Current Status
Using social networks, such as Facebook, has become very popular among figure skaters. It seems that figure skaters have a link that only other figure skaters understand. Good things can come out of social networking, but there is also a concern that negative rumors or comments about certain figure skaters can be amplified from use of the internet and/or social networking sites.Background
There can be bullies at ice rinks. Figure skaters can sometimes be the worst bullies ever.At some rinks, skaters get in other skaters' way on purpose. Skaters can pull other skaters' music out of line. Figure skating coaches sometimes encourage their students to cheer for certain skaters and to not support others in the same club. Skaters fight over ice time and over a coach's attention. Written recognition of skaters' achievements that have been posted on bulletin boards at ice arenas have been covered up, torn down, or defaced. Also some skaters say negative things about others.
It is bad enough that these bullying situations happen in the figure skating world at all, but when they are brought to the internet, something that can seem minor can get out of hand.
