So, here is what I want you to do. Watch this video. Watch it and think. Think about all the times you've been bullied or have bullied someone else. Maybe it was the weird kid with the greasy hair that sat by themselves in the lunch room. Maybe it was the overweight girl who never seemed to have any friends. Maybe you were that person. Maybe you were like me. Lost. Alone. Depressed. Suffering at home. Trying to survive only to come to school and get pushed around. I was a victim and people, students mostly, took advantage. Just like they did of Amanda Todd, except it was worse for her.
Watch that video. Think about it the next time you see that kid sitting by themselves on the playground. Think about it the next time you see someone bullying another kid. Think about it, and then DO SOMETHING!
Maybe if someone had decided to help her, convince her that she was better than that. Maybe, just maybe, this horrible tragedy could have been averted. Maybe. Maybe not, but at least the attempt was made. Who knows. I'd like to think so.
I've been where she was. It's a dark, deep hole with no light and no hope. I was lucky. There was a part of me that kept going and not giving up. If I had given up, I wouldn't be alive to write this.
For those of you, like Amanda, have stumbled here looking for hope or something. Anything positive. Here it is.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE! DON'T GIVE UP! YOU WILL SURVIVE! PLEASE DON'T GIVE IN TO THE DARKNESS. DON'T LET THE BULLIES WIN. NO MATTER HOW HARD IT IS.
My message to bullies was going to be Arlee Ermy from Full Metal Jacket, but I couldn't find the right quote. So, you'll just have to imagine him screaming obscenities at them.
My wife and I decided to be proactive with our children. We taught our oldest how to deal with it. Laugh. Laugh at them. Laugh at how pathetic it is that they are even attempting to bring you down. When kids mess with him, he just looks at them with a "Seriously? Is that the best you've got?" look. Even if it hurts, do it. Eventually, you'll stop hurting and realize that bullies really do suck and aren't worth the energy to be mad. You do that, you win. It's that simple.
This scene from the movie, Roxanne, sums up the best way to deal with a bully.
So, there's my rant about bullies. Just remember:
BULLIES SUCK!
Sorry for the rant. I was going to have something involving my writing goals for the month, but not today.
UPDATE: THE HACKTIVIST GROUP, ANONYMOUS, CLAIMS THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED THE MAN BEHIND THE TORMENTING OF AMANDA TODD.
'Till next time.
*hugs* I think a lot of times? Those bullies are bullies because they have no power elsewhere in their life, and they've found someone they can take that fear out on to give them an illusion of power. They're small people, making others feel even smaller. When you don't let them make you small, they lose all power over you.
ReplyDeleteOh yes. I completely agree. That's why I like that scene from Roxanne so much. And yes, the worst bullies were the ones that had the hardest lives, but not always.
DeleteThat hurts my heart.
ReplyDeleteYeah, me too. *hugs* The people responsible should be held accountable.
Delete*hugs* It hurts me to read stories like this. This is why I am trying (though we'll see how I succeed) to write a WIP about bullying. It's just such an important, ongoing topic. Sounds like the tips you give your kids are good ones.
ReplyDeleteThanks. :D Yeah, it tore a hole in me to read it and how people were treating her. I had it bad, but not that bad.
DeleteMy WIP has a really nasty bully in it, but not at as a major player (though he does cause a lot of issues).
Yes, we are doing our best to help our kids deal with it. It will happen, but I know he'll be better able to deal with it.
People are really upset up here over this. It's even being discussed in Parliament.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear it. Maybe they'll take it seriously.
DeleteI hadn't heard about this story until now - that video is heartbreaking. It just shows how sick and cruel people can be. Bullies certainly do suck x
ReplyDeleteYeah, I just heard about this weekend. It really upset me (if you hadn't noticed). That video is so heartbreaking. You can see the emotion on her face change as she put each card up.
Deleteso extreme! i mean, how many times did she move and change schools? that was ridiculous. poor thing. i've had my own encounters with bullying, but nothing worth mentioning under these circumstances. my heart goes out to her family. they must've all gone through hell.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm sure they have. I do hope that Anonymous got the right guy and that the police follow through. No one should have to go through what she did. I was bullied too, but never to this extreme. Of course, the internet didn't exist back then.
DeleteMy heart just breaks for kids who are bullied. I've been there and it lasted all of sixth grade. It's hard to deal with when you're going through an awkward stage. It has to stop. Great post!
ReplyDeleteThanks Brenda. Yeah, I was bullied through Elementary and Junior High. Stopped when I hit HS, but yeah, it sucked. We taught our oldest how to deal with it and he's doing ok.
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