Bullying is a problem in our society

[Nerdius Maximus]

The suicides are tragic, but it does concern me that people might try to use them as a reason to pass a bunch of ridiculous anti-bullying laws that will result in the "bullies'" lives being completely destroyed. Bullies are messed up kids who need guidance and direction. Instituting harsh legal punishments for bullying almost guarantees that those kids will end up criminals someday.

...yet another reason bullies just need to get their ass kicked in grade school.

I'd agree with that too. That's the best solution, but obviously it rarely happens. If the kids getting picked on could kick the bully's asses, they wouldn't be getting bullied. But yeah, getting their asses kicked would help them learn a valuable lesson that would be preferable to the school getting involved or even the law. I wish I could go back in time and tell my sixth grade self, "Hey, toughen up and kick some ass, damn it! Don't be such a fuckin' candyass!" If I'd have figured that out earlier, I'd have saved myself a year or two of grief before I discovered that a fist in someone's face is a pretty good deterrent.
Because let's face it, when the school gets involved, or the parents, the bullied child better hope the bully doesn't think he or she was tattled on, or else it will just get worse.

 

[KJbushway]

OK having the bully and the bullied go at it, I firmly disagree with that, the reason being is that after the bullied beats the bully's ass, the rolls of the two will switch, it didn't solve any problem. Most bullying nowadays is either verbal or Cyber. Not a solution or even a start to lessen the amount of bullies.

 

[Nerdius Maximus]

OK having the bully and the bullied go at it, I firmly disagree with that, the reason being is that after the bullied beats the bully's ass, the rolls of the two will switch, it didn't solve any problem. Most bullying nowadays is either verbal or Cyber. Not a solution or even a start to lessen the amount of bullies.

The roles don't switch. The bullied kid doesn't automatically become a bully, he just gets the bully off his case and goes on with his life. I'd only advocate that if the one being bullied is actually being assaulted physically. He should have a right to defend himself.

 

[Rush Limborg]

^Exactly. The right to self-defense is just common sense. Without it, we are all endangered.

 

[Mary Ann]

^Exactly. The right to self-defense is just common sense. Without it, we are all endangered.

I agree. I told my son who is being bullied that, should he ever have enough of it, to just whack the bully in the head with a paperback book or something else that won't cause a concussion (if you catch my drift). If my son gets into trouble I'll have Words with the headmaster. As I said earlier, the bullying is minor--more teasing, actually--and my son isn't bothered by it, but should it begin to bother him it should stop, and that's something my son with have to deal with himself as he doesn't want to be a snitch.

 

[bigdaddy]

Solutions???

Hate to tell you but this sort of behavior has been going on since the species came down from the trees.

Read some history, read some Shakespere, read some ancient Greek and Roman texts.

It's deplorable but we seem to be hard-wired for it....

Exactly. A few sick teens kill themselves and everyone is like the sky is falling!

The suicides are tragic, but it does concern me that people might try to use them as a reason to pass a bunch of ridiculous anti-bullying laws that will result in the "bullies'" lives being completely destroyed. Bullies are messed up kids who need guidance and direction. Instituting harsh legal punishments for bullying almost guarantees that those kids will end up criminals someday.

Exactly.

I'm not going around "I'm so glad teens are killing themselves!" but most of us here have been bullied and we didn't kill ourselves, there were other issues than the bullying that lead to deaths.

I live next to South Hadley MA where some girl killed herself and several CHILDREN are being charged with insane things. It's not their fault she killed herself, she tried to before and the school, the parents all failed her and none of them are being charged! She was a sick, slutty (if you live near by that actually plays a role) teen who was a bully herself that needed her parents and her schools help and everyone failed her and they are blaming a bunch of teenagers that don't know better to cover up the adults failures.

 

[KJbushway]

Your right in this case, its not that the kids that kill themselves are weak(their not), there something else in play.

 

[LitmusDragon]

I truly believe that bullying had a long lasting negative impact on my life. I was probably always pre-disposed towards a solitary existence and to being socially awkward with people but the bullying made it worse.

 

[KJbushway]

Always does.

 

[Tom Hendricks]

I totally agree, same with me as well.

I truly believe that bullying had a long lasting negative impact on my life. I was probably always pre-disposed towards a solitary existence and to being socially awkward with people but the bullying made it worse.