Monica Lewinsky: The price of shame (a talk about online bullying).

[Natalia]

In this powerful and touching talk, Monica Lewinsky shares her experience of online bullying and public shaming, how society has been too accepting of it, and of the need for change with more empathy and compassion.

H_8y0WLm78U

[giovonni]

Thanks Natalia ...
There's a good buzz going about regarding this recent Ted talk ... :thumb:

[Natalia]

Thanks Natalia ...
There's a good buzz going about regarding this recent Ted talk ... :thumb:

That's good to hear :)

[grannyfranny100]

Natalia, WOW, I might have missed this outstanding talk if it were not for you!!!! It really is the fulcrum for a better internet and an upgrading of our national and global societies. I hope many Avalon members will respond to this thread with insights about our forum, too. Thank you.

[Natalia]

Natalia, WOW, I might have missed this outstanding talk if it were not for you!!!! It really is the fulcrum for a better internet and an upgrading of our national and global societies. I hope many Avalon members will respond to this thread with insights about our forum, too. Thank you.

I might have missed it too if it weren't for my friend posting it on facebook! It is a really good talk, and I really like and respect the way that she owned up to her mistake without too much shame, having healed most of it (it seemed to me), so true what she said about self compassion and compassion to others. She seems/feels like a beautiful and strong lady, to me, and quite the "perfect person" to get the message across.

[Daughter of Time]

I admire this woman! I applaud her!

It takes great strength and courage to find a way to redeem oneself when one has fallen from grace.

How horrible that most of members of this society entertain themselves on the suffering of others!

I remember talking about the incident as it was happening. My friends and I never judged her!

Even my mother, who is from a different generation, never judged her. She felt for her!

I wondered, back then, if some day we'd hear the news that she'd taken her life. I hoped she wouldn't.

People fall in love with people who, advertently or inadvertently, end up causing them tremendous grief.

My male friends used to say that if their other choice was Hillary, they would have chosen Monica. Of course, it's more complicated that that!

I really do hope we are moving into an era of greater compassion and understanding. If only people had tried to stand in her shoes! But that's too much to ask of a society that loves to judge!

[Roisin]

I wonder how much the Republican Party is paying Lewinsky to make these public speeches. Yes, she was made fun of and bullied by the media but what did she expect?

If she had any sense of decency.... or personal integrity for that matter, she would not be out there making a spectacle of herself as she is right now.

http://media.dcentertainment.com/sites/default/files/imce/2014/05-MAY/hi-res-starr-wars_536a4b2f37cdd0.62418420.jpg


Rest assured, we can expect to see Gennifer Flowers coming out of the woodwork to jump on the "I've been bullied by the media" bandwagon too.

http://i1.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article2285964.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/Gennifer-Flowers.jpg

[Quinn]

Thank you Natalia for sending/giving us that.
What a brave, intelligent, eloquent and lovely young woman.
Let's hope that this broadcast produces the changes that Monica proposed and changes attitudes.
Regards, Robert Quintrell, UK.

[1 flew over]

Natalia
Thank you for posting this.

It took amazing courage for Monica to give this much needed talk. The degradation and shame that is now spread around using the internet is one of its greatest problems. The lives lost, the confusion and pain caused to especially the young who do not as of yet understand the brutal cruelty of others who use their anonymity in order to boost their distorted egos. I wish that there was something to help alleviate the pain in the ones who are bullied as well as the ones that think that bullying others somehow makes them safer or better.
Thank you Ms. Lewinski.

Be Well
1 Flew Over

[Roisin]

I've changed my mind.... I DO feel very sorry for Monica Lewinsky though but in no way do I admire her. She's doing this for money folks.... as that's always the bottom line.

[grannyfranny100]

Natalia, this talk hit me so deeply perhaps because I grew up in the 1950s. By the time many avalon members grew up, much of the morals and ethics were gone. By then it was okay to do whatever you wanted and if caught, you could blame it on situational ethics. What became important was to get ahead no matter what it cost.

By the time the 1980's arrived I couldn't even go to movies because they were filled with so much violence. People were being trained to accept the crude and rude as standard and to demand even more visual stimulation to fill up the boredom and emptiness they felt.

As Monica says, with the advent of the internet, she was the first one to be tried in public. It certainly was not the era of my past where you could move to another town and start again if you learned from a mistake. I am glad she had a supportive family to help her.

Now it seems that people have to rely on internet forums to help them through. Where are their families and their friends? Why are they so isolated? Or are they not so isolated but just want to throw an online pity party where people won't know all the facts and will give them attention? And if anyone challenges them, they pull a cry baby routine. Or in a non-forum situation, they hit and run so they don't have to deal with challenges to their comment.

I feel that Monica's TED Talk has some real substance to be considered about our own behaviors. And I hope that out of the 260 views of your post that some will be back with some views of their own.

[Roisin]

But why, pray tell, is she suddenly the "bully missionary" just before the next upcoming presidential election? I think she's on the Republican Party's payroll... indirectly of course. lol

[grannyfranny100]

Roisin, you could be right. The speech was extremely well written and if she wrote it, she is quite talented. But what is presented seems so far from the warmongering position of the Republicans that I doubt they are behind it.

Is it that you think they could coerce her because she dislikes Hillary or she wants to get back at Bill?

[Bingo]

On the one hand we have the story that, At the age of 22, "I fell in love with my boss," and on the other we have the conspiracy theory that Monica was a plant, handled by Rahm Emanuel in order to track what Bill was up to, and perhaps compromise him.

I have no evidence either way, but since Hill is about to announce and since I doubt she is still crying a torch, I'd agree with Roisin: a big, fat check is involved for Monica.

[Roisin]

That's a possibility too.... the Clinton backers could be paying Lewinsky off but it's still going to look like the Republican's are behind it any way you look at it. :)

[1 flew over]

I've changed my mind.... I DO feel very sorry for Monica Lewinsky though but in no way do I admire her. She's doing this for money folks.... as that's always the bottom line.

Roisin

I do not admire her either. She may have been a 22 year old doing stupid things but she also kept her dress that had presidential semen on it so I have always questioned the motive for that. As to the possibility of her writing the speech she probably had help but you don’t get to be a presidential aid if you were raised by wolves or with a low IQ.
I do take difference with the statement She's doing this for money folks.... as that's always the bottom line. She may be doing it for the bottom line but it is not always that for many on this planet. Hopefully most of us are starting to evolve past where we can be easily bought like too many of our politicians.

Be Well
1 Flew Over

[jackovesk]

In this powerful and touching talk, Monica Lewinsky shares her experience of online bullying and public shaming, how society has been too accepting of it, and of the need for change with more empathy and compassion.

H_8y0WLm78U

You've gotta be kidding me...:pound:



She kept the 'Dress' and did what she was told...:wizard:

Now she's trying to create a new life for herself (Poor-Sod) and your taking pitty on the poor little intern...:cry:

...and What's worse is your falling for it...:pound:

Here's another show you'd probably like...:thumb:

http://www.cokeandpopcorn.info/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Keeping-Up-With-The-Kardashians.jpg

The price of Shame...(This must be an APRIL FOOLS Post) surely...:pound:

[Natalia]

Well despite any other possible things about Monica or her connections, or who may have helped her, or who she is or may be connected to, the message that she shares is a very important one for society in general.

[jackovesk]

Well despite any other possible things about Monica or her connections, or who may have helped her, or who she is or may be connected to, the message that she shares is a very important one for society in general.

So its not an (APRIL FOOL) post, then the joke I'm sorry to say must be on you...:scared:

TIP: Natalia, please be more careful when choosing your (Role Models)...:yes4:

[Natalia]

Well despite any other possible things about Monica or her connections, or who may have helped her, or who she is or may be connected to, the message that she shares is a very important one for society in general.

So its not an (APRIL FOOL) post, then the joke I'm sorry to say must be on you...:scared:

TIP: Natalia, please be more careful when choosing your (Role Models)...:yes4:

:) just because I see a good message in her talk and that she did it well, on something that is in my own heart (compassion and empathy), does not mean that I totally trust her or that she is my role model.

And, whatever she has done, she is a better public speaker than me, I wish I could be as confident at it as she is!

[jackovesk]

Well despite any other possible things about Monica or her connections, or who may have helped her, or who she is or may be connected to, the message that she shares is a very important one for society in general.

So its not an (APRIL FOOL) post, then the joke I'm sorry to say must be on you...:scared:

TIP: Natalia, please be more careful when choosing your (Role Models)...:yes4:

:) just because I see a good message in her talk and that she did it well, on something that is in my own heart (compassion and empathy), does not mean that I totally trust her or that she is my role model.

And, whatever she has done, she is a better public speaker than me, I wish I could be as confident at it as she is!

Don't be too harsh on yourself Natalia, not everyone is cut out to be an implanted 'SPY' :spy:

[awakeningmom]

I kept listening to this wondering what she was trying to sell to all of us? Internet clampdowns due to cyber-bullying? Getting rid of anonymity on the web? She was definitely polished -- a little too polished -- with forced laughs at self-deprecating jokes, long pauses for effect, and at one point she repeated a line for emphasis. Definitely a well-rehearsed speech, and likely not written by her. Of course she WAS a Presidential intern at one point, suggesting she's no slouch, but how does one get to be an intern at the White House? What family or other connections must one have? And what has she been doing for the last 17 years?

Back in the 90's when this whole "scandal" came out, I used to think Monica was just some poor naive girl who got conned by a serial woman-chasing President (a President I voted for), and then betrayed by someone she thought was a friend.... But now I know that nothing is as it seems anymore -- and most events we've been sold were orchestrated for other reasons. I've now read several articles linking Monica to Mossad, arguing that she was a honeytrap, and of course, the entire "Clinton-Lewinsky scandal" now seems like a complete bread and circus show used to distract the public from something else entirely. Still, I did like parts of her message about compassion and empathy. It's just that I don't believe she came out of the woodwork at this time for nothing. Waiting for the other shoe to drop. Oh how cynical I've grown!

[Flash]

She has been used and abused from her internship with the president and more, potentially pushed by Mossad agents, but at 22, she was used by Mossad if anything, not a paid shill.

What if she is an innocent MKUltra programmed presidential profile person. This would mean that she would have been programmed since childhood and used since.

Anyhow, I do believe that the only thing she must have wanted for years was to suicide, like many Young girls and women who are bullied on the net and that she brings a worthwhile message. I also do think that any potential real career was ruined for her.

Bringing it out at this moment may have something to do with politics, but i doubt it. Once you have been around teenagers and their incredibly heavy web bullying, girls being pushed to do strip shows on Skype for their boyfriend and unknowingly being taped and published, even fake shows (someone else body with the head of the targetted victim for example), you understand that the problem has to be adressed.

[Becky]

Well whatever the intention behind this talk - whether it's money or for a political party, or whatever....the words she spoke are powerful and true and very positive. For this reason I think it's a very good speech and hope it does genuine good. I hope it makes people think about the effect they have when spreading rumours or criticising the actions of others.
There is too little compassion and empathy online; too many people wanting to share gossip or be quick to criticise without knowing the full facts about any given situation...and this balance needs to be redressed.
Thank you Natalia for sharing this with us here on Avalon,
Becky

[Kryztian]

I have to admit, I did not want to like this video. Monica Lewinsky is someone who's name we should have never heard of, but because we did, the consciousness of millions was focused on a rather trivial and embarrassing incident - which instead, could have been directed towards understanding what is really wrong in this world. So when I saw this post I thought "I wish she would just go away, what the heck is TED using her for."

As her talk progressed, I thought that by discussing the internet trolling phenomena, she was going to appeal for an end to free speech on the Internet. She didn't. Instead, she just gave us some ideas about how we need to appeal to our higher selves and combat trolling what it does happen on the Internet.

Do I "feel sorry" for Monica Lewinsky? Well, I try not to, just as I did and tried 15 years ago not to have any feelings for her then (not with 100% success). Since I do not know here personally, she is just a celebrity, a person I know through the filter of the media. The media is always trying to get us sucked into the cult of celebrity, of parading individuals before us and idolizing or demonizing them, of manipulating our emotions of love and hate and getting us to direct them into our TV screen. I have tried to resist this temptation of directing my energy into a TV set and have been pretty successful, but still need to try harder.

So was this TED talk worthy of my attention? Well, her message was clear, constructive, relevant to her personal story and our time now. And having had her name bantered about in the media (including 40 raps songs) for so long, I think she does deserve those 22 minutes, and used the time well.