Is bullying still rife in schools?

**Ian The Poet** · 10-10-2009, 05:42 PM

When I was at school I was bullied relentlessly sometimes so scared to go to school, however I only once bunked off school because of it. Why it happened I was never entirely sure, perhaps it was because I was a bit of a loner, or more likely it was cool thing to do bullying. The other day I noticed an item of news that reported that a school-boy hung himself because of endlessly bullying. How horrible that no noticed the boy's suffering, he must of shown signs.
Of course bullying doesn't just happen in schools, but also in the work place, and I've experienced that. Not as severe as at school, however it is humiliating whatever the circumstances wherever it happens.
I know some bright spark may say, 'its a part of life's experience. It definitely isn't when someone kills themselves.
I would like to know what forum members think, perhaps it would encourage people to look out for it and stop it, before it kills anyone else. Ian.

**Streetwalker** · 10-10-2009, 09:08 PM

Bullies should never be tollarated. bullies in my experiance always are the tossers of the class and pick on easy targets.It only takes a bit of self confidence to fight back (not that im encouraging violence) and they will go away and unfourtunatly pick on someone else.

In other words just give whoever is giving you grief a smack in the chops

**Patriot1** · 10-10-2009, 09:48 PM

Originally Posted by Streetwalker

Bullies should never be tollarated. bullies in my experiance always are the tossers of the class and pick on easy targets.It only takes a bit of self confidence to fight back (not that im encouraging violence) and they will go away and unfourtunatly pick on someone else.

In other words just give whoever is giving you grief a smack in the chops

I dont think it always works like that. Most of the time they're a bully for a reason, because they're bigger than everyone else. Anyone retaliating trying to defend themselves are quite likely to dig themselves a bigger hole. My advice is just to go to the teacher / manager / authorities etc.

Personally, I feel most of the actual bullying is exagurated. The schoolyard is a dog-eat-dog place and less-confident or people who aren't quite 'the norm' will tend to attract some negative attention. This is human nature and happens all round the world.

Then there are unfortuneate cases like yours Ian, where the bully picks on one victim and repeatidly bullies them beyond schoolyard banter and can be very hurtful.
There are plenty of organisations and such to combat this, I couldnt even guess to why it would be increasing.

**newspresenter** · 10-10-2009, 10:15 PM

Unfortunately Ian, bullies are elected into british government, employed to work in the mass media and applauded on some tv shows, so its difficult to rid.

**angelcountry** · 11-10-2009, 01:53 AM

Did anyone want to tell us that, those sort of people should not resign from such an institutions around europe ?

Londoner · 11-10-2009, 10:23 AM

I know a couple of teachers and bullying is taken very seriously in schools however it appears to have changed a lot since I was at school.

With instant messanger, social networking and mobile phones a lot of the bullying is becoming electronic rather than face to face. One impact of this is that home is no longer a refuge as the bullying can take place whenever a kid is on-line or has their phone on. Another impact from this change is that because the bullies are typing messages in to a computer and not having to say it face to face the things they are posting are a lot worse than what used to be said in the playground.

One answer is not to turn on the phone and not log-on but that would surely just increase the isolation. I think parents should know what their children are posting/receiving on the internet/phones (much easier said than done I'm sure) and for anyone being bullied raise it with parents or teachers as most bullies lose thier courage when confronted by someone with more power.

**Ian The Poet** · 11-10-2009, 11:34 AM

Thankyou for your replies.

Bullies should never be tollarated. bullies in my experiance always are the tossers of the class and pick on easy targets.It only takes a bit of self confidence to fight back (not that im encouraging violence) and they will go away and unfourtunatly pick on someone else.

In other words just give whoever is giving you grief a smack in the chops

I tried that once and was caught doing it, and then was blamed for bullying. So sometimes it doesn't work.

With instant messanger, social networking and mobile phones a lot of the bullying is becoming electronic rather than face to face. One impact of this is that home is no longer a refuge as the bullying can take place whenever a kid is on-line or has their phone on. Another impact from this change is that because the bullies are typing messages in to a computer and not having to say it face to face the things they are posting are a lot worse than what used to be said in the playground.

This is called happy slapping, nothing happy about it for the victim.

Unfortunately Ian, bullies are elected into british government, employed to work in the mass media and applauded on some tv shows, so its difficult to rid.

Yes, and it will only get worse for the poor victims.