Thanksgiving, the Holidays, and the Unspoken Cries for Help
#RENTaHITMAN #WeSaveLives
The holiday season is often portrayed as a time of joy, connection, and gratitude. Yet, for many families, this period can also amplify underlying tensions, leading to increases in family domestic violence, bullying, retaliation, and even tragic suicides. For children and teens, who may already be navigating complex emotions, the holidays can become a pressure cooker of unexpressed fears and frustrations.
As someone deeply invested in online safety and crime prevention, I’ve witnessed how these struggles often manifest in harmful behaviors online—cries for help disguised as reckless or destructive actions. Kids and teens, unable to find safe spaces to share their feelings, may turn to the internet, seeking connection or acting out in ways that can have long-lasting consequences. These are conversations we need to have, not just during the holidays but year-round.
The Silent Epidemic of Holiday Stress
Statistics and anecdotal evidence show an uptick in distress signals during the holiday season. Family dynamics strained by financial hardships, unaddressed trauma, or unresolved conflicts can erupt into harmful behaviors. Children and teens are particularly vulnerable, as their cries for help often go unnoticed or misinterpreted.
In my years operating the Rent-A-Hitman website, which began as a parody but evolved into a platform for identifying and preventing violent crimes, I’ve seen countless examples of how the internet becomes a stage for these cries for help. Kids, teens, and even adults submit disturbing messages, some intended as jokes, others with clear intentions to harm. Often, these are acts of desperation from people who feel unseen and unheard in their offline lives.
Bullying, Retaliation, and Suicide: The Online Ripple Effect
The internet amplifies behaviors, both positive and negative. For many young people, bullying becomes a coping mechanism for their pain, while others use retaliation to seek justice for perceived wrongs. Tragically, some see no other escape from their suffering than suicide, leaving families and communities devastated.
Too often, these behaviors begin with unresolved conflicts at home or in school. In an age where cyberbullying and online harassment are pervasive, the lines between the physical and digital worlds are blurred. What happens at home can spill into schoolyards and onto social media, creating cycles of harm that are hard to break without intervention.
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What Can We Do?
A Safer Internet Begins with Us
I’ve dedicated nearly 20 years to making the internet a safer place, using my platform to prevent violent crimes and provide law enforcement with tools to address these issues. My work has saved lives, but there’s still so much more to do. The holiday season reminds us that while we celebrate, others struggle silently. By talking openly about these issues, we can bring attention to those in pain and provide them with the help they need.
This Thanksgiving and holiday season, let’s be vigilant. Let’s listen to the unspoken cries for help and take action to ensure that no one feels alone or unheard. Together, we can create safer homes, schools, and online spaces.
Let’s make the internet, and the world, a safer place for everyone.
About the Author: Bob Innes, also known as Guido Fanelli, is the webmaster of Rent-A-Hitman, a parody website turned crime prevention tool. Through his work, he has prevented violent crimes, saved lives, and collaborated with law enforcement to promote safety. Bob is now pursuing a nonprofit initiative focused on advocacy, education, and internet safety reform. Connect with him to learn more about creating a safer digital world.