Basically, I agree with the comment from StarryEyed. That pretty much sums it up. Bullying is indeed a big problem, and I simply don't accept that it's "part of life" or it's "kids being kids". We all have a responsibility to one another- and parents have a particular responsibility to ensure their children treat others well. Part of the problem, I think, is that parents seem to so rarely treat their children well. I doubt the kids ever truly know any real stability or security, and when you cross insecurity or lack of esteem with a culture that promotes competition and a general negative attitude, then all they know is how to deflect their frustrations and self-loathing onto others.
I see it in so many young people around me - they spend their time in public projecting a mask, because they're just too frightened to do anything other than sneer at the world around them. And in groups, they spend all their time with so called "friends" swearing and snapping at one another, even physically scuffling. Like a pack of ill-trained dogs, not as actual connected people. And they're so frightened. Never relaxed, always with their shields up. It's like they're not even truly there; they have to keep up this constant flow of aggression and disdain if they want to feel the slightest bit secure, and that means absolutely no self-reflection or self-understanding. Just keep that shield up. And then they pass it on to younger children who emulate them.
I once had the particularly unfortunate experience of observing bully-in-training. Two rather unpleasant girls from around my way (this was a few years back) decided to have the general mock-and-insult run on me (it was quite literally a daily thing- often many times a day- to have people my age go out of their way to be generally unpleasant to me. But I don't want to get bogged down in that). Well, they had the little brother of one with them, and he was, basically, learning how to bully. He copied their behaviour- grinning when they did, so on. But then his grin would fall, he'd look really uncertain and somewhat lost. I felt so sorry for him. And it really drove home that bullying is NOT some sort of instinctive "kids are cruel" activity. The vast majority of children treat others well, form healthy social networks- if they're allowed to. But this little boy wasn't being allowed to, and it was clearly confusing him. But he was eager to copy the behaviour of the older kids, like any child. He was clearly embracing the "lessons" even as they confused him. He was learning from his sisters, learning how to be the bully and mock and aggress unprovoked, and I have no doubt he grew into it. It likely comes as naturally to him now as it did in the end to his sister and the other girl.
Sorry to get a bit poetic there. I suppose I can only repeat my opinion that, yes, it's a big problem.
