You are talking about real bullying, which is sickening and should stop. And then there’s asking for a small piece of cake, which some other people think is bullying, but it’s not. And pretending that is bullying, I would argue, is making it harder to deal with real bullying.
You are talking about real bullying, which is sickening and should stop. And then there’s asking for a small piece of cake, which some other people think is bullying, but it’s not. And pretending that is bullying, I would argue, is making it harder to deal with real bullying.
No argument on that point, but English really need to invent a different word for what you talk about. I guess harassment wouldn't work, since it has a legal definition?
Here, bullying means what I describe. What you talk about would fall under "someone being an idiot".
I think the word is "mockery". I got stabbed with a pencil in the third grade--that was bullying. I got called Laura Kelly Jelly Belly in junior high--that was mockery that induced me to lose weight.
If it happens once or twice, yes. If it happens all the time, no - then its bullying. Especially if it continues when the kids doing it are told by adults to stop.
If you've seen 'Carrie', it shows a perfect example of what bullying can look like: continuous persecution of someone, for no other reason than to harass them.
And then there was the schoolyard incident where shy little ol me is surrounded by six (taller, meaner) taunting grade schoolers. My back literally against the wall, scared shitless, I picked one girl and punched her in the face. And ran! That was the end of the bullying.
Occasionally, that works. And when it does it gives the supposed victim a wonderful sense of ability.
Mostly when attempted, the bullied kid gets a beating. That's the normal course of things.
The decider is this: is it an otherwise normal kid, psychologically speaking or is it a kid with a sadistic personality (or even a budding disorder)?
On a normal kid, being hurt by someone fighting back might work - might. On a kid with a disorder, it only triggers more and stronger violence.
I've seen both, which is why I'm a staunch opponent of putting the "damaged goods" kids in normal school and normal classes, and a strong proponent for making it easy to discipline or expel misbehaving students.
You are talking about real bullying, which is sickening and should stop. And then there’s asking for a small piece of cake, which some other people think is bullying, but it’s not. And pretending that is bullying, I would argue, is making it harder to deal with real bullying.
No argument on that point, but English really need to invent a different word for what you talk about. I guess harassment wouldn't work, since it has a legal definition?
Here, bullying means what I describe. What you talk about would fall under "someone being an idiot".
I think the word is "mockery". I got stabbed with a pencil in the third grade--that was bullying. I got called Laura Kelly Jelly Belly in junior high--that was mockery that induced me to lose weight.
If it happens once or twice, yes. If it happens all the time, no - then its bullying. Especially if it continues when the kids doing it are told by adults to stop.
If you've seen 'Carrie', it shows a perfect example of what bullying can look like: continuous persecution of someone, for no other reason than to harass them.
And then there was the schoolyard incident where shy little ol me is surrounded by six (taller, meaner) taunting grade schoolers. My back literally against the wall, scared shitless, I picked one girl and punched her in the face. And ran! That was the end of the bullying.
Occasionally, that works. And when it does it gives the supposed victim a wonderful sense of ability.
Mostly when attempted, the bullied kid gets a beating. That's the normal course of things.
The decider is this: is it an otherwise normal kid, psychologically speaking or is it a kid with a sadistic personality (or even a budding disorder)?
On a normal kid, being hurt by someone fighting back might work - might. On a kid with a disorder, it only triggers more and stronger violence.
I've seen both, which is why I'm a staunch opponent of putting the "damaged goods" kids in normal school and normal classes, and a strong proponent for making it easy to discipline or expel misbehaving students.
Bullies are cowards, who only respond to force. I gave a bully a bloody nose once, and after that he wanted to be my friend. I told him to get lost.