Viti

I don't think so, bullying is a spectrum as are the reactions of the victims. We can't deny the extremes.

meritocrat

Just bullying.

sweep

The only problem with this discussion is those in the Neitzsche camp, who think that bullying isn't wrong, and that a good wupping is the way to build strong humans with strong characters. Bullying didn't kill me, but it certainly didn't make me any stronger.

And sorry for nit picking, but if you're sorry for nit picking then why nit pick?

Majestyk

Because I'm an asshole.

Walross

Originally posted by meritocrat:

Why? What makes bullying so special that you only apply your line of reasoning to it, and not to other forms of aggression? Especially since bullying usually encompasses several different such forms?

sweep

[SIDE LINE] majestyk, that makes two of us. [/SIDE LINE]

now, lets get on to your nature/nurture point.

Firstly, are the two inseparable? Is nature and nurture a false dichotomy? If so, must the nurture side also be intrinsic?

We have dominant and submissive people in this world, but that isn't the same as bullying. Generally people can and do take advantage, but competing in a business sense veers away from the prospect of personal attacks for the sake of psychological well-being. This is getting complicated, perhaps I should backtrack and see if someone else has a better grasp of what I am striving for.

oh, here: Jamie wrote: Majestyk, you say that we are in denial by suggesting bullying is wrong. I disagree. As a group of people we get along by sharing a moral code, no? When I say bullying is wrong I mean that it makes people unhappy and life becomes difficult. Most people will agree that happiness and peace are important if we are to live together. The fact is that we don't accept bullying and, if your child happened to be the target of a bully, you're going to be very upset. C'mon, just think about it. There are loads of poor kids out there feeling very unhappy and confused. This isn't just hyperbole, this IS reality, and I don't like it.

grr!

sweep

'Majestyk, you say that we are in denial by suggesting bullying is wrong......

....the fact is that we don't accept bullying and

are therefor in denial?

prolly just one coping strategy except for those who feel that violence and pain have an important place in our lives.

Still, different strokes for different folks: Bullying does have its virtues in small doses.

has anyone bothered investing money into a bully/victim profiling industry?

Opera Nut

I was bullied in grade school relentlessly for seven years 6th thru 12th grades.
I am small, wear glasses, am smart, female and had few dates.
I never learned to fight back. i learned to run.
I reported bullies to the teachers and nothing was ever done.
I was called "queer" so many hundreds of times it made me sick.
I could not fight back, because when a big dumb jock girl who is 6 feet tall, 180 pounds is using your head for a basketball target, you don't dare get into a fight.

The girls would threaten me. They would say "meet me after shcool behind X store" adn I'd say"Yeah sure". THey were so dumb they thought I would actually show up for getting the crap beaten out of me.

They would throw me out of PE games, which was fine with me. They would refuse to do group activities in gym class with me. I hated gym class.

My mother told me, "Just tell them to go to Hell", which I did.
Then the little sluts would say "UMMMMMM, I'm gonna tell the teacher you said a BAD word" and I woudl say "Go right ahead."
The bullies of course knew far more cuss words than I did.

Then when I grew up and started working, I got threatened with jail by lawyers, sued in unmerited lawsuits, intimidated by male and female bosses & judges, called stupid, incompetent and everything else, and hassled, just becuase I did my job right and kept my mouth shut.

The excuses I have heard on the job for either not being hired or for being fired are ridiculous and strain credulity. I could not think up the stupid reasons I have been fired or not hired for various jobs.

Bullying on the job is perfectly legal and causes huge amounts of emotional turmoil in adults. It's caused burnout in my case. I used to come home from work and cry, just from the stress of the daily grind in court, even if everyone was nice to me. And that was BEFORE I was burned out!

I wish I could have been big enough to beat the crap out of the girls that hassled me, and some boys too.

www.bullybusters.org
(extensive site on on the job bullying and what can be done about it).

meritocrat

What is wrong with this belief?

winstonjen

Because it can easily lead to the belief that 'rape isn't wrong' and that we should not relieve pain because it makes people better. :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

Would you volunteer to be bullied, then?