Cyberbullying is now so commonplace that 55% of children see it as part of everyday life. Research by the Anti-Bullying Alliance found that while 70% of children would turn to their parents if they were victim of online abuse, four in ten parents lack the basic online know-how – such as setting up internet filters on phones and computers – to address the problem.

To bully a vulnerable child to his or her face is despicable enough, but to hide behind Facebook or some other social medium is doubly disgusting. I personally, when young, tried desperately to help defend a fellow schoolboy, who was being mentally and physically (and constantly ) bullied by a group of young “good ‘ole boys”. Alas, a few years later he took his own life. His tribal persecutors are today, yes, good ‘ole boys” with nary a qualm, one presumes. I have to assume that they made themselves feel superior and more powerful at the time. I still feel disturbed about it. Epicureans don’t bully!