Bullying, cyber or otherwise

[plastroncafe]

It's a topic I've been seeing a whole lot of in my newsreader these days, and seeing as this is a forum for comicbook/videogame/cartoon nerds I'm sure we've all a story or two of our own from back in the day...even if that day was yesterday.

Are kids meaner today? Or is it that there are just so many more ways and means to pick on the odd one out?

Should the schools be doing more, or is this solely the realm of parents groups?

And if we should prosecute this kind of behavior, how the hell do we go about it? Because let's be honest, if some of this stuff happened between adults out in public, someone would be going for a ride in a squad car.

[Katie]

It' not that kids are meaner....it' just that they have more outlets with which to do their bullying.

It's just a part of life I think. It is a very primal instinct to "prey" on the weak. Adults just have more mature self control than teenagers or kids. I was bullied terribly in middleschool because I didn't wear designer clothes or whatever. I didn't care. Honestly I just thought those people were sad.

Prosecute? Nah. I mean.....most bullies don't even know that what they are doing is hurtful. Kids don't really have that kind of intangible empathetic capability in their brains until they are 14 or 15.....which if I remember was pretty much when most bully crap stopped in my school. Prosecute parents? For what? My brother was a HUGE Bully....BUT MY PARENTS RAISED US THE SAME! One victim...one bully. No difference.

[Jester]

I'm not sure. I mean I was bullied lightly as a kid and I'm none the worse for wear, but then again, that was several years ago. Then you have cases like the poor dude at Rutgers who killed himself after his douche roommate outed him by posting hidden camera footage of him engaged in sex with a same sex partner. That's not just bullying, that's almost a form of assault. To pick on a persons hair or cloths is one thing, but this is nuts.

[saiyan_monkey]

My little 9 year old girl was bullied by 3 15 year old boys yesterday by throwing hard balls like basket balls at her. Boy did I let rip at them little pricks. They got the message and I havent seem them since. All bullies do is show thier own insecruities. I was never bullied as a kid but I wont tollerate it anywhere, anytime agaisnt anyone.

[BubblyShell22]

I was bullied in high school by this kid I didn't even know or talk to. He was just so obnoxious and mean to me for no reason. One time I asked him what I did to him and he responded, "You were born." That really ticked me off. But he did apologize for it in my junior year and said he was sorry for treating me so badly. I did forgive him because I felt it was the right thing to do. However, I think bullying is horrible and shouldn't be done at all.

I think that schools should really step up about bullying and talk to kids about it. I like Ellen Degeneres's idea of having a class on compassion and kindness in school. Maybe if kids learned about bullying, they wouldn't do it. There have been a lot of cases of bullying over the past few weeks, and it just makes me sick. People need to step up and do something. Schools need to enforce strict policies on bullying.

[shuriken]

It' not that kids are meaner....it' just that they have more outlets with which to do their bullying.
It's just a part of life I think. It is a very primal instinct to "prey" on the weak.


^^This. There was this one kid in Grammar school that everyone in my class (myself included) picked on. We just did it from like 4th grade to 6th. . We just made fun of him cuz he had a horrible stutter and farted when he got nervous.Little by little though, I started to feel bad for him and defended him on some occassions I saw him later on and apologized for a lot of the crap I gave him. Sometimes you don't realize how hurtful picking on someone can be.
On the flip side I was picked on during high school which got me into a few fights. I just made sure that I wouldn't be pushed around by some dumb pricks who thought they were better than you. Once I joined the track team things got better cuz our team was pretty good and sports somehow give you immunity to those sorts of things. As for the online bullying I just think kids spend too much time on computers in this day and age to actually be worried about that sort of stuff. Although It can be problematic when you're getting vicious threats online.

[BubblyShell22]

I think some kids don't even realize they're bullying someone either. Some of the kids see it as a harmless joke when in reality they're causing harm rather than just plain old joking around.

[shuriken]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101008/ap_on_re_us/us_bullying_one_town

I think this is pretty relavent. Kids being bullied to the point of suicide. Makes my stomach turn.

[azrael]

People today are such effing sissies. I am not trying to be mean. Those who have lost their lives because someone called them names or picked on them, they just needed a reason to do it. What was that kids problem yeah spying was wqrong on that one guy but WTF why would a straight guy spy on a homosexual if he was not already wondering in his head what would it be like. The kid that died should have been proud and let it all swing, omfg he is queer.... oh look he is having sex with a gay guy... damn thats what gay people do is have sex on the same sexed person.... I mean what did everyone think was going to happen when 2 guys do it? Its sad that this happens but people need to grow some balls and put em on the wall. Punch the bully hell if you lose then atleast you lost for a reason, instead of killing yourself over nothing....


I know what I wrote sounds bad. I instantly drop respect for people who commit suicide. The only victims it leaves are the people that loved that person for who they were, got no use for selfishness. I was bullied for many years. All it takes is for them to stand up. I take up for people all the time, the "weaker" ones. I ask them why they didnt do anything, its always a size issue "he would have killed me", I am to weak, and other crap all it takes is you asking. whats up bro? I dont even know you whats your deal? It makes them think, its all a mind game. Beat them in your head and you can take them in life.

Its ironic Columbine happens nerds kill bullies. Now bullies are killing nerds.
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[azrael]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101008/ap_on_re_us/us_bullying_one_town

I think this is pretty relavent. Kids being bullied to the point of suicide. Makes my stomach turn.

laughing at the girls funeral... something bad is going to happen to them something far worse. I hate to say it but maybe Columbine was tragic only at the end. She stood up to them, and they did not stop, well there goes my theories. People like that need to be taken somewhere.... I wonder if the headlines where the opposite there. I can see it coming another school shooting. sad to say it but damn it may happen all those people I would not be surprised if the parents do it.
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[Peanut]

Listen, kids who go and kill themselves over bullying are retarded. They're either already mentally unbalanced, or they're just too stupid to understand any better.

I don't give two sh*ts what anyone is saying about you at school, or how many times you get a wedgie, there should be no reason for a normal human being to kill themselves over it. How about the worthless parents do something? Don't call the school and tell them your kid is getting picked on, teach your god damn kids some common sense.

I'm not saying the school shouldn't step in, but you know damn well the ignorant pricks that pass for teachers in these places don't give a sh*t. As for the absolutely ruthless bullying that seems to go on these days, I honestly think it's f*cked, but I've also hated tweens and teenagers since I was one. If it was up to me, I'd find every loud mouth slut and gangsta ass retard and beat them the way their parents should have.

As far as bullying in my life, I was picked on for being small in grade 4 when I moved to a new town. I was in a grade 4/5 split class and there was some fat kid in there who thought he was cool for being huge. I paid him back in high school in SPADES. Aside from that one year, from grade 10 and up and was mean as hell to a lot of people. Not nerds, or ugly kids or whatever, but jackasses who thought they could get away with picking on those kids. *sigh* High School.

[azrael]

I completely agree our society is growing daisies when we should be setting stone. Everyone always wants to be politically correct and sensitive to others? Really, why?
Call it like you see it, and talk to a man like a man. When it comes to women treat them like ladies and maybe we wont have as many sluts.
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[PAAATE]

I completely agree our society is growing daisies when we should be setting stone. Everyone always wants to be politically correct and sensitive to others? Really, why?
Call it like you see it, and talk to a man like a man. When it comes to women treat them like ladies and maybe we wont have as many sluts.

HAHAHAHAHA, I don't agree, but at least you're amusing. Especially the last part. Let women **** whomever they want, why do you care? :P

[azrael]

Its a respect thing for women, you look like trash you nothing but garbage.
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[Koi]

The comments in here are starting to be a little ironic.

I don't think teachers should do more with bullying, the kid's parents should.

[***First of Two Latin Kings***]

Some people are just really easy targets for bullying. I only really do it in fun but people don't always take it that way.

I've also been on the other end quite a few times too...it's actually very hard to not become like your emotional captors over long periods of exposure.

A friend of mine told me that my strongest "talent" was picking out the one flaw or trait that a person is insecure about and running with it like a stand up comic. Most of my friends have been on the END of my abuse too. You take it, you dish it out...it's like that Katy Perry song "Hot n' Cold."

[plastroncafe]

Its a respect thing for women, you look like trash you nothing but garbage.

I think maybe your understanding of "respect" might need some tweaking.

[Turo602]

I agree with Peanut, just last year, this "gangster" was messing with me everyday, and I didn't want to go and beat his ass, because I would go to jail. But I stood up for myself and got up and was about to beat his ass, so the useless teacher that knew about this never took action and a security guard came just to split us apart and that was it. Now tell me why nothing didn't happen? He was in no trouble until my parents had to step in. The principle threaten to kick his ass out of the school and said his probation officer would arrest him if he kept his sh*t up. Simple as that, get rid of the problem in just one day. People got to start standing up for themselves and not be afraid to tell someone about assholes bullying you. I know it's really hard for some people, but it's not hard to get rid of stupid lowlifes like them.

[***First of Two Latin Kings***]

I know it's really hard for some people, but it's not hard to get rid of stupid lowlifes like them.

I have a great story that I'll share when I have the energy to type it up.

[shuriken]

What was that kids problem yeah spying was wqrong on that one guy but WTF why would a straight guy spy on a homosexual if he was not already wondering in his head what would it be like. The kid that died should have been proud and let it all swing, omfg he is queer.... oh look he is having sex with a gay guy... damn thats what gay people do is have sex on the same sexed person.... I mean what did everyone think was going to happen when 2 guys do it?

Its ironic Columbine happens nerds kill bullies. Now bullies are killing nerds.

About that "Kid" (wasn't he in college?) his roomate was just pissed cuz he would always lock him out of his/their room cuz he always had someone in there. So as a prank he decided to record him during the act, him not knowing that he was gay. Not only did he videotape it, but he streamed the whole thing. thus his secret went out, a secret he wasn't able to let slip but he did, and he decided to kill himself. It's f**ked up on both parts. As for Columbine there have been far more cases where bullies end up killing their prey (albeit indirectly)at some point or another than vice versa.
The parents need to step in on both counts. If your son or daughter is being bullied, tell the bully him/herself to stop it. If not go to the higher ups. And please tell your kid to stand up for him/herself. If you look and act like a rug people will ALWAYS step all over you.
As for the parents of bullies, get your sh*t together and teach your kid some f**king respect, there are already enough problems outside of school. I know sometimes it's not the parents fault and hazing happens sometimes. But when your son or daughter laugh at someone who just f**king died you are not doing your job as a parent.

[Katie]

I think maybe your understanding of "respect" might need some tweaking.

He wants us all to dress like pilgrams I guess.


I also agree that if you are driven to kill youself or take other drastic measures over being bullied that there are other deeper, more serious issues going on.


Also......see christian weston chandler........internet celebrity and creator of the one and only sonichu! That guy has a whole wiki devoted to trolling him and a new message board for discussing his behavior. Warning.....there is nudity on the wiki

[plastroncafe]

He wants us all to dress like pilgrams I guess.

It's a good thing I like buckles...

I also agree that if you are driven to kill youself or take other drastic measures over being bullied that there are other deeper, more serious issues going on.

There's no way I'm going to argue that, because it's hard to hard to argue with the truth. My issue with bullying is how quickly it can escalate to assault and battery. When someone says, "No. Stop. Leave me alone," others should listen.

Just because something is fragile doesn't let someone off the hook when they break it.

[azrael]

He wants us all to dress like pilgrams I guess.

No, thats not what I mean. If you look like a slut expect to be used. I prefer a little mystery in women I date.

As for the bullying issue. Its illegal in my state.
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[plastroncafe]

No, thats not what I mean. If you look like a slut expect to be used. I prefer a little mystery in women I date.


So....you're a victimblamer.
Good to know.

[PAAATE]

If you look like a slut expect to be used.

If you look like a crook, expect to be locked up.

If you look like a junkie, expect to be disparaged.

If you look like a nerd, expect to be asked computer-related questions.

If you look like a...... No.

Faulty logic on your part.

But regarding the topic... I was a bully when I was like 12/13 years old. I wasn't the meanest one, but I was the one that said the "funny" comments and got the laughs... I can't really say I regret it, because I think that's a big part of shaping who I am today, for better or worse, and I'm totally in love with myself, so...

[saiyan_monkey]

Just because something is fragile doesn't let someone off the hook when they break it.

I really like that sentence.

Faulty logic on your part.

I agree but that is how things are.

[azrael]

So....you're a victimblamer.
Good to know.

i am not a victim blamer, i dont mean if you look like a slut expect to be raped. i mean it if you look like a slut dont expect the same respect. and by mystery in the girls i date i a little exposer goes a long way.
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[Spitfire]

I don't know the full psychology behind bullying but I noticed a pattern. As a child all the bullies were mostly kids who came from broken homes. Divorced parents, junkie parents, and so fourth. I came from a broken home myself but I never saw it as an excuse to act like a douche. A lot of these bullies would play that sob story card when they would get in trouble. If you're that bent about it go see a counselor. The ones at my school were free no excuse not to.

I wasn't personally bullied much. In elementary only one kid ever tried to bully me. I decided to fight back and it ended with me getting in trouble instead of him. After that I switched schools, not because of him because my Dad re-married, and I was fine. In middle school I used to get picked on now and again because I would play Magic but a lot of kids did so it was more of a group harassment.

High school was easy for me. I got picked on a little because I used to wear Dragon Ball Z shirts but the only two kids who did it were always alone with each other and seemed to have no other friends. That was Freshmen year. After that I started dressing differently and people left me alone, and have since.

I got off pretty easy. I was always taught not to put up with bullies though so when I was confronted with it I usually responded with hostility and it stopped rather quickly. Not everyone can do that though and it's those kids that get picked on the most. Dressing in all black and dying your hair scares people off pretty well. I used to have people tell me they were afraid of me because I looked dangerous. Some of the teachers felt the same way and approached me with a little too much caution. My attitude never changed and I was always nice to people so it never really registered to me. My only guess is the Columbine incident made people weary of teens who looked like me. I don't dress as extreme as I used to anymore but I'm also around mature adults most of the time so bullying doesn't really occur in my daily environments.

[BubblyShell22]

Yeah, I think bullies are people who have low self-esteem themselve or have been picked on as well, so they do it to battle their own depression of being picked it. It's sort of the, "You picked on me, I'm going to do it back" mentality. The thing is, it doesn't help when you stoop to their level.

[azrael]

Lets think about it this way. A muscle bound jock (yes i will be sterotypical) vs. skinny computer nerd. What would happen if they got in to a fight? Jock would beat up the nerd, but the nerd would know more about himself and get respect.
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[Katie]

Yeah, I think bullies are people who have low self-esteem themselve or have been picked on as well, so they do it to battle their own depression of being picked it. It's sort of the, "You picked on me, I'm going to do it back" mentality. The thing is, it doesn't help when you stoop to their level.

I don't belive that bullies generally have low self esteem. I bet if you asked some kid why he or she was picking on some other kid the answer would be "because everyone else does". Groupthink. People are generally sheep who will go along with whatever everyone else does. (That's also a pretty primal thing.....especially for a species that evolved from animals that live in groups)

The groupthink thing is something that bothers me a lot about people. I wish we as a species could evolve to the point that it was ok to think for yourself instead of just going with whatever your immediate group is doing. You better believe I'm teaching my kids to make up their own minds.

[Scandia]

Bullying is always wrong. And so is libel and harassment.

Schools should be doing more. Not only more in quantity, but also different things to prevent and combat bullying. There should be harsher penalties towards bullies.

Sadly, often bullies derive sick pleasure from tormenting their targets. And often, bystanders do nothing- sometimes out of fear, sometimes out of apathy.

[BubblyShell22]

I don't belive that bullies generally have low self esteem. I bet if you asked some kid why he or she was picking on some other kid the answer would be "because everyone else does". Groupthink. People are generally sheep who will go along with whatever everyone else does. (That's also a pretty primal thing.....especially for a species that evolved from animals that live in groups)

The groupthink thing is something that bothers me a lot about people. I wish we as a species could evolve to the point that it was ok to think for yourself instead of just going with whatever your immediate group is doing. You better believe I'm teaching my kids to make up their own minds.

You're right about that, Katie, but I do think that some bullies are the way they are either because they're insecure about themselves or they've been bullied as well and want to get back at others by stooping to that level. The whole peer pressure thing is definitely a factor as well though.

[shuriken]

Groupthink is a bitch but that's how it was in grammar school with that one kid everyone picked on. Eventually it stopped but peers have that nasty effect.
As for those that have a crappy homelife i've seen it before and it always sucks.

[Lynn]

Since topics are more open now (particularly homosexuality) itmjust gives kids more license to bully someone for something else.

[BubblyShell22]

Yes, that's true and it's more common now to hear of people being bullied for homsexuality than just for the way they look.

[plastroncafe]

If kids would just stop being "different" the bullying would surely go away.

[azrael]

If kids would just stop being "different" the bullying would surely go away.

your a fool for thinking that way.

"**** skin color, everybody's blue
Then what would all these bigots do?
Instead of your tone, they'd hate your size
That's why I must poke out all of their eyes" -Violent J

I post that because i feel it relates to the situation. If everyone were dressed the same it would just move on to something else.
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[plastroncafe]

your a fool for thinking that way.

"**** skin color, everybody's blue
Then what would all these bigots do?
Instead of your tone, they'd hate your size
That's why I must poke out all of their eyes" -Violent J

I post that because i feel it relates to the situation. If everyone were dressed the same it would just move on to something else.

Missed the sarcasm, did you?
Mine was a response to Lynn and her use of "license".

[BubblyShell22]

That's what people want to think. Get rid of differences and make people the same all the time. What a world that would be. It's so stupid.

[Jelly Bean]

You're right about that, Katie, but I do think that some bullies are the way they are either because they're insecure about themselves or they've been bullied as well and want to get back at others by stooping to that level. The whole peer pressure thing is definitely a factor as well though.

Actually I read some where that "bullies have low esteem" is mostly a myth. Most Bullies have very HIGH oppinions of themselves to the point of being arrogant and cocky that when someone isn't as wonderful as they are they react with contempt.

[shuriken]

Actually I read some where that "bullies have low esteem" is mostly a myth. Most Bullies have very HIGH oppinions of themselves to the point of being arrogant and cocky that when someone isn't as wonderful as they are they react with contempt.

Unfortunately one can never overgeneralize these sorts of things. One kid's a bully out of contempt to his lesser counterpart, another out of spite and jealousy. Shame

[BubblyShell22]

I think with each situation it's different. Some bullies think they're better than others and love to tease the ones who aren't cool. Others have been bullied themselves and want to take it out on others. And some are just insecure and want to "fit in" with people so they bully if they see others doing it. It just varies. But it's still sad and should be stopped.

[Lynn]

I don't think anything has changed as far as cruelty. Kids have the Internet now to harass and bully, and I believe it's just another outlet for bullying.

[BubblyShell22]

Yes, and that's a sad thing.

[Ninja Turtles 25 Years]

I believe bullying has many variety to the reasons. My lengthy experiences have me believe that the cause of bullying is by: low selfesteem, jealousy, bad home lives, something they pick up from what they watch on TV, or those who think they're better than others, and too much freedom. Here's some experiences I dealt with from each bully type I know about:

Jealousy: I got a student of the month award my first month in middle school for helping out a disabled girl in PE sports with 5 other kids. For two months this Mexican kid kept on calling me names along with "...of the month." Some were: "Nerd of the month" "Geek of the month" "Loser of the month" "Dork of the month." Two months of that, and I had enough. I found this punk waiting in a crowd with the other 6th graders waiting to get into school before school, and I turned around away from him and he had enough of me being better than him and it turned into a fist fight, resulting in the both of us getting in-school suspension. So in the long run doing something good for someone to get me that reward resulted in a punishement. I was able to amount to something and he couldn't. He's the loser, and he damn well knew it.

Broken Home: This one punk, and he was on my case between grade 8 - grade 12. I never knew why he and his stupid jerk friends targeted me to be picked on. Rumor around the school was that his father was mean drunken son of a you-know-what. And he also was into some nasty things like "Bevis and Butthead" type stuff. He was a pro at reacting to some of the vial material from terrible TV programs. I know some people targeted me, including my own relatives, and I think it was my reaction. They smiled and laughed obnoxiously at me and continued on.

Too much freedom: It was the day before I started 5th grade and my brother in 8th grade. My brother and I fought terribley a lot, and some were so loud that people around the block were complaining. That one day my brother and I had a terrible fight that nearly had him throwing a wooden chair at me. Luckily my dad came at that right moment and broke it up before I took a hit. Another time and it was the last time my dad (same as his step father) ever saw him is when he was age 16 and my brother demanded a car from my dad. My dad said no because your grades slipped badly in the D- category, and you're out partying too much, you hang out that jerk friend of yours who beats up his father when ever he got drunk. My brother yelled badly at my father and my father didn't take that from him and challenged him to a fight outside. He said if you want to fight me, get outside, anything goes, and you will not beat me down. My brother gave my dad a nasty look, turned around went to his room, the next day he moved out to my mother's and step father's house and that was that. But hey I saw it this way I gained another room (which was bigger), I was at peace, my cats weren't afraid anymore and we were better off without that miserable jerk of a brother of mine who got everything his own way, got all the neat high-quality stuff, picking on his 3 1/2 year difference brother. Yet at my mother's place, he got the car, he kept his teen rebel behavior. Thank God my brother grew out of that after he left high school and college straightened him up.

Putting down others who seem weaker and less cool: PE class when the teams had to pick their members and I was the last one, the two sides pushed me back and forth like a pinball machine because they both didn't want me. I wasn't in to sport and I will admit I wasn't good at it, because I was into science and computers. Besides it's just PE sports and so what if you did or didn't win? It's not like you were going for a championship or a trophy or anything. You got your A for showing up in a school uniform, beyond that so what about the sport?

And some other reasons I don't know. A kid kept making these paper footballs shapped like triangles and would make it so solid and would aim for my eyes. Luckily he always missed. Some other kid, a much bigger kid would shine his laser pointer in my eyes. Middle fingers would go up, the name calling. Just name it and I got it. Even one of my teachers used this one name, I won't say it, and then it spread around the school. Everything that bothered me spread around the school. Now the only bullying I deal with is on Resident Evil forums, and drive by punks who roll down their windows and shout out nasty words and phrases.

I do feel for those who committ suicide and those who shoot out the place. Don't get me wrong, I don't condone killing anyone. Those who kill themselves got it so badly and no one would do anything about it. The teachers in these schools are too wimpy on the bully subject, and perhaps the parents have tried what they could do and nothing results.

I will admit when all else fails you HAVE to fight back as your last resort. Take this one kid who showed up on the news last week. Two Austrailian 4th graders (a skinny (bully) against a heavy boy (victime)), one kid is bouncing around the other kid punching him in the face, punches him again, then this victime who claims the school didn't do anything to stop this bullying for 4 years had enough, powered back the skinny kid involving body slamming him on the pavement and swearing back. The bully's buddies are getting the whole thing recorded. The bully is last seen limping. It gets worse, the real bully twists the whole situation around by lying saying the other kid was the bully by egging on. I hate it when a bully is caught and they minipulate the situation with lies to make his victime the bad guy. They are committed bullies by doing this. Looking at the skinny boy, he definately looks like a bully and a liar type.

PS: Sorry for being so long-winded here. When it comes to bullies, I do have a lot to say.

[Hannah]

Don't get me wrong, I do not condone bullying, but how does anyone LOOK like a "bully and a liar type"? Stop being so judgmental.

And really, Beavis and Butthead is nasty? Go back to grade school.

[Powder]

To me, you seem no better than them. "This mexican kid" for instance, you say that as if that's his flaw.