSamer Hindujamous personbehind a keyboard,”he said. “You’re not really thinkingabout the repercussions.”Even traditional bullying in theschoolyard now seems to have taken anonline component, Hinduja said, notinghe was bullied growing up and uses thatexperience as motivation for the center.“Now, it’s at home, at school. It’s inescapable,”he said. “(Growing up) I couldgo home and my parents would encourageme and I could get a break from it.This is totally 24/7.”Hinduja said a large number of cyberbullyingcases are likely unreportedbecause victims aren’t sure if the actconstitutes a crime. Part of the center’swork is to assure students that, at leastin most states, it does.Matthews’ Detective Ridge hopesto make that same assurance to areapotential victims.“(When people come in) they don’tknow if it’s a crime either, but they’reconcerned. They’re scared,” he said.“These things should be taken seriously.Please don’t hesitate. Whether it’s nothingor whether it is, if you have questionswe would like to help you.”Want to know more?For more information about cyberbullying,visit the Cyberbullying ResearchCenter at www.cyberbullying.us.REPLACEMENTWINDOWS Page 14 • Aug. 20-26, 2010 • Matthews-Mint Hill WeeklyANY SIZEWhite, Double-Hung Welded Sashand Frame Includes Bug Screen!*Up to 4’x6’Ask about our energy star products& how you can receive theWe don’t just stand behind our windows with theindustry’s strongest warranty, we stand on them!Land use(continued from page 12)neighbors even know the town is draftinga new plan. He only found out throughfriend and Mint Hill resident AdamKaplan. Staff said the plan has been listedon the town’s website, in area newspapers,including the Matthews-Mint HillWeekly, and post cards have been sent toarea homeowners.“I never got a post card. I check thewebsite and didn’t see it,” McAvoy said.“(My neighbors) don’t know about this.If they did, I can guarantee they’d behere and they wouldn’t support it.”Kaplan, who lives in Stonebrige nearInterstate 485, said he and wife Ericachose to live in Mint Hill because of thelack of high density housing which caninclude condos, townhomes and crammingmany houses built on small lotssizes.“That’s what I thought we were buyinginto, something more rural,” the28-year-old said. “I think a lot of thereason high density is coming throughnow is because that is what’s selling. Butwho’s to say in five years what’s going tosell? “(According to the plan) you’d basicallybe flanking the neighborhood withretail and high density housing.”But Kaplan said he has other concerns,too.“What about infrastructure? Who’spaying to bring city sewer down BriefRoad? Is that something the taxpayersare going to have to burden partially orwholly?” he said. “If you’re making acommitment to future developments ...I would like to know what that commitmentinvolves and what we are on thehook for. To me, there’s a lot of unansweredquestions.” qWhat do you think?What do you think of Mint Hill’sproposed Comprehensive Land UsePlan? E-mail your thoughts to kara@matthewsminthillweekly.com and we’llpublish them as a Letter to the Editor.For more details on the plan, visit www.minthill.com/CLUP. Here you can alsosign up for e-mail notifications upcomingland use meetings and updates to thewebsite.www.matthewsminthillweekly.com