Sunday, April 11, 2010

Wrong Things Are Wrong

The Phoebe Prince bullying case: As someone who was bullied, I can tell you from first-hand experience that the general advice those who are bullied get, such as 'Ignore them, they'll go away', or 'Stand up for yourself, bullies are really cowards', is bullshit. Why should the person being bullied have to do the work to correct another's behavior? Too many teachers, coaches, adults in general turn a blind eye to this behavior, to everyone's detriment.

Part of it, I think, is the term 'bully' conjures up some overgrown kid who regularly takes some other kid's lunch money, under threat of a punch. I get the feeling from news reports the kids who are charged in this case are well thought of, good students, kids who have never been in any real trouble.

I can't help but think it's the Catch 22 of bullying. They've probably been 'teasing' other kids for years, with no repercussions. Why wouldn't they think it's okay to dehumanize this girl with their words.

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