The beauty of the world, as we see, exists solely because of varied cultures, races, and traditions. However, when we explore the underside of this beauty, we find a darker one. The façade of a seemingly exemplary student may hide a potential bully, while quiet and intelligent individuals might silently endure bullying. If you never stand against a bully to protect someone, it does not make you any less evil. It is our responsibility to take prompt and immediate action when someone gets bullied. Inopportune time might give you a chance to be a bystander, but being an active bystander is your decision and an opportunity to be proved fortunate for the one getting bullied.
Just accepting your fate as a victim will only enhance the intensity of bullying and provoke the bully to enjoy his job. Many children across the world experience bullying in schools, playgrounds, and neighborhoods. Often this goes unnoticed due to the misconception that “they’re just kids messing around” or “it’s just a joke”. However, guardians must be more observant and involved in their children’s lives to notice these behavioral changes.
What exactly is bullying?
Bullying occurs when one tries to repeatedly and purposefully hurt or humiliate another person. This can be verbal, like misdemeanors, such as spreading rumors, calling someone inappropriate names, or making fun of one’s religion, appearance, or culture. However, they can also escalate and become physical, such as by pushing or hitting someone.
Past Data:
While many people know that bullying can lead to depression, involvement in drugs, abusive behavior, and, in severe cases, we fail to recognize the extent to which this occurs.
Bullied students are around two to nine times more likely to consider suicide than non-victims. A study in Britain found that at least half of suicides among young people are related to bullying.
Here are some incentives to defend oneself against bullying:
Confidence: Never shows fear, ensuring that the bully seems oblivious to any sense of weakness. In this world, people often target those who seem vulnerable and unable to defend themselves, find it easier to humiliate them, and cause them to crumble like middle domino people. Always stand unwavering in your position and, without uttering a word, convey to the bully that you are fearless by meeting your gaze directly.
Support network: Stick close to your reliable friends to minimize the likelihood of becoming a target for a bully. Just as deer gather in herds to ward off potential threats from lions, they also tend to exhibit similar behaviors and seek safety in numbers. Even when a lion recognizes its superior strength, it refrains from attacking deer within the herd because of a sense of self-preservation. Likewise, a bully is less likely to take the risk of targeting you if you are surrounded by a supportive group, as they might fear repercussions from the collective.
Share with an adult: Enabling violence on your own can lead to depression and a sense of helplessness. Therefore, it is highly advisable to share your experiences with your parents or older siblings. They can provide guidance and protection, and prevent further harm. Always remember, as Dom says in Fast and Furious X, “Without family, you have got nothing.”
Use the bully’s words against him: When confronted by a bully attempting to degrade or shame you, assert confidently that their comments hold no weight and don’t affect you because, as Alessia Cara beautifully sings in “Scars to Your Beautiful,” “We are stars and we are beautiful.” Recognize that the bully merely projects their insecurities onto you in an attempt to mask their shortcomings. For instance, if they label you as “dumb and stupid,” respond with, “I may be ‘dumb and stupid,’ but at least I don’t waste my intellect on baseless insults. Keep trying, though – maybe someday you’ll upgrade from playground-level comebacks.” Sometimes, a powerful response can be as simple as meeting negativity with silence and a meaningful smile, reminding the bullies of their own limitations.