According to the Oxford dictionary the origin of the word bully was originally defined as a term of endearment and familiarity applied to either sex; later applied to men only, implying friendly admiration: good friend, fine fellow, gallant” (Oxford Dictionaries). Today we see this word and immediately attach a negative connotation to it, long gone are the days in which the word was used in a positive light to describe a loved one or someone of great personal importance. Just as the word as changed so too as the person who is attached to it.
Many people have an antiquated view of the bully and may even feel that they are harmless. Just something each kid must deal with as they grow up. Some may even think that the bully is an obstacle in one’s life that a help a child learn toughness and build character. That bullies can serve a purpose a kind of refiner’s fire, giving the victim the tools needed to face fears and rise above challenges. A survey conducted in 1994 found “that a clear majority felt that victims were at least partially responsible for bringing the bullying on themselves. Students surveyed tended to agree that bullying toughened a weak person, and some felt that bullying "taught" victims appropriate behavior. Students considered victims to be "weak," "nerds," and "afraid to fight back." (Banks). This notion is false however bullies are clearly doing more harm than good. Effects of bullying can stay with a person throughout their lives. Especially with those who are verbally abused. Many studies have shown that verbal abuse leads to a poor opinion of oneself it has ties to bi-polar disorder as well as depression (Bipolar Disorder Centers).
Social bullying is also a growing problem, social bullying’s aim is to isolate the victim. Ultimately to make the person feel alone and unworthy of attention or social interaction. NOBullying.com defines it thus “Social or covert bullying involves spreading rumors about another person, purposely leaving someone out of an activity or group or embarrassing a person in public. Another form of bullying that falls into this category involves encouraging others to avoid a certain person or group” (NoBully.com). This is the direction bullying is taking, more and more bullies do not directly hurt their victims. It has become a covert operation wherein the victim may not even know who is to blame. The bully in essence has moved from being a person to many people. True, it may start with an individual spreading a false rumor or story but as that story or rumor gains momentum it becomes harder and harder to identify the person responsible, destroying a victim’s reputation or character. It is no wonder that more and more kids are choosing just to stay home rather than face the victimization. The National Association of School Psychologists and the U.S. Department of Justice estimate that 160,000 students miss school every day (NEA). This is an astounding number and one that should show how serious this problem has become in our schools, and kid’s daily lives.
Social bullying as evolved to a new threat, known as cyber bullying. Cyber bullying is carried out over the internet. It can start with a person launching slander at a person over a social network. The problem within this evolution that it is even harder to detect and police, given the anonymity provided. Savvy bullies create fake accounts attaching a fake picture to a moniker. In a story of one girl who was a victim of cyber bullying (which ultimately resulted in her own self-demise) has given by her mother during a TED talk, she tells how the bully befriended her daughter. She states “Josh told Megan that she was beautiful, that she had beautiful eyes and a great smile…this went on for about five weeks…now Josh sent Megan a message that said I don’t want to be friends with you no more, you’re not a nice person…he said no one likes you, no one wants to be friends with you” (Meier). It turns out that the boy Josh was a girl down the street and her mother who particularly didn’t care for Megan. Megan as a result ran up to her room and there hung herself in her closet.
Many sad stories like this exist one need only do a google search to see the effect cyber-bullying have on the kids of today. True not all of them end up in death and suicide and many factors should be considered about these cases such as depression and other mental illnesses, nonetheless research is showing a definite connection in bullying being an underlying reason. Yale recently published a study wherein they state “Almost all of the studies found connections between being bullied and suicidal thoughts among children. Five reported that bullying victims were two to nine times more likely to report suicidal thoughts than other children were” (Yale News).
A person who turns to bullying is expressing a cry for help. Often bullies are victims of abuse themselves either at home or in their public lives. Another reason a child might turn to bullying according to an article entitled “The Secret Life of bullies” is because the child may lack social skill. The article states “As children go through their developmental stages, they should be finding ways of working problems out and getting along with other people” (Lehman). Many kids who lack these social skills may turn to harassing and tormenting their peers to avoid facing this reality in their lives. Rather than deal with their shortcomings they aim to deflect the issues they face by picking on and belittling their peers.
Many organizations are popping up to answer the threat and educate both parents and adults alike in this matter. NOBully.com gives a platform for victims of bullying to share their story. Another organization called PACER.org. is another place victims and bullies alike can come and share their experiences with bullying? A program that has been instituted in many schools around the world is the Oleos bullying prevention program. This program sets out to give educators the tools they need to help prevent bullying in their institutions.
It appears that the threat is being taken more seriously in schools then it has been in the past. Social media in general is combating the problem that is so easily spread on its various platforms. The victim’s, (kids in general) are using YouTube to post videos sharing stories, poems and art to express and deal with the problem. The future of preventing this problem is looking good the awareness of bullying is at an all-time high. Perhaps more can be done to understand not only the victim of bullying but the bully himself. Empathy is the best tool we have in understanding the behavior. Only when we understand where the bully comes from, why they choose to pursue this behavior, will we be able to help them. What is clear is that bullying has changed from not only physical threats but viral ones as well. We must ditch our old notions of what we know a bully to be, and to realize and accept what the bully has become.
Many people have an antiquated view of the bully and may even feel that they are harmless. Just something each kid must deal with as they grow up. Some may even think that the bully is an obstacle in one’s life that a help a child learn toughness and build character. That bullies can serve a purpose a kind of refiner’s fire, giving the victim the tools needed to face fears and rise above challenges. A survey conducted in 1994 found “that a clear majority felt that victims were at least partially responsible for bringing the bullying on themselves. Students surveyed tended to agree that bullying toughened a weak person, and some felt that bullying "taught" victims appropriate behavior. Students considered victims to be "weak," "nerds," and "afraid to fight back." (Banks). This notion is false however bullies are clearly doing more harm than good. Effects of bullying can stay with a person throughout their lives. Especially with those who are verbally abused. Many studies have shown that verbal abuse leads to a poor opinion of oneself it has ties to bi-polar disorder as well as depression (Bipolar Disorder Centers).
Social bullying is also a growing problem, social bullying’s aim is to isolate the victim. Ultimately to make the person feel alone and unworthy of attention or social interaction. NOBullying.com defines it thus “Social or covert bullying involves spreading rumors about another person, purposely leaving someone out of an activity or group or embarrassing a person in public. Another form of bullying that falls into this category involves encouraging others to avoid a certain person or group” (NoBully.com). This is the direction bullying is taking, more and more bullies do not directly hurt their victims. It has become a covert operation wherein the victim may not even know who is to blame. The bully in essence has moved from being a person to many people. True, it may start with an individual spreading a false rumor or story but as that story or rumor gains momentum it becomes harder and harder to identify the person responsible, destroying a victim’s reputation or character. It is no wonder that more and more kids are choosing just to stay home rather than face the victimization. The National Association of School Psychologists and the U.S. Department of Justice estimate that 160,000 students miss school every day (NEA). This is an astounding number and one that should show how serious this problem has become in our schools, and kid’s daily lives.
Social bullying as evolved to a new threat, known as cyber bullying. Cyber bullying is carried out over the internet. It can start with a person launching slander at a person over a social network. The problem within this evolution that it is even harder to detect and police, given the anonymity provided. Savvy bullies create fake accounts attaching a fake picture to a moniker. In a story of one girl who was a victim of cyber bullying (which ultimately resulted in her own self-demise) has given by her mother during a TED talk, she tells how the bully befriended her daughter. She states “Josh told Megan that she was beautiful, that she had beautiful eyes and a great smile…this went on for about five weeks…now Josh sent Megan a message that said I don’t want to be friends with you no more, you’re not a nice person…he said no one likes you, no one wants to be friends with you” (Meier). It turns out that the boy Josh was a girl down the street and her mother who particularly didn’t care for Megan. Megan as a result ran up to her room and there hung herself in her closet.
Many sad stories like this exist one need only do a google search to see the effect cyber-bullying have on the kids of today. True not all of them end up in death and suicide and many factors should be considered about these cases such as depression and other mental illnesses, nonetheless research is showing a definite connection in bullying being an underlying reason. Yale recently published a study wherein they state “Almost all of the studies found connections between being bullied and suicidal thoughts among children. Five reported that bullying victims were two to nine times more likely to report suicidal thoughts than other children were” (Yale News).
A person who turns to bullying is expressing a cry for help. Often bullies are victims of abuse themselves either at home or in their public lives. Another reason a child might turn to bullying according to an article entitled “The Secret Life of bullies” is because the child may lack social skill. The article states “As children go through their developmental stages, they should be finding ways of working problems out and getting along with other people” (Lehman). Many kids who lack these social skills may turn to harassing and tormenting their peers to avoid facing this reality in their lives. Rather than deal with their shortcomings they aim to deflect the issues they face by picking on and belittling their peers.
Many organizations are popping up to answer the threat and educate both parents and adults alike in this matter. NOBully.com gives a platform for victims of bullying to share their story. Another organization called PACER.org. is another place victims and bullies alike can come and share their experiences with bullying? A program that has been instituted in many schools around the world is the Oleos bullying prevention program. This program sets out to give educators the tools they need to help prevent bullying in their institutions.
It appears that the threat is being taken more seriously in schools then it has been in the past. Social media in general is combating the problem that is so easily spread on its various platforms. The victim’s, (kids in general) are using YouTube to post videos sharing stories, poems and art to express and deal with the problem. The future of preventing this problem is looking good the awareness of bullying is at an all-time high. Perhaps more can be done to understand not only the victim of bullying but the bully himself. Empathy is the best tool we have in understanding the behavior. Only when we understand where the bully comes from, why they choose to pursue this behavior, will we be able to help them. What is clear is that bullying has changed from not only physical threats but viral ones as well. We must ditch our old notions of what we know a bully to be, and to realize and accept what the bully has become.