Should bullying among children and teens be dismissed as a normal part of growing up?

Question

I've always wondered about that especially so with these recent events....

These kids and young adults...did they feel backed up to a corner like Cho did? Did they lash out because they were "dismissed" so many times......

Maybe it's not a gun control issue...perhaps it's the way people are letting bullies get away with so much of the bulling and making the victim feel like it their fault for not being "strong" enough....for not growing a thick enough skin.

These people who shot their classmates acted out on a fantasy that everybody that's get bullied probably has....

Answer 1

I can not understand why anyone would think that bullying is acceptable.It is a cowardly act commited with the sole purpose of causing another human being whether it is emotional and/or physical harm.Somehow these cowards think they are superior than their victim and yet nothing could be farther from the truth.In my opinion bullies are very insecure and must put on a tough exterior lest someone actually expose them for the cowards they are.It does not take a great mind to take advantage of the weak or to laugh at those who are different.On the contrary it takes courage to face the day knowing you will face another day at school and be humiliated simply because you were perceived as different.What does that say about us as a society if we think anyone should be a victim?

Answer 2

I feel strongly that something needs to be done about the bullying situation. It is getting worse and worse, I've been out of school for 9 years now and it has escalated to a point that is just insane. What I had to put up with whean I was in school was bad enough. It worries me sick to think of what my son may have to put up with when he goes to school. Sadly, the world is full of
f!!kheads and this issue starts at home, many people would take the attitude of teaching their child (not necessarily intentionally) to be the bully instead of be bullied. Kids just need to accept each others differences and leave each other be. Until adults can behave in the same manner, (which will be never) there is no hope.

Answer 3

He was not a result of normal bullying, he was mentally ill and let fall through the cracks.

I think to a certain extent minor bullying is part of growing up, ie name calling and such and it can help teach kids how to deal with their own problems as opposed to always having mom or dad fix the situation, so that when they hit the real world they can handle themselves. But major and continuous bullying should be addressed by parents, students and the schools alike.

Answer 4

No. I do not think, in this day and age, that bullying should be taken lightly and it makes me nauseous when I hear irresponsible parents say, "oh well, boys will be boys" when they are tormenting other children.

Bullying happens because a child, for whatever reason(s), feels the need to lower other children to his or her own low level of self-esteem in order to make themselves feel better. Children who are bullied very often grow up and carry that torment with them throughout their lives, and I have actually KNOWN a few children I went to school with back in the 80s who were so tormented and bullied that they actually committed suicide.

My youngest son started showing signs of bullying and I IMMEDIATELY sought out professional help to get to the underlying cause of his need to bully others. Turns out he was very insecure with himself, plus his father died when he was just 4 years old, and he had a lot of unresolved anger issues over that...which he took out on anyone who was weaker than him. He has now been in regular counseling and anger management for 2 years and he has significantly improved.

I don't profess to be mother of the year by any means, but if more parents would pay attention to their children's behavior (whether they are the bully or the target of a bully) and ACT ON IT however they have to (counseling or whatever) instead of chalking it up to typical childhood antics (read: ignoring the behavior and hoping it just goes away on its own), we'd probably have a lot more well-adjusted kids in this world and a lot less unnecessary violence in schools.

Answer 5

No, bullying among children and teens shouldn't just be dismissed as a normal part of growing up. I've thought this for as long as I can remember. I was never bullied nor did I bully others but I've known so many who have been bullied. It's really sad. The people who are normally bullied have low self esteem issues already topped off with the cruelty of their peers---it is a set up for disaster.

I believe the stop to bullying is in the home. As parents we need to talk to our children. We need to get them to stand up to bullies and not be afraid to stand up for others. We need to teach our children confidence. Mostly, we need to teach our kids tolerance and acceptance of others so that they don't turn into bullies themselves. Sometimes when kids get bullied parents do just pass it off as normal. Shoot, I know some parents who bully their own children!

We need to stand by our children [not necessarily step in unless in severe cases] by talking with them. Parents dearly need to be involved in their kids' lives. I remember a day that parents knew their kids well enough to know if they were bullying others. If that child was a bully not only would there be discipline involved but there'd also be an apology to the other child.

I think it's really just a lack of parent involvement in children's lives. With or without the recent events of VT bullying needs to stop. I hope this answers your question!

Answer 6

this should be controlled but to think that you can completely eliminate bullying is insane. MINOR bullying is a part of growing up. it is actually good in the sense that it toughens you up and makes you realize that not everyone in the world is gentle and kind.

that sad, bullying should not be allowed to continue if spotted by an adult, and if the bullying is continuous to the same child that child should most definitely be helped to ensure nothing like this happens. and it seems traditional bullying ends in elementry or middle school. by high school most kids have seperated into groups that for the most part leave each other alone.

Answer 7

I believe you can control yourself. If not you can seek counseling. I was bullied everyday of my school life until 8th grade. Teachers did nothing to stop it. They knew too. But I am an older lady now and have never commited a crime. It is sad to be bullied everyday by someone. You start making excuses for not going to school etc. You lose a part of your self esteem as well.

Answer 8

I think bullying shouldnt be taken lightly...

But sometimes someone is accused of bullying when they did nothing wrong, my friend and I both fought the same girl in the same month because she had it coming and she was a part of it and her parents tried to call us bullies and told the school and the police when really it was 2 separate, fair fights...

But I have knocked a bully out before and I would do it again...

Answer 9

What Cho did is certainly not normal. Bullying should never be dismissed.

Answer 10

bullying should NEVER be tolerated or brushed aside as "boys will be boys" i agree that bullying that's been brushed aside has caused many of the school shootings that are now so prevalent in our society