I watch a lot of CNN and this whole month the station has been having specials on bullying, especially in school. CNN has been exploring why bullying takes place, how it happens, and what can be done about it.
Stop Bullying: Speak Up
Now I might be cynical, but I don't think there's anything that can be done to stop bullying. First off, principals and teachers do very little to stop it because they don't have the backbone to deal with it, they're bullies themselves, or they don't want to be bothered. Second of all, as long as someone is sensitive, weak and/or lacking in confidence, they'll always be targeted. And also, bullying doesn't end after high school; it can easily happen in the workplace.
I do think something needs to be done about the suicide taunts, Facebook pages aimed at hating someone, and other forms of tech bullying. I also think when the bullying gets physical, someone should be arrested just like in the real world, and also when rumors destroy someone's reputation, lawsuits should be filed. I believe that form of bullying should be treated as it is in the real world and not shrugged off as "kids' stuff".
But I truly don't think bullying would ever go away. It seems there is some sort of mission to end it once and for all. That sounds naive and silly to me because there will always be that one bully, that one group of kids who go along with him or her to avoid being taunted, that one kid who is taunted, and the one school who turns a blind eye to it all.
I'm curious as to what others think about this issue.
And I speak - with great bravery - as someone who was bullied both at school and in the workplace, and is still healing from those scars.
Stop Bullying: Speak Up
Now I might be cynical, but I don't think there's anything that can be done to stop bullying. First off, principals and teachers do very little to stop it because they don't have the backbone to deal with it, they're bullies themselves, or they don't want to be bothered. Second of all, as long as someone is sensitive, weak and/or lacking in confidence, they'll always be targeted. And also, bullying doesn't end after high school; it can easily happen in the workplace.
I do think something needs to be done about the suicide taunts, Facebook pages aimed at hating someone, and other forms of tech bullying. I also think when the bullying gets physical, someone should be arrested just like in the real world, and also when rumors destroy someone's reputation, lawsuits should be filed. I believe that form of bullying should be treated as it is in the real world and not shrugged off as "kids' stuff".
But I truly don't think bullying would ever go away. It seems there is some sort of mission to end it once and for all. That sounds naive and silly to me because there will always be that one bully, that one group of kids who go along with him or her to avoid being taunted, that one kid who is taunted, and the one school who turns a blind eye to it all.
I'm curious as to what others think about this issue.
And I speak - with great bravery - as someone who was bullied both at school and in the workplace, and is still healing from those scars.