What is bullying

According to Dan Olweis, the creator of the Olweis Bullying Prevention Program, bullying is defined as “aggressive behavior that involves unwanted, negative actions. Bullying involves a pattern of behavior over a repeated time. Bullying involves an imbalance of power”. There are many types of bullying that include verbal bullying, physical/aggressive bullying, cyber-bullying (bullying another through the use of the internet, cell phones and social media), racial bullying and bullying based on a person’s sexual orientation.Bullying is I serious issue that can greatly affect those that are being victimized by it. It is important for people to know what bullying is so that they will be able to recognize if it is going on around them. By knowing what bullying is, people will be able to make a stand once and for all against bullying.

My personal experiences with bullying

Like many students in school, I too was a victim of bullying. During high school, mainly from 9^th to 11^th grade, I dealt with bullying constantly. The reason why I was bullied was because I looked different and liked different music than everyone else. In high school I had long hair parted over my eyes, wore really tight jeans, had a lip ring and occasionally wore eyeliner and black nail polish. I was labeled by others as “emo” and got picked on for it. A common stereotype associated with those called “emo” is that they cut themselves and are suicidal. I would deal with some of my fellow students calling me “ an emo fagot”  and have them tell me “no one likes you, so why don’t you just do us a favor and kill yourself already.” and, “Why don’t you go cut yourself and cry about life you emo fag.” I will admit that their comments made me feel worthless and at times I would wonder if I really was better off dead. I remember coming home from school and going straight to my room because I wanted to be alone. During this time I remember shutting myself off from others because I was depressed and felt that I was better off dead. Also during this time at home I would get angry more often and at the smallest things. I was so sick of having others constantly pick on me that I would take out my bottled anger on my family and friends. Looking back on how I was, my sister said that” If someone even looked at me the wrong way or said something I didn’t like, I would lose my temper.”Like many victims of bullying, I was embarrassed to ask others for help and insisted that I could handle it myself or that it would end on its own.  In the end I got through it because I had my friends and family there to support me. Once I had the support of my friends and family, I would not let the bullies get to me. I was now not afraid to be myself at school or anywhere else. My friends helped me by being there for me and gave me the confidence to be myself.  Since I was personally affected by bullying in high school, that is why I chose to research about it because I want to help spread a message to everyone that bullying is wrong and that you should never be afraid to be yourself.

Musicians against bullying

Why do bullies bully others?

In today’s society, the bullies all have their own reasons for bullying others. According to nobully.org, reasons why others decide to bully include” [Seeing] it as a way of being popular, or making themselves look tough and in charge. Some bullies do it to get attention or things, or to make other people afraid of them. Others might be jealous of the person they are bullying. Also they may be being bullied themselves.”Students who bully have strong needs for power and (negative) dominance. Students who bully find satisfaction in causing injury and suffering to other

    students. Students who bully are often rewarded in some way for their behavior with

     material or psychological rewards.  In my case, the ones who bullied me were members of the football, baseball and basketball teams, the stereotypical jocks. They felt that since they were athletes that made them popular and as the popular kids they had the right to do whatever they wanted. They also felt that since you weren't popular, you could be made fun of.

Seth Walsh: An example of what can happen when bullying is taken too far

Seth Walsh was a thirteen year old boy who liked Pokémon, dance music, reading the Bible and boys. According to Seth’s grandma, by the fourth grade Seth began to get picked on, by the sixth grade, the attacks of the bullies began to get more vicious and by seventh grade Seth was afraid to walk home from school alone. On September 19^th 2010, after years of harassment, Seth hung himself in his backyard.       The example of Seth Walsh is a fine example of what could happen when one is forced to endure endless torment from bullies. Bullies don’t realize what they are doing is harmful because they find it funny and as a joke, but what they are doing could  cost some to take their own life to escape from the never ending torment.

  

Bullying statistics

• “Students who intentionally bully others should be held accountable for their actions. Those who bully their peers are also more likely than those students who do not bully others to *:

·         Get into frequent fights

·         Steal and vandalize property

·         Drink alcohol and smoke

·         Report poor grades

·         Perceive a negative climate at school

·         Carry a weapon”

• Over half of adolescents and teens have been bullied online, and about the same number have engaged in cyber bullying.
• Over 25 percent of adolescents and teens have been bullied repeatedly through their cell phones or the Internet.
• Well over half of young people do not tell their parents when cyber bullying occurs.
• Girls are somewhat more likely than boys to be involved in cyber bullying
• Over 80 percent of teens use a cell phone regularly, making it the most popular form of technology and a common medium for cyber bullying
• Cyber bullying victims are more likely to have low self esteem and to consider suicide
• According to a study from Yale University, bullying victims are between 2 and 9 times more likely to consider suicide than non-victims. 

An example of standing up to bullying

Tips on how to deal with bullying

     •Tell them to stop.  

•Walk away. Do not let them get to you. If you walk away or ignore them, they will not get that satisfaction. 

•Protect yourself. Sometimes you cannot walk away. If you are being physically hurt, protect yourself so that you can get away. 

•Tell an adult you trust. Talking to someone could help you figure out the best ways to deal with the problem.  In some cases, adults need to get involved for the bullying to stop. 

•Find a safe place. Go somewhere that you feel safe and secure like the library, a favorite teacher’s classroom, or the office.

•Stick together. Stay with a group or individuals that you trust. 

•Find opportunities to make new friends. Explore your interests and join school or community activities such as sports, drama, or art. Volunteer or participate in community service.

A call to action