Childhood Bullying

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   gmwilliamsposted 10 years ago

   
   Bullying is an insidious activity which oftentimes has a severely negative psychological impact on children.  Bullies signal out victims for varying reasons; none are uniform.   Bullies are like predators; they prey upon those who won't or can't stand up for themselves.  Bullies can sense vulnerability and weakness, ACTING on such factors.
   
   Bullying was once considered a part of normal childhood rite of passage; however, now it is taken much, more seriously as it was in the past.   What were YOUR experiences regarding bullying?  If you were bullies as a child, how did it affect you?  If you were the bully, what were the causes?   If you have children, are they being bullied and if so, what steps are you talking to stop it?

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      kj forceposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Very interesting subject of which I have personally experienced in both my childhood years, my Children's and now my Grandchildren...however, luckily it was addressed immediately and corrected.  People that bully are often victims of abuse , be it physical ,verbal , mentally or neglected and rejected. They are usually filled with anger , jealousy and by bullying they get the anger out and the attention they are lacking. If these factors are not addressed and corrected, after reaching adulthood escalates over to their everyday life, with society .The world of the internet is fast becoming a tool which is commonly used for bullying and  I feel every school should have a committee or group that can address this issue within it's own students, as this subject is becoming way out of control. Self-esteem and confidence need to be instilled in our Children at an early age...otherwise what will the future hold ?
      Thank you for addressing and sharing this issue..

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         gmwilliamsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         What you have eloquently stated is so correct.  Bullying is done from a dark source of hurt and anger.

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            Motown2Chitownposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            I think about this so often.  As a young child, I was bullied often, mostly because I was a white kid in a very racially and ethnically diverse neighborhood that was filled with a lot of bigotry all around.  As I got older, and we moved to a very homogenous area, the bullying continued because I was overweight, and then because I was poor...in an area where most kids came from fairly affluent families. 
            
            In high school, there was a girl who was SO mean to me that it often made me cry.  She never spoke to me.  But she talked constantly behind my back and did lots of whispering where she knew I could hear her.  To this day, I have NO clue as to why she disliked me so much.
            
            As an adult, whenever I'd think of her I'd get knots in my stomach and feel miserable.  Then one day, she popped into my head, and all I remember feeling was pity.  It dawned on me that for her to treat people that way for no reason was something wrong in HER.  And the strangest thing happened:  I felt compassion for her and found myself hoping that somehow, what had made her miserable and hateful had been resolved.
            
            After that, I started realizing there are a million things that make people bullies-and it is NEVER the fault of the person being bullied.  And ultimately, what happens in a child's home either grows bullies or protectors.  Safety, security, warmth, love, and examples of selfless love and generosity at home make children who provide all those things outside the home.
            
            My daughter is occasionally bullied, but she handles herself with dignity and self-respect and comes to us for comfort.  Most importantly, she never returns that treatment and her inaction draws a great deal of respect from her peers and superiors.
            
            

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            1. 85

               gmwilliamsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               To all who were bullied in school.
               
               
               There was a girl in my elementary school who relentlessly bullied others; discovered that she was physically abused by an adoptive mother.   Another bully was left back thrice in the 5th grade so he lashed out at the smarter students in the class.  Bullies come from a DARK place emotionally and psychologically.

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      mbuggiehposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      To be honest, I was never bullied until I got to Hubpages. I am stunned by the level of verbal bullying and abuse that seems almost commonplace here.

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         gmwilliamsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Mbuggieh, I have a thread relating to what you have mentioned.  It is sad that some in this community would resort to the blatant verbal harassment and disrespect of others.

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            mbuggiehposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            Hi again, and yes, it really is sad isn't it.
            
            I think sad is the exact right word.
            
            I will check out your thread...

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