Topic for 3/31

[dana63]

 What do you think should be done to those who bully others to the point where they commit suicide? Who is responsible when these teens take their life because they can't take it anymore?

It seems this is becoming bigger than we are really being told. I was watching the news last night where some don't report it because they are threaten. One video showed about six cheerleaders beating up a girl and as this girl is crying you can hear on the video one of them saying "yeah,  baby, yeah!" It sounded more sexual than it did a beating.

Then we have parents who even get involved and do terrible things as well. I still haven't heard the outcome of the one mom who went on FB as a guy and lured the girls trust and then hurt her to the point where she killed herself.

Your thought?

[bjfreeman1]

I think the bully (bullies) should be punished!  Geesh

[starlight1968]

 I don't care how old the bully is they should be punished.  AND require phyciatric care.  There is NO reason to bully another person except for self gratification (to make THEMselved feel better)...and in this respect that person needs to find it in themselves as to why they have a need for it.

I was bullied in my first year at jr. high for absolutely no resaon (I did not even know the 2 girls that did it).  It was so bad I changed schools..  I often wonder how those to girls turned out...

At that time no one really cared about the kids who were bullied, today they do and some to an extent that it's a bit much BUT at least they are trying to "fix" the problem.

[dana63]

 When I was in High School we had a boy who was bullied. Everyone was so mean to him and he was a nice guy. I dont know what ever happen to this guy but I hope he was able to over come the mean things people said about him.

 

[GaMom64]

 This is really a tough question. We all want the bullies punished and for everyone to learn a lesson from it and make it stop. At the same time, I know of a girl who made a comment (very out of character for her) and wound up in a psych ward on meds for it. She was hospitalized and kept on meds for a month before her parents could make them let her go. Her mind is almost gone now and she will never be normal. The teacher that turned her in says she knew the girl wasn't really "threatening", but was mad. Now that teacher won't turn kids in after seeing what happened to someone she knows didn't deserve to be treated like that.

Situations are different and need people smarter than the kids to put a stop to it. Especially after the parents complain and action isn't taken, the adults in charge should be punished along with the kids.

 

[DaniandTom]

 You're not going to stop kids from picking on other kids. It's always been and always will be. I think there is a point where it crosses the line from bullying to emotional abuse but I think it's difficult to draw that line. What is emotional abuse to one child is simply someone picking on him and conversely what is just picking to one is devastating abuse to another. I endured years of bullying during elementary school and my response to it was to become withdrawn and depressed. There were times when I thought I couldn't go on but I did and I think it has contributed to my strong sense of empathy.

[dana63]

 I think if a parent knows that their child/teen is a bully then they need to do something about it. But what I don't understand is these parents who actually contribute to their childs attitude by helping them. These parents needs to be punished as well.

Do any of you remember the mother who wanted her DD to be a cheerleader she either didnt make it or was won out by another and the mother had the one girl killed?

[valkay]

 I had a friend that moved to our school beginning 7TH grade. She moved away the summer of our freshman year.  She was 5'1" and weighted 220 LBS. I know because they use to weigh you in Gym class in front of everyone.  Kids would bump into her and say stuff. More than one tripped over my foot or got bumped into because of it.

I knew they were wrong and I stood up for her.  I just never knew how much it meant to her until years later.  We had lost touch and one Christmas I got a card.  Telling me how much she appreciated me sticking up for her.  She said she would never forget all I did for her.

[valkay]

I think they should be punished.  I think the school officials more so than the kids.  How I am not sure.

On the other hand if they start to punish people for this what is the line from teasing to bullying?  How many times before it is bullying?  Is teasing bullying if you only do it once in a while?

[dana63]

 

Quoting valkay:

 I had a friend that moved to our school beginning 7TH grade. She moved away the summer of our freshman year.  She was 5'1" and weighted 220 LBS. I know because they use to weigh you in Gym class in front of everyone.  Kids would bump into her and say stuff. More than one tripped over my foot or got bumped into because of it.

I knew they were wrong and I stood up for her.  I just never knew how much it meant to her until years later.  We had lost touch and one Christmas I got a card.  Telling me how much she appreciated me sticking up for her.  She said she would never forget all I did for her.

 I got a nice note not to long ago from someone who I went to school with that said That I was the only one that was nice to them and they knew that there was some good out there. I won't lie I remember the person and I knew I talked to them but never knew what I could've said or done to impact their life. But I am glad whatever it was it was a positive effect.

[starlight1968]

 I'm sorry but there is a difference in teasing and bullying.  Teasing to me is when the person being teased is "ok" with it and giggles along with you.

Bullying is when you can PLAINLY see the hurt on the person such as a frown, downward facing head etc. 

I think 1 time reported then Ok move on but if it's reported more then something NEEDS to be done.  And, they need to find a way to accept the anonymous reports as I'm sure some kids are to "ashamed" to say something.  It creates that and issues later in life.  It did me.  I can honestly say that I wish I had the brain and self esteem to been able to have a "come back" to those girls but when you are ganged up on yes even by 2 people it's sooo  grrrrrrrr...

I don't have the answer but something needs to be done.  It's just not right.

My dd right now is fighting w/herself over it..she's being told by some "popular" girls that she is dumb and stupid yet my dd knows she's not inside but at this age you want acceptance not to be "attacked" by your peers. (she' 12 by the way).  We've told her if it happens again then go to the teacher.  I'm giving her a little time but if she tells me one more time it's going on then I will....