[ClearCase_guy]

The big problem with bullying today is that the victims have a good chance of being victimized by the school. The bully picks on a kid, and picks and picks and picks. No downside for the bully -- it's just fun. Then the victim strikes back at the bully and the school comes down on the victim like a ton of bricks.

That encourages bullies and discourages kids today from finding the backbone to deal with the problem the way it should be dealt with.

[discostu]

I don’t think there’s anything new about that. One of the oldest rules of the world, quoted often in sports but just as true in the school yard, is the action draws the attention and the re-action draws the penalty. The bully acting first tends to get the authority figures looking and they always tend to look just in time to see the bullied rise up and start swinging. It was that way when i was in school 30 years ago.