Being a topic that has been in the news a lot lately, bullying in schools is something I've been giving thought to, remembering my own experiences. The media has been focusing a lot on specific groups, particularly gays, which I feel is the wrong approach. Instead of trying to set up various 'exemptions' from bullying (which is often not bullying but harassment or even assault, which are crimes if you do them against adults), I think they should be pushing the idea that it is never acceptable to harass or intimidate anyone for any reason at school. These bullies need to be made to understand that they do not have that right, to decide to pay that much attention to another person's existence in sucha way as to make that person's life unbearable. School is for education. During my school days, which is the time in life when it matters most to oneself and one's peer group, I was considered to be good-looking. I have often reflected on that in recent years, when maintaining one's appearance takes more effort. What was it like for someone who had to go through those years without 'looks'? I knew some kids who were teased a lot for that. I'm not talking about appearance here. Your clothes, your hair, your weight, your level of hygiene, while it might be painful to be teased over those things, you do have some level of control over those. So I have thought, over time, how really fortunate I was not to be that kind of target. People generally grow up and stop judging others harshly for what they are rather than what they do. Getting to my point - name calling over looks, age, physical disability. I can take it, aimed at myself. I don't care, for myself. I do however care that someone feels free to pollute this site with the most asinine, vicious, vile mentality that SOME of my fellow human beings truly suffered from exposure to in their lives. It is truly sickening. Not even funny from a five year old. That an adult, a full grown man finds this entertaining and acceptable - I don't have the words to express the contempt I feel for this pathetic cyberbully.
9 arrests in wild Staten Island incident, as crowd overruns cops, police say 9 arrests in wild Staten Island incident, as crowd overruns cops, police say Firefighters used a water cannon to break up a wild scene on Harbor Road, blasting a marauding group of teens that were attacking two police officers who had been knocked to the ground, according to witnesses and police. Watch video "Both police officers were on the ground," said another neighbor, who also requested anonymity. "The kids were attacking them."
The scene happened just a few houses down from the FDNY's Mariners Harbor-based Engine Co. 158. The truck got to the street within moments, witnesses said, and blasted the teens with the engine's cannon-shaped deluge gun to disperse the crowd, according to witnesses. A large police presence, including an NYPD helicopter, soon followed, chasing the teens down to make several arrests.
Denesopolis praised the quick response of the firefighters, saying that he thanked the firehouse brass personally.
"They were very helpful," he said. "They were the closest emergency unit on the scene." The crowd went to the girl's house because her mother had kept her home from Port Richmond High School for the past five days because of a bullying situation, according to Denesopolis. "It escalated today when they came to her," he said.
The girl, who identified herself as a sophomore at the school, said the incident escalated from a "he-said, she-said" over picking sides in a gang dispute at school.
"They were waiting for me since Thursday. They wanted to get me for a he-said, she-said. They kept on calling," she said, and when the group arrived at her doorstep, they were carrying "guns, blades and knives."
The girl has a heart condition, relatives said, and at one point, one of the teens taunted her by saying, "We're gonna punch you in the chest. We're gonna fix your heart condition."
Sorry folks, but there is too much attention to this bullying crap. Don't get me wrong....I'm not condoning it.....but 'poking fun at someone' has been going on forever. When was the last time someone saw somebody trip and fall, was so embarrassed and yet we couldn't help but laugh so hard, we almost pi$$ed our pants?
There were the fat kids, skinny kids, tall kids, short kids, kids with blue eyes, brown eyes, the smelly kids, the dirty kids, the kids with different religions, geeky kids, dumb kids, smart kids....and the list goes on!! And perhaps I was one of those kids....perhaps?
It's time that we toughen up and teach our kids that they or we don't need the approval of others to dictate our worth!!! Do I think it shouldn't happen? Yup! But guess what.....it is what it is........deal with it! imho
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Sorry folks, but there is too much attention to this bullying crap. Don't get me wrong....I'm not condoning it.....but 'poking fun at someone' has been going on forever. When was the last time someone saw somebody trip and fall, was so embarrassed and yet we couldn't help but laugh so hard, we almost pi$$ed our pants?
There were the fat kids, skinny kids, tall kids, short kids, kids with blue eyes, brown eyes, the smelly kids, the dirty kids, the kids with different religions, geeky kids, dumb kids, smart kids....and the list goes on!! And perhaps I was one of those kids....perhaps?
It's time that we toughen up and teach our kids that they or we don't need the approval of others to dictate our worth!!! Do I think it shouldn't happen? Yup! But guess what.....it is what it is........deal with it! imho
Wow, that's a sensitive attitiude! I'm surprised by your comment...didn't think you were like that.
JUST BECAUSE SISSY SAYS SO DOESN'T MAKE IT SO...BUT HE THINKS IT DOES!!!!! JUST BECAUSE MC1 SAYS SO DOESN'T MAKE IT SO!!!!!
Wow, that's a sensitive attitiude! I'm surprised by your comment...didn't think you were like that.
I lived it! Thank God I didn't and still don't need the approval of others to define who I am or what my worth is.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
I lived it! Thank God I didn't and still don't need the approval of others to define who I am or what my worth is.
and i am glad you survived it...but it seems you are saying (correct me if I'm wrong) that we should tell the victims to tough it and get throguh it rather than address the source.....those that do the bullying, who by the way continue their ways into adulthood and many who move to more severe forms of bullying and abuse.
JUST BECAUSE SISSY SAYS SO DOESN'T MAKE IT SO...BUT HE THINKS IT DOES!!!!! JUST BECAUSE MC1 SAYS SO DOESN'T MAKE IT SO!!!!!
bullying is a mind thought with a voice. If they 'think it' it will be projected with or without a mouth. Unless you believe there should be a creation of the 'THOUGHT POLICE'. These kids today need to get off their a$$es, push away from the computers and toughen up!! Life isn't always fair....but that's life!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
bullying is a mind thought with a voice. If they 'think it' it will be projected with or without a mouth. Unless you believe there should be a creation of the 'THOUGHT POLICE'. These kids today need to get off their a$$es, push away from the computers and toughen up!! Life isn't always fair....but that's life!
I respect your right to your opinion...I just don't necessarily agree, sorry. I think the focus needs to be on the culprit and not the victim....I do believe in the need for toughening, but that does not excuse dealing with the source of the problem. They need attitude changes and to understand their behavior is unacceptable.
JUST BECAUSE SISSY SAYS SO DOESN'T MAKE IT SO...BUT HE THINKS IT DOES!!!!! JUST BECAUSE MC1 SAYS SO DOESN'T MAKE IT SO!!!!!
No one yet has figured out a way to capture and control someone else's thoughts and opinions. Nasty or nice......it's still there!! As far as victims......there would be no perpetrators if there were no victims. So victims have to stop acting like one!
Ya know the old saying......if ya feel like everyone is stepping all over you....GET UP OFF THE FLOOR!!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
No one yet has figured out a way to capture and control someone else's thoughts and opinions. Nasty or nice......it's still there!! As far as victims......there would be no perpetrators if there were no victims. So victims have to stop acting like one!
Ya know the old saying......if ya feel like everyone is stepping all over you....GET UP OFF THE FLOOR!!!
Blame the victim???
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
No one yet has figured out a way to capture and control someone else's thoughts and opinions. Nasty or nice......it's still there!! As far as victims......there would be no perpetrators if there were no victims. So victims have to stop acting like one!
Ya know the old saying......if ya feel like everyone is stepping all over you....GET UP OFF THE FLOOR!!!
BT, for the record, I too ewxpereinced it in High School....just becuase I wasn't a jock and spent a lot of time in music, i was a target of bullying that turned physical one time. Next time it wa attemtpted I stood up for myself and that was the end of it. Bully prey on those they feel are weak. Moving beyone being a victim is tought, as I'm sure you understand, and those that survive and move on are better for it. Just like you say we can't control others thoughts, it's the same with the victiims, we haven't been able to reach out to them to convince them to be stronger and how to do it.
I honestly don't think you and I are so far apart in our thoughts...and we are both right in our own way.
JUST BECAUSE SISSY SAYS SO DOESN'T MAKE IT SO...BUT HE THINKS IT DOES!!!!! JUST BECAUSE MC1 SAYS SO DOESN'T MAKE IT SO!!!!!
BT, for the record, I too ewxpereinced it in High School....just becuase I wasn't a jock and spent a lot of time in music, i was a target of bullying that turned physical one time. Next time it wa attemtpted I stood up for myself and that was the end of it. Bully prey on those they feel are weak. Moving beyone being a victim is tought, as I'm sure you understand, and those that survive and move on are better for it. Just like you say we can't control others thoughts, it's the same with the victiims, we haven't been able to reach out to them to convince them to be stronger and how to do it.
I honestly don't think you and I are so far apart in our thoughts...and we are both right in our own way.
Agree.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Bullying is a trait and flaw in one's character....
Allowing yourself to be bullied is a trait and flaw in one's character. Bullies don't bully people that stand up for themselves. This issue should be addressed by empowering the victim, by teaching them not to be a victim. Teaching victims of bullying to report to "authorities" just encourages more bullying. Kids need to be taught to clearly set personal boundaries, and to stand up to people that purposely cross those boundaries.
Never Never start a fight...BUT... never walk away from one.
Allowing yourself to be bullied is a trait and flaw in one's character. Bullies don't bully people that stand up for themselves. This issue should be addressed by empowering the victim, by teaching them not to be a victim. Teaching victims of bullying to report to "authorities" just encourages more bullying. Kids need to be taught to clearly set personal boundaries, and to stand up to people that purposely cross those boundaries.
Never Never start a fight...BUT... never walk away from one.
So I wil repeat my earlier point...what I am reading is that we empower the victims and ignore correcting the bully! Doing that doesn't change the bad behavior, it just moves it to another target. Yes, victims need to be taught or understand to stand up, becuase bullies will back off and move on...it's very important that that happen. But it's equally important to correct the mental failings of those that bully. Don't discoutn that bullies usually don't act alone, and are empowered by their bully friends who when together try to outdo each other....that is exteremely imposing and difficult on those that expereince the result.
JUST BECAUSE SISSY SAYS SO DOESN'T MAKE IT SO...BUT HE THINKS IT DOES!!!!! JUST BECAUSE MC1 SAYS SO DOESN'T MAKE IT SO!!!!!