The Anti-Bully Movement.

[RATED-RKOFRANKLIN]

What do you think about the Ant-Bully Movement? This began after many teens and young children committed suicide and in some cases were physically murdered by their bullies.

I find this movement to be a complete joke. Celebrities have put themselves on the forefront of this movement. Are you kidding me? Celebrities are in the very media that influences bulling. They're very hypocritical.

The WWE has also gotten involved. They should not be in this movement at all. The good guys and bad guys in wrestling bully each other. Let's look at Vicki's fat jokes. Do I need to say more?



Let's get one thing straight. *******s will always exist. Look at this guy.



Don't get me wrong. I think bulling is wrong and can negatively affect victim's lives and in some cases can negatively affect the bullies' lives. Bulling will always exist. I don't see any solution to the problems people are facing. Kids aren't the only people who are bullied. I see adults at work bulling each other. I'm not saying we should take a blind eye. Action should be taken. I don't think any action can completely stop someone from bulling people.

 

[Levi]

That's a very "realist" viewpoint.

I, like you, see no end to bullying as it is. People have been bullying for centuries, and will continue to do so.

If an idea can be spread far enough, change could happen. Maybe in 10 years bullies will have a stigma, and be shunned and shamed into the shadows.

I was lucky to have never been bullied. But, now that I'm 'grown up' I have great fun tearing bullies a new one anyways. They're up there will animal abusers on my list. If I find myself alone with one, I'd gladly [depending on age, of course] smack it around a bit. Edit: In a mutual bout of fisty cuffs of course, no assault or anything. If they refuse the fight, I'll be sure to shame it in some manner.

 

[Ronove]

Just because *******s will always exist doesn't mean we shouldn't do something to try to prevent most *******s from assuming their *******ry (i.e. raise kids better so they don't become *******s).

In addition, just because bullying will always exist doesn't mean we shouldn't try to prevent it in some way. I shouldn't have had to go through high school with everyone trying to push me around or say things behind my back just because I was poor and my parents couldn't afford swanky new clothes. My friend shouldn't have been harassed and pushed around just because he was gay.

Even if adults at work bully each other (really, they shouldn't I mean, good god, really?) that doesn't mean it's right. If we teach kids that hurting each other and bullying isn't right when they are young, that should continue on into adulthood so this workplace bullying doesn't happen. It all comes down to the parents raising their kids right and the school stepping in when teasing becomes too much.

So I think what they are trying to do is a good thing. It shows people are trying to raise better kids and make the world more bearable to live in.

 

[BigEd781]

Just because *******s will always exist doesn't mean we shouldn't do something to try to prevent most *******s from assuming their *******ry (i.e. raise kids better so they don't become *******s).

Good luck changing human nature with a marketing campaign. It sounds good to say things like "Just because *******s will always exist doesn't mean we shouldn't do something to try to prevent [it]...". However, if your approach is completely unrealistic and will never work then it is simply a waste of time, effort, and money. So yes, I am against wasting time following some naive approach which will never work.

 

[Ronove]

So, raising kids to be better people will never work? That seems unrealistic. Sure, some *******s will get by, but that happens. I didn't say it would work for everyone (that is unrealistic) but we can still make strides to raise our kids better so we aren't all *******s. That's not unrealistic.

 

[Levi]

Good luck changing human nature with a marketing campaign. It sounds good to say things like "Just because *******s will always exist doesn't mean we shouldn't do something to try to prevent [it]...". However, if your approach is completely unrealistic and will never work than it is simply a waste of time, effort, and money. So yes, I am against wasting time following some naive approach which will never work.

^^ What he said ^^

Just because *******s will always exist doesn't mean we shouldn't do something to try to prevent most *******s from assuming their *******ry (i.e. raise kids better so they don't become *******s).

Consider the perpetualism of it. There are dumb people, *******s, racists, religious fanatics/extremists etc. There always will be. And all of them can legally rear a child. There are alcoholic fathers who abuses their kids, who then become bullies. There are parents who fight, who's children... in response, bully.

In addition, just because bullying will always exist doesn't mean we shouldn't try to prevent it in some way. I shouldn't have had to go through high school with everyone trying to push me around or say things behind my back just because I was poor and my parents couldn't afford swanky new clothes. My friend shouldn't have been harassed and pushed around just because he was gay.

True. I'm sorry for that. But this helps reveal some more "realisms". "Bullying" isn't a single thing. As long are there are homophobes... there will be bullying. Upper-Upper/Middle class families, racists, just overall *******s etc. all can result in their children bullying. Kids, bullied by family or other kids, can grow up to be bullies.

All in all. It's all great and good to want to fix something. But it has to come back to reality.

edit:

So, raising kids to be better people will never work? That seems unrealistic. Sure, some *******s will get by, but that happens. I didn't say it would work for everyone (that is unrealistic) but we can still make strides to raise our kids better so we aren't all *******s. That's not unrealistic.

The only parents that will be really receptive on this, are ones that are already on or near the right path. A lot of Bullies come from hopeless circumstances.

 

[Genii Benedict]

So, raising kids to be better people will never work? That seems unrealistic. Sure, some *******s will get by, but that happens.

This will only work when parents stop with the whole, "not my kid!" mentality that's been growing over the past twenty years. I remember my Dad would always go to bat for me, but only when he was certain I wasn't involved with certain behaviours. I've seen people who have gone up against other parents and teachers, when their kids' have been 100% at fault, just because they didn't feel that they should be punished for whatever.

 

[Ronove]

Why are there racists? Parents who are racist teach their kids hating another person because of their race is all right. We teach kids better, they realize it's not true, and some of them grow out of being racist. The same goes for those people who hate people because they are poor or whatever. It's all about teaching the kids right and how not to hate. And that's REALLY hard because some parents are really stupid and would rather teach hate. And sure, it might seem impossible, but trying to change things now could help us in the future.

And yeah, you can't get rid of it altogether. You're right; there are always going to be parents who beat their kids and they turn to bullies (except I was beat by my dad a lot but I never felt the need to be mean to kids because I knew better--hate just makes more hate--because my mom and grandma taught me better than that). It's all about showing kids that hate isn't the end all be all of the world. Sure, it's really hard with all this war and crap, but you can't just say "welp, it's too hard, let's not even try" because that doesn't get anyone anywhere.

I mean really. Teach the people who are going to inherit the world eventually hate isn't a good thing and maybe we'll start going in the right direction. If we say it's not going to work, our efforts are in vain so we should give up, then nothing changes.

I'm not saying the anti-bullying thing they are doing is going to 100% work, I just like to think that if we keep trying to change the mentality we have, we might be able to get kids and the future to change. We don't change by going "it's always going to be like this, so we shouldn't bother". We change by attempting to do things even if they're going to fail. That's all there really is to it.

 

[Zeramae]

Raising good kids is important, but whining about bullying and telling people not to IS a waste of money like BigEd suggested.

What we need to do is attack its source, but it's a lot different depending on the kid. A lot of movies show that bullies are what they are because they are being bullied themselves. I don't think it's the norm, but I have seen firsthand a kid I was friends with bullied other girls because her sister beat her in front of people at the bus stop.

I think the main cause, however, is weak wills who bully others so they don't get bullied themselves. Trying to force a fix will only make this worse; at least in the way it's being done.

 

[Levi]

@Ronove

People have been teaching how "not to hate" for thousands of years. Not only have we not learned... but guess what? We took these teachings, and twisted them to justify hate, murder and rape. Take any holy book. They've been twisted and manipulated to allow us to use them for lust, greed, hate etc.

People have been preaching exactly that for thousands of years, and we're still here and as bad as ever. I understand your frustrations, and agree that something can be done. But not nearly enough. There is not going to be a revolution. Things won't change that much.

Now... how about things we can change? Like the thousands starving in Africa. The people who die waiting for medical care. If these celebrities put their time towards actual, tangible and realistic goals... we'd get somewhere. But to stop bullying, you must stop aggression. Good luck with that. As long as people have opinions... there will be bullying. There are 10'000'000 things that any two people can disagree over. Kids get bullied over what music, TV, food they like. People, in general, are *******s.

Sorry if I'm a downer... but I've always been a realist. And reality tends to be a downer for most.

 

[Ronove]

All right. I'll give up being nice and start kicking kids and puppies in my street because for THOUSANDS of years we've taught hate as a good thing. Thanks for your insight.

Just because we have hated for thousands of years doesn't make it right and doesn't mean we shouldn't keep trying to change it. Even if it's little steps at a time. That's all I really have to say on that. I can't accept that hating people should be the norm. I don't care if it is I'll still be optimistic that if we keep teaching kids that hating people isn't okay that one day we'll change for the better. It won't happen overnight but to give up on teaching hate =/= a good thing will just make everything worse.

 

[Genii Benedict]

Sorry if I'm a downer... but I've always been a realist. And reality tends to be a downer for most.

I, too, am a realist. Here is my favourite example:

Pessimist: "The glass is half empty."

Optimist: "The glass is half full."

Realist: "The glass is

TOO BIG!

"



GB

 

[Touchfuzzy]

The whole awareness campaign thing really doesn't do a lot. Its more for the people participating to feel good that they are "doing something" when in reality its just a bunch of hot air. Its like people sharing causes on facebook. It doesn't do a damned thing.

The truth of the matter is:

A. Yeah, bullying sucks.

B. Yeah, it would be nice if it would go away.

C. Its unrealistic to think it ever will.

and honestly, to me D. is a huge real important one:

D. We need to spend as much, if not MORE time teaching people to DEAL with being bullied as we do stopping bullying.

Here is the thing, no matter what we do, there will be bullying. Even if we cut it down to 1/1000th of the amount that exists now, bullies will still exist. And so many people have no clue how to deal with it. Because people are coddled into believing that life is fair, that bad people will get punished, and good people will be rewarded. And that just isn't true.

They expect everyone else to fight their battles. And sometimes, it is up to them. I feel we should teach our kids how to fight their own battles. Because, once they get into the real world, I'm not going to be there to protect them.

EDIT: Also, Ronove, people aren't saying we shouldn't try to teach our kids to not be bullies, or that we shouldn't be bullies ourselves. They are saying that the celebrity awareness campaign bull**** is doing nothing, because its just a bunch of people patting themselves on the back for "doing the right thing."

I don't know how long its been since you were a kid, but man I remember how much we mocked the celebrity anti-drug PSA's because they were generally really idiotic. The people who are going to do an action, generally don't see a celebrity go "Hey this is bad" and actually pay attention. They just laugh it off and make fun of it.

 

[Levi]

All right. I'll give up being nice and start kicking kids and puppies in my street because for THOUSANDS of years we've taught hate as a good thing. Thanks for your insight.

That is a fricking ******ed tactic.

Because that's exactly what we're saying.

For Christ's sake.

edit: Why even argue with people like you? Haha. What you're saying is foolish, and you know it. If you honestly think that any one of us have been encouraging hate... let alone attacks on innocent children and animals... then you are, without any doubt, ******ed.

BUT! I know better. You don't actually think that. You're just using one of the most terrible argument tactics that exists.

"So you want marijuana to be legal? Then why don't I just started shooting up herion in a church?!"

Pfft. Lol. :lol:

 

[Touchfuzzy]

Levi, tone it down a bit, bro. I get that she is using a strawman, and its frustrating, but lets try not to be too inflammatory.

 

[Ronove]

Wow, maybe I should have used sarcasm tags (I mean, it made me laugh... I thought others would get it too, so sorry for that).

I don't think what I say is foolish. I really think teaching kids how being kind to others is a good thing and will help in the long run even if it's a little bit. I'm kind to people because I believe that will help people be kind to me. I'm sorry you don't think that. Anyway, I'm done with this thread. I said my piece!

 

[Celianna]

Levi, lay off on the abrasive language. Debating can be done without belittling the other person who has a different opinion than you.

Edit: ninja'd.

 

[Levi]

Wow, maybe I should have used sarcasm tags (I mean, it made me laugh... I thought others would get it too, so sorry for that).

My mistake.

I don't think what I say is foolish. I really think teaching kids how being kind to others is a good thing and will help in the long run even if it's a little bit. I'm kind to people because I believe that will help people be kind to me. I'm sorry you don't think that. Anyway, I'm done with this thread. I said my piece!

I don't think it's foolish. I was calling the tactic foolish [the "kicking kids and puppies" part]. But you're opinion is as valid as anyones.

Just because we have hated for thousands of years doesn't make it right and doesn't mean we shouldn't keep trying to change it. Even if it's little steps at a time. That's all I really have to say on that. I can't accept that hating people should be the norm. I don't care if it is I'll still be optimistic that if we keep teaching kids that hating people isn't okay that one day we'll change for the better. It won't happen overnight but to give up on teaching hate =/= a good thing will just make everything worse.

I think we were mostly talking about the specific "Anti Bully" campaign with the celebs.

Levi, lay off on the abrasive language. Debating can be done without belittling the other person who has a different opinion than you.

Edit: ninja'd.

That last post was specifically directed towards the "start kicking kids and puppies" bit, and I feel that it was perfectly justified. I wasn't belittling Ronove, or the opinion, just the tactic.

 

[Ronove]

I'd still like to think every little thing helps, but that's because I'm an optimistic person. I think the "It Gets Better" campaign has helped kids who are bullied get away from wanting to commit suicide so things like that, to tell kids bullying isn't the end of the world, it does get better (even if slightly) shouldn't be stopped. So at least something is helping, just yes, the huge celebrities saying "oh no bullying is terrible you shouldn't do it" probably isn't working in the long run because as someone else said, the drug things from way back when, kids just laughed at and did drugs anyway. But that doesn't mean it's bad that they are trying.

 

[Volrath]

Why do I have a feeling this thread will be closed before the end of the day?

Bullying is likely to always exist...but that doesn't mean you just say "oh well" and ignore it. I'm glad the cops don't take the same attitude about crime. "People will always kill and steal from one another, guess we better just pack it in!" I'd rather have an anti-bullying movement around than not. You can't wipe bullying from the face of the Earth, but to not make any effort at all is much worse than the existence of a movement that can feel silly once in a while.

D. We need to spend as much, if not MORE time teaching people to DEAL with being bullied as we do stopping bullying.

This gets at my feelings on the matter. From my own experiences, the most emotionally damaging thing was not that people made fun of me (although that sucked), it was the feeling that nobody cared. Not other students, not adults, nobody. That hurt, and some fifteen years later I'm still slow to trust other people because I have this mindset that they won't be there for me if I need them. So while preventing bullying would be nice, I believe the movement against bullying should make a concerted effort to focus on students who are struggling and make sure people are there to comfort them and remind them that one day the instutionalized torture that is middle and high school will be over and they will no longer have any obligation to deal with those jerks.

Of course, it doesn't help that bullying continues well into adulthood. Gotta love news reports about anti-bullying efforts that are immediately followed by political ads in which all the standard bullying techniques get used. I could go on for quite a while about that, but that might not be worth the uproar.