Bullying
 

I realize that this is a pretty broad topic, but I have some thoughts on it, so please bear with me.

Lately, I've been an assistant teacher in a high school in the USVI where I've seen a lot of bullying. I think it's something that we're all pretty familiar with. Whether we were/are bullies or were/are bullied, it's something we've all encountered. Even here on this forum, I've seen what people can get like when they decide that someone has a flaw, and so - as a group - they attack that person, if only to feel stronger. (Psychologically, if a group of people outcast one person, the group will feel stronger as a whole.) There are a few kids in the class I teach who go out of their way to bully everyone around them.

Seeing these kids bully others reminds me of my own time in junior high school. I was a huge bully myself. For a few years, I went out of my way to attack anyone. Eventually, I realized it came out of insecurities, because during elementary school, I was the school's main victim for bullying. I was one of the only lower class black girls in the school, so that made me different from others. By the time I reached college, I realized that as long as I'm secure with myself, I won't care what others think about me - and that, if anyone has issues with me, that most likely stems from their own insecurities. I've tried explaining this to the bullies in the class I now teach, but I'm not sure if I'm really reaching them.

I'd like to know people's thoughts on the broad issue of bullying, but if you have any advice, that would be great too. =)

Eh, maybe I care too much, but I wouldn't be able to ignore bullying. It's something that can really affect how a person thinks and lives. Even if it's not for the bully's benefit, as a teacher I have to stop bullying if I see it for the victim's sake.

I think all things are bullies and are bullied in some shape or form.

I'm not sure if that's true. Bullying is a way of getting control. I can understand if a bully was like me - someone who was bullied and so bullied others because of that. However, I don't think that all people are bullies. There are plenty of people who realize that they don't need to feel like they're in control by bullying others.

I've actually never encountered a real life bully before.
I've only seen the giant, overweight ones in the movies.

That fart in your mouth and say "Eat this beef stew!!!!111!!!"

EXACTLY! LOL,
I recall seeing that in a movie,
but I can't remember the title!

Or the ones that give you 'wedgies' and hang you up on fences.
I've never encountered this before.

I have encountered some thug-students while I attended a public middle school in LA. They were mostly Hispanic, I'd see them gang up on kids and steal their shoes and such.

I always forget what movie its from aswell.

LOL Did they throw them up on telephone lines?

LOL, no they just took them and I'd see the kids crossing the street after school in their socks...
I just snickered under my breath to myself... I've never encountered any bullying personally.