I never understood the bullies or the victims of bullying.(going on a short rant here)
Being short statured because of a birth defect, I was bullied and made of constantly. If I said something to a teacher, I was labeled a snitch. A nun used to make fun of me even. I got over it....
Bullying can take many forms. Even condescending is a bit of a bullying. If I am a cashier that day , and an adult will say something pertaining to my height, I will look at them, and my demeanor gets cold fast... It shuts them up pretty darn quick..
Crying, getting upset, committing suicide just feeds the bullies ego....
I remember when Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue by Toby Keith came out, alot people didn't like it, because it made the USA look like bullies. I thought that at the beginning too, but after much thought, we go help alot of countries in need, Haiti, now Japan, or those signs of bullyng? I don't think so. After 911 , we went to Afghanistan and told them what's what...they didn't like it, but tough shit.
It's tough for teachers, and principles in certain situations. They sympathize with the victims, but have to stay impartial, lest they are accused of taking sides..
sorry end of rant
Oh Sea I see where you are coming from. It is because I believe that some society's want all to wear red hats , look alike, talk alike and walk alike. Much like the Chinese that have unisex clothing for all.
Very much a human nature problem here. When one person stands out from the crowd because they are the only one wearing glasses, wearing braces on their teeth, are way too tall or short fat or too skinny, everyone picks up on that. This like a black sheep in the field among the white sheep gets one attention.
We have found it is safer if we blend in with the population and not draw any kind of attention. Then there the renegades like me that learn not to worry about being different, we are what we are and have no problem with it.
I would think the bully instinct is caused by people that are fearfull of anyone different from themselves. Most times the bully has no idea why they are compelled to taunt or tease anyone different. People feel more safe and at ease when surrounded by folks like themselves.
Here comes the kicker, Sea, more and more people are doing their best to stand out from the crowd. You must see them every day at work, people with facial piercings, bright blue hair, woman my age with both arms tattooed and men and woman that have a bright gold tooth.
Bully's see these people as aberrations from their nice safe world and lash out.
They cannot change you and are frustrated and frightened.
I learned my lesson and developed my thick hide when after receiving 3 rd degree burns to both legs finally was able to go out to the beach.
Darn the rest of my body was fine I put on my bathing suit , grabbed the kids and finally was able to swim in the ocean and play outside with the kids.
Out of nowhere comes a man perhaps in his 40ies that stops me and flat out demands to know what the Hell was the problem with my legs. He then went on to say that my legs were gross and why did I not cover them up. This man was angry with me, I put the kids in the car without saying one word to the asshole and came home to become so angry that NOTHING ever again to criticise me ever had any effect.
I suffered through the fire and there is no way anyone can hurt me more. Call me a dumb shit, idiot or a sewing machine, call me any kind of names and there is, after the fire to my body, nothing that anyone can say to hurt my feelings. My kids learned a good lesson on this and no one could bully them again.
Bullying is all about ego and those that want to put you down. Big deal, forget the feelings that may be hurt and remember that much worse can come to you. The mental pain that causes people to become hurt and bothered is nothing like the pain of being on fire-----Screw the bully's, be proud of what you are, teach the kids to be proud and not let the bully's take their lives.
