Why do people bully each other?
Bullies are people who enjoy, for one reason or another, abusing and undermining other people, often because their chosen victim is different in some way. This might be because the victim is gay, from a different racial background, or because they look different or behave a certain way. Being bullied because you are gay is called homophobic bullying. Of course, nobody deserves to be bullied, no matter what their background, behavior or physical appearance, but bullies tend to focus on people they notice as distinct or different. The bully may also feel that their victim is weaken than they are - physically, emotionally or both.
People bully each other for many different reasons. A popular explanation is that bullies are insecure people who work out their problems and find the power and confidence they lack by bullying others. Sometimes this is true, but it’s not always the case. The bully may feel he has to act tough to impress his friends, who in turn are bullies. Maybe the bully has aggressive and unsympathetic parents. Growing up in a house where there is violence, a lack of love and positive influence can produce a very angry and aggressive person who communicates as he or she's been taught: with anger and by inflicting pain. Sometimes the bullies are victims of bullying themselves and have a lot of anger and hurt to deal with. It is also true – and seldom admitted - that some people simply get a kick out of humiliating and tormenting other people and this is all the justification they need.
Am I being bullied?
Bullying takes on many forms. It can range from name calling and verbal abuse to being physically attacked. Other forms of bullying include:
• Being deliberately excluded from a group
• Having rumors spread about you
• Having your possessions tampered with or stolen
• Pranks that are performed on you that others may find funny but that make you feel uncomfortable
• Being pushed or intimidated into doing something you don’t want to do
• Being undermined and made to feel less valued than others
• Constant criticism
Nobody deserves to be bullied and it’s not your fault.
There have been several children who have committed suicide after enduring unbearable homophobic bullying. Children should be told over and over again if they see or hear someone being bullied they must say or get help. They also need to realize if they are part of the audience laughing and cheering they are just as bad as the bully.
ReplyDeleteDear anonymous,
ReplyDeleteI agree if one is part of the audience they also are as bad as the bully. They should be held responsible. I hope schools will enforce laws against the bully and the audience.