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Stop The Bullies
Oct. 13th, 2010 05:08 pmWe're seeing a lot of stories in the news these days about the epidemic of bullying in our schools. As if this is a new trend.
Is it really getting worse or is it just being reported on more? Has our interconnected world of social media made it easier to bully? Sure, but bullies have found ways to target and torment their prey forever. The internet just makes it harder to hide.
Bullying won't stop until people start standing up and demanding that we treat each other with respect. This starts with us, the adults of the world. Stop being an asshat to your waiter. Stop taking your crappy day out on the barista. Stop showing your kids that the best way, the only way, to get respect in this world is to treat others like crap. Stop showing your kids that being different is wrong. When you teach your kids that different = evil and must be destroyed they take that lesson to heart and take it out on anyone that doesn't fit in.
And if someone tells you they are being bullied? STOP BLAMING THE VICTIM! Listen, really listen, and do what you can to help.
Parents, teachers, administrators, bosses - we all need to be more willing to confront the bullies, to tell them that their behavior will not be tolerated. If it pisses someone off so be it. Maybe if we all have to take responsibility for our actions, if what we do and how we treat each other has consequences, we might break the cycle.
See this post by lj user![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
seanan_mcguire on bullying. She is a talented writer, singer, and this year's winner of the Campbell Award for Best New Writer. She's also my hero and I hope to be as strong as she is one day.
Is it really getting worse or is it just being reported on more? Has our interconnected world of social media made it easier to bully? Sure, but bullies have found ways to target and torment their prey forever. The internet just makes it harder to hide.
Bullying won't stop until people start standing up and demanding that we treat each other with respect. This starts with us, the adults of the world. Stop being an asshat to your waiter. Stop taking your crappy day out on the barista. Stop showing your kids that the best way, the only way, to get respect in this world is to treat others like crap. Stop showing your kids that being different is wrong. When you teach your kids that different = evil and must be destroyed they take that lesson to heart and take it out on anyone that doesn't fit in.
And if someone tells you they are being bullied? STOP BLAMING THE VICTIM! Listen, really listen, and do what you can to help.
Parents, teachers, administrators, bosses - we all need to be more willing to confront the bullies, to tell them that their behavior will not be tolerated. If it pisses someone off so be it. Maybe if we all have to take responsibility for our actions, if what we do and how we treat each other has consequences, we might break the cycle.
See this post by lj user
seanan_mcguire on bullying. She is a talented writer, singer, and this year's winner of the Campbell Award for Best New Writer. She's also my hero and I hope to be as strong as she is one day. 