It’s no longer about teasing, it’s stalking and nonstop harassment. And rape, as is the case with the monsters in Mass. It’s more feral. It used to be about paper throwing and spitballs and name calling, but that was tame. Back then bullies were dealt with swiftly and the bully was punished, not the victim for retaliating.
It hurt their self-esteem, they couldn’t take it.
I feel sorry for any kid who has to go through bullying, but I have to say, why don’t kids fight back? I was bullied all through 6th grade, 7th grade started and the bullying started again, in the middle of class 1 day I had enough, got out of my seat and proceeded to beat the girl up who was bullying me, the teacher accidently got punched by me trying to get me off of the bully. I’m not a violent person but I knew the bullying had to stop and I had to stand up for myself for it to stop.
Hell, we ALL had/put up with/knew bullies when we went to school...some of us, 45 years ago or so. But I don’t recall any of my friends killing themselves over it! These aren’t bullies today. They’re thugs who need the shite kicked out of them, just for a START!
I think the internet adds to it for kids.
Kids form a family feeling around forums and different things on the net, we do similar here on FR.
They get teased at school like we did but many now come home to find comfort on the internet instead of their real family.
Some on the net aren’t who they say they are or they play cruel games to entertain themselves and others.
Think about the teen who tricked young boys into sending embarrassing photos of themselves (he pretended to be female), then blackmailed them into sex.
That sort of thing happens VERY often on the net and not just to kids, but most adults are more emotionally equipped to cope.
I’m not blaming the net as much as the break-down of the family.
Kids have come to seek comfort and approval on the net instead of their family, and many once caught into something they feel ashamed of, are too embarrassed to seek their parents help by that point.
Here’s another sad, very sad story...
http://www.prefixmag.com/forum/prefix-forum/3703/
Change the cell phone number; obviously the target might need the phone for an emergency.
Decent children shouldn’t have to attempt to kill others in order to simply be left alone. If the government school system can’t prevent this crap, it should be abolished, period.
There may be many solutions, but I think the number one protector of a child SHOULD be the parent.
Perhaps in some cases, the parent is not aware, through no fault of their own.
But if they are aware, I believe it is their responsibility to see to it that their child is in a safe environment. Whether that means confronting the other parents, going to the principal, switching schools, home schooling, turning off the cell phone/Facebook, whatever.
Also children should be allowed to defend themselves just like adults are.
Continuing along the line of parental responsibility, the parents of the bullies, once made aware of their kids’ behavior, should be responsible to put a stop to it. Or have to pull their kid out of school. Or be held criminally liable for their bully’s behavior. Just like a parent is responsible for their child’s stealing or vandalism, or should be.
You have to teach your children how to defend themselves verbally and physcially. If they don’t learn how to stand up to the Leftists-in-training then how will they do it when they are adults?
And in NJ the teachers’ union pens an email with a prayer that our Governor dies.
no. a congressional bill will not address this. kindness begins at home and in the public square. look how adults treat each other on tv. reality shows - where meanness and deception are prized. just look at any of them. the entertainment industry glorifies bad character and villianry. look at the news shows where commentators routinely argue with one another. how about congress and the white house where angry diatribes and finger pointing are daily fair. anger and lack of self-control are rampant. kids are not taught ‘decent human being 101’ at home or at school. i think public society is doomed if we don’t return back to some kind of moral standard based on the bible. sounds puritanical but we have lost our way and you can’t legislate character especially when those legislating are the worst offenders.
Not sure when “bullying” became a crime but in my day full scale retaliation cured most cases of bullying. If it’s more than one you just have to get creative.
My child has full authorization to return fire as appropriate to discourage future unwanted attention.