Do you believe that an adult can be a bully or is it restricted to kids ?

1. 74

   loveofnightposted 9 years ago

   Do you believe that an adult can be a bully or is it restricted to kids ?
   
   We often speak on children being bullies but those bullies do grow up. Do you believe that they grow up and stop being that way ?
   
   

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2. 79

   dashingscorpioposted 9 years ago

   Sure! We just call it different things when it happens from adults. Harassment, bossy, demanding, creating a hostile work environment, along with some well chosen "four letter words" that are often spoken under one's breath.
   I believe some people are natural "type A" personalities.
   People only change when what they're doing is not getting them the results they want.

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      Lady Guinevereposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      oooooooo  am a type "A" personality and I am not a bully.

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      dashingscorpioposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Lady Guinevere, Is that (your opinion) of yourself or have you gotten anonymous sources to confirm this? Unfortunately it's rare for anyone who doesn't like us to be direct about how they feel. Rarely is a bully called a bully to their face!

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      Lady Guinevereposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Did the psych scale and found out that I had many quailities of type A. Don't ever call a bully to their face, you might lose you face.  LoL..seriously.

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   4. 79

      dashingscorpioposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Amen! Only a fool would call someone a bully to their face LOL!
      They say the "funniest person" in any company is the boss. Everyone laughs at his or her jokes! (But are they REALLY funny?) They'll never know. :-)

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3. 74

   loveofnightposted 9 years ago

   i guess that old saying that some kids never grow up is really true.

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4. 66

   Lady Guinevereposted 9 years ago

   Oh no there are adult bullies in this world.  They are in the neighborhoods, on the boards, in the school, on the Police beat and even in the office.  Believe me I have had my share of meeting these kinds of people in all of those places.

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5. 0

   sheilamyersposted 9 years ago

   Adults can be bullies. Although I haven't been bullied by adults, I've seen it happen to other people. As Dashing said, we just use different words to describe the person, but a bully is a bully no matter what age they may be.

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6. 85

   CreeVikingposted 9 years ago

   Oh yes, they can be bullies and are. You can find them at gyms, workplaces, amusement grounds.The bullying takes on a different form when you become an adult as outright threats are illegal but they are definitely there. I believe that child bullies, if the behavior is left unchecked, will grow up into adult bullies. I do not believe that bullying is something you 'grow out of'

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      loveofnightposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      it is sad that it is something that they may not grow out of. i guess the next thing on their list is to bully their family.

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7. 0

   mothersofnationsposted 9 years ago

   Yes, a bully can grow up and stop bullying as they mature and deal with whatever situations lead them to the pain, anger and control issues.
   
   Also, I have indeed witnessed adult bullying. Matter of fact I have a family member who was a bully as a child, still is as an adult, and his/her children are now bullies as well.  I realize his/her issues stemmed from childhood, the need for some kind of control, as well as an outlet for his/her own anger and pain. They have never properly dealt with it and unfortunately doesn't see a reason to, (as s/he thinks they are "just fine".)
   
   It's sad to see this happen with children but it's also just as sad to see it happen with adults. I think it's easier to help the bully as a child than it is to try to help them as adults. Sometimes adults will adamantly refuse help, but children are more apt to listen to reason, and share the cause behind thier issues.
   
   As an adult, you have to find just the right moment to plant a seed that can help bring them peace and healing. Takes a lot of patience and determination to help someone who doesn't want to be helped but it's not impossible to guide a bully into healing.
   
   I rely on prayer for God to guide me in this. Lord knows I try.
   
   God bless you all...

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      loveofnightposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      i wanted to believe that with the maturity of years that wisdom would kick in and it would end.

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      mothersofnationsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I wanted to believe the same as well but unfortunately that doesn't happen so easily with everyone. I learned to lead by example when the door opens but to keep a distance when needed... And of course prayer - God is my sanity and all else...

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8. 0

   mbuggiehposted 9 years ago

   Of course adults can bully and be bullied. In fact, adult bullies tend to do what is called "mobbing" or ganging up on their targets.

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      loveofnightposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      interesting i never heard of mobbing before

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9. 68

   DaisysJourneyposted 9 years ago

   Absolutely!  An adult can be a bully.  Ever worked with middle management mentalities?  Insecure small people trying to puff themselves up by making others feel inferior is what bullies tend to do.  I saw it when I worked in offices and I see it now that I work in schools.
   
   I am very bothered by "public bullies" when I see a parent berate a child in a store or hear of a teacher humiliating a student in class. 
   
   One of my hubs is on bullying and I mentioned there that many teachers tend to be blind to bullies because the victims are sometimes the "annoying" kids.  I have seen this in my thirteen years as an educator.  The guidance counselor calls the annoying girl a liar desperate for attention.  The principal says the gay kid "brings it on himself by acting gay.  If he just acted normal, he wouldn't be picked on."  Don't get me started on how gay and normal are not antonyms in the English language!  I've seen it with the one student who drives most teachers crazy and is targeted by administration for every breath, eye roll, and word.  (When I told this student I liked his sense of humor, he started to cry.  He had never received praise from a staff member in a learning institution.)  Bullying happens and it comes from adults.

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      mothersofnationsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      That's so sad. You're a blessing for those children who need someone to offer them a little compassion. I'll be looking for your article on bullying. God bless you.

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10. 78

    jlparkposted 9 years ago

    Definately.
    
    In my profession - nursing - there is a habit we used to all "Nurses eating their young" - older, old school trained nurses bullying new graduates, or younger nurses. It's now called "Horizontal Violence" and there are usually things in place to try and curb/prevent it (doesn't happen so much anymore). 
    
    I've even been a bullied person - more than once - since graduating in my profession 13yrs ago. Though, not in the last 8-9yrs!.  And, whilst it's unpleasant, there were people I could report to when I noticed it, and it could be dealt with. 
    
    The experience has made me aware of how I do things - I make sure that any new nurses, or students, feel supported and make sure they know where to turn to should someone bully them.

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