What is bullying? There are many definitions of bullying, especially in today’s electronic day and age! So, according to my friend Webster, bullying is defined as “seek to harm, intimidate, or coerce (someone perceived as vulnerable)”. Okay, I get that….bully’s are basically assholes. But assholes can come in many shapes or forms, my friends!
When I was a kid a bully was some other punk kid who stole your lunch money or mocked you on the playground! Even adults know how to bully! Bullying has been around since Adam and Eve – look at Eve! She bullied poor Adam into taking a bite of that apple, if you really think about it! The principal of my elementary school tried to bully my mom because of an incompetent office worker who didn’t mark me as an excused absence – but my mom didn’t back down (way to go, Virg!). And then there was that one and only time in 6th grade where I, yes ME, was the bully! Guess what happened, friends?!?! She beat the crap out of me – bullying is not a fun thing to do!
Bullying today is on a whole new level, my friends! The anonymity afforded by the use of social media mistakenly allows for a false sense of security, that I know for sure! My daughter, unfortunately, was a victim of cyber-bullying and racist ignorance! But guess what?!?! She didn’t back down! No, just the opposite – she, politely, told the little shit how wrong he was and to go f**k himself! But, she took it a step further and made a copy of the entire conversation and sent it to the principal of his school! What is going to happen is anyone’s guess.
My point is this – bullying is a behavioral tactic that is used by scared, insecure people who are often treated as if their existence is insignificant. It is a way of asserting power over a situation or person they wish to manipulate. Bullying is an attempt to take away someone’s power. Teach your children to stand up for themselves and to stand up for others! Teach them that they have the power to fight back when they are bullied and teach them to use their power!
Getting rid of social media is not the answer – limiting usage, sure – teaching our children to use their voice is the greatest lesson we can teach them. Heck, teaching each other to use our voice wouldn’t be such a bad idea, either!
Be kind to one another and be kind to yourselves! Goodnight!
What is it to be ME? To be YOU? To be HUMAN? 