Everyone has seen on TV where some nerdy kid constantly gets picked on by all his classmates; it’s always hilarious when they trip him and his books scatter everywhere. Unfortunately, bullying exist in real life too. The difference is when it is involving an actual human being’s life, not a skit for a paid actor. When the hazing is happening in a real situation, it’s not so funny anymore. October is anti-bully month, and when students chose to wear orange to school Tuesday, they were making a statement that they do not appreciate or tolerate bullying in their school or lives.
Often jokes are made about people being bullied, and the subject is all too often not taken seriously. I think the main reason for this is the fact that bullying is not a huge problem in our school. It does exist however, and what often hides in the shadows, is sometimes brought to light and laid out for everyone to see.
Being a bully is not okay. One of the major mistakes people make is thinking that the person being bullied “deserved it” or “got what was coming to them” This is ridiculous. No matter what poor decisions that person made in their life, no one deserves to be physically or emotionally abused. The effects of being bullied are devastating, often leaving scars that last a life time. When someone chooses to bully another, they are taking away that person’s basic right to the feeling of safety. Even if the one being bullied has made a mistake, it is not another person’s duty to “punish” them for their wrongdoing. The truth is, however, that people who are victims of bullies often did nothing wrong. This is because bullies thrive off vulnerability. They have to make someone else look and feel small in an attempt to make them look good. What they don’t realize is that it makes them look like a person without morals and compassion, not exactly traits you’d hand pick for someone.
In today’s world bullying is often occurring where everything else is taking place- the internet. With the popularity of social networking sights, bullies now have the opportunity to be bold behind a keyboard. It is a common misconception that what happens online goes unpunished. However, a cyber bully, if reported, can be in as much trouble as one who commits their acts of terror in person. In fact, the permanency of recorded messages makes it even easier to prove guilt. Everyone should be aware of the dangers of using a social media sight irresponsibly.
Although it’s great that October is a month to focus on putting an end to bullying, everyone should always be aware and report any suspicious behavior. No one should ever have to dread going to school. I hope that everyone takes this opportunity to realize that bullying is not acceptable, and make a personal binding pledge to not accept bullying in their lives or our community.