Mary Lynn, click
here to update your pages on AuthorsDen.
Blogs by Mary Lynn
Bullying 3/6/2018 10:11:44 AM
abuse and mistreatment of someone vulnerable by someone stronger, more powerful, etc. : the actions and behavior of a bully. When someone who is new to a situation, place, organization, environment or group, oftentimes, there are individuals who will take upon themselves the role of “authoritarian” when they have not been given this authority. They will tend to think themselves above others, quick to “correct” what they deem as unacceptable behavior. They are quick to judge mistakes as, intentional, manipulative, deceptive and wrong before taking the time to get to know the person they are accusing.
When this happens, the “newbie” is left wondering what they did wrong, or they may feel intimidated and isolated, especially when the bully encourages others to join in on the “fun.”
Now, you may think this only happens in schools. Wrong. This happens everywhere. Just because an individual has graduated high school and is now an adult does not mean they stop being a bully. Bullying behavior is not exclusive to schools and bullies don’t stop simply because they change their daily activity address.
In fact, bullying in the adult world is far worse and carries far greater consequences than bullying in schools ever did. When adults choose to bully adults, they can cause that individual they have singled out to lose for instance, a job. This can quickly escalate into losing a family due to not being able to provide for them, a home, peripheral relationships and even, their very life when they no longer feel they have anything worth living for. Think I’m being overly dramatic? Take a look at the news and tell me that. Left unchecked, bullies don’t quit bullying, they just become bigger bullies.
The really horrible part is this. If they would just take the time to look beyond the end of their own nose, they might find that the individual they “assumed” was being manipulative or deceptive may not even be aware they are doing something against “policy” or wrong. They may not know how the “system” works and may have made an honest mistake that, when shown, with respect and dignity, privately, the proper way, will be eternally grateful for the information and correct the mistake. Instead, the bully uses the “system” to humiliate them publicly by revealing the mistake they made to everyone who will listen because they believe that individual is only doing it on purpose.
But, listen carefully, this is the important part. The bully doesn’t make themselves look better and that individual look worse. Quite the opposite in fact. Because you see, no one likes a bully, they just go along because it’s easier to not rock the boat and agree with the bully rather than risk being the object of their hate the next time. As someone who was horribly bullied all through school, I have something to say to all bullies.
Not every individual you single out gives up. Some of us grow up and some of us realize just how wrong you are. And we aren’t going to be silent anymore. When a bully rears their head, I will speak out. I will not cower anymore. Have I made mistakes? Sure, but so have you. The difference is, I will admit mine. Will you? I will correct mine. Will you? I will not be defined by your opinions and I will not agree with them to get you “off my back.” And, if you take a look around you, you’re rapidly losing your audience because people are tired of your bullying and your accusations. People are waking up to the devastation your tactics cause and they have had enough. So, to all the bullies out there, be afraid, be very very afraid. Because we are not going to be bullied anymore.
