Bullying

UNITED STATES—Just why is it that people bully other people? It’s a question that has been debated for years, particularly between psychologists and sociologists. Some say people bully because they can, others say people bully as a form of power. Some have even argued that people bully because they want attention, they want to be noticed by someone who isn’t acknowledging their existence.

Whatever the reason may be, it’s become apparent our society has heightened the level of bullying to problematic circumstances.  Yeah, we’ve all heard the phrase bullying is a right of passage, but it still hurts in the long run. I can’t tell you how many times I’m forced to reflect on my past bullying years. People don’t seem to understand that as you age you do become more mentally strong, but those emotional wounds never fully vanish from the mind.

What has gotten me so wound up about this situation? The use of social media by those who are celebrities! Celebrities sometimes say and do the stupidest things, knowing a media spotlight is heavily cloaked on them. What’s worse they are role models, rather they want to be or not. You may not have signed up to be one, but it’s apart of the job. Kids, teens, and in some cases adults look up to some celebrities for guidance. Behaving appropriately in the public sphere sheds light on the man or woman who is no longer in front of the camera.

Something we must all acknowledge is that we are all different. No one acts or looks the same and because of that people seem to use that as fuel to the fire, particularly this world where looks seem to be everything. I blame this solely on the fashion industry.

That is a brutal industry where people who work in the industry take no responsibility for the images they are displaying to the public. Skinny is not always in, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but what is worse of all is that those working behind the scenes are not picture perfect. It’s almost like they live vicariously through their models and the clothing they wear. Like they say those who can’t do teach.

We have to acknowledge that just as powerful as our opinion is in the social sphere, it’s powerful in everyday life. We have a responsibility to halt or stop bullying when we see in progress. Those who sit back and do nothing as bullying ensues are just as guilty as the bully themselves. You are silently allowing someone to physically harm or mentally hurt another person for a laugh or two.

Adults who bully are worse. Hello, you’re grown; you’re no longer in high school, man up and cut the crap. If this is what you’re daily schedule consists of guess what, you can kick rocks, and I rather hang around people who aren’t so immature and pathetic. There is indeed a bit of a bully in all of us, but that doesn’t mean when you should it to come front and center. Remember what goes around comes around. What you dish out sometimes comes back to you 10 times worse than what you delivered to begin with. You know what sucks, people never seen to realize this until its too late.

By David Miller