Is it possible to stop bullying?

[Skwink]

I've been thinking about bullying since about last week, when a man who graduated in 2006 settled with my school district and got $100,000 because the staff at the high school and middle school didn't do enough to help put a stop to his being harassed.

Is bullying a natural part of life?

Is it possible to stop bullying?

Are Schools doing enough to prevent bullying?

 

[duckstab]

It is not possible to stop bullying in the foreseeable future.

I believe it is possible that, if bullying is taken seriously, its incidence can be greatly reduced. Schools (at least in the US) have only really started to come to grips with the problem in the last few years so it'll probably be a while before effective remedies are known and widely implemented. But you have to start somewhere.

 

[Tee Kay]

I've been thinking about bullying since about last week, when a man who graduated in 2006 settled with my school district and got $100,000 because the staff at the high school and middle school didn't do enough to help put a stop to his being harassed.

Which means I probably should've gotten $1,000,000.

Is bullying a natural part of life?

It doesn't have to be.

Is it possible to stop bullying?

That's like asking whether it is possible to stop drugs, or terrorism. It's a question of scale; whether bullying is widespread, or socially acceptable.

Are Schools doing enough to prevent bullying?

I can only speak from my own experience, and I'd say yes, to an extent. But there's a lot of bullying that goes on in the background, eg verbal bullying or exclusion, and schools can't really do much about those.

I believe it is possible that, if bullying is taken seriously, its incidence can be greatly reduced. Schools (at least in the US) have only really started to come to grips with the problem in the last few years so it'll probably be a while before effective remedies are known and widely implemented. But you have to start somewhere.

Also, this.

 

[Takhisis]

Is it possible to stop bullying?

You think so, wimp?

 

[Ajidica]

Nope.
Steps should obviously be taken to curtail it, and it should never simply be 'written off' but it won't be eliminated.
I personaly feel that some degree of bullying is necesary so you learn how to handle rude people and to grow a thicker skin.

 

[Whiskey_Lord]

a man who graduated in 2006 settled with my school district and got $100,000 because the staff at the high school and middle school didn't do enough to help put a stop to his being harassed.

Holy Jeebus, I should be a millionaire right now. I need to get a lawyer.

 

[GenMarshall]

Is bullying a natural part of life?

It shoulnt be a natural part of life. No one has the right to suffer being bullied.

Is it possible to stop bullying?

It may be, but it's impossible given factors that are outside of school. Bullies can still torture their victims outside of school.

Are Schools doing enough to prevent bullying?

Nope.avi

 

[LucyDuke]

No. Kids are jerks.

 

[amadeus]

Is there a statute of limitations on suing public schools for screwing you up?

 

[dusters]

Yes, it is. Train kids' conscience to the point they feel very bad for saying bad things to others.

 

[Winston Hughes]

Depends how we define it. If we take any particular incidence of physical or psychological harassment or abuse as bullying, then, no, it can't be stopped. People are always going to be mean to each other.

But if we narrow the definition to those cases where there are ongoing campaigns in which certain individuals or groups repeatedly target the same victims, then, yes, the overwhelming majority of cases can be stopped. The key is giving those victims the confidence to report what is happening to them. Above all, this means that the relevant institution (be that a school, a business, or the police) must be ready to take such reports seriously, and to follow up on whatever action it takes to ensure that the problem does not resurface.

 

[azzaman333]

It's not possible to stop bullying, but more needs to be done to reduce it.

 

[Narz]

I've been thinking about bullying since about last week, when a man who graduated in 2006 settled with my school district and got $100,000 because the staff at the high school and middle school didn't do enough to help put a stop to his being harassed.

Cool, now he'll have lots of friends.

 

[Narz]

Yes, it is. Train kids' conscience to the point they feel very bad for saying bad things to others.

I agree. It's possible to stop/reduce bullying on a small scale. In a school of 1,000 kids it's not possible but within a small group it is. If everyone were good parents in a few hundred thousand years maybe it would be possible to live bully free on a large scale.

I don't even think you need to make kids feel bad about being mean to others, just get them to see life thru the eyes of another & they will stop themselves before they even think to be cruel. People bully to get status & dominance, if everyone ostracized bullies they would stop pretty quickly.

 

[Lone Wolf]

Bullying shall exist as long as capitalism exists! The only possible answer to bullying is a revolution led by the proletariat!

 

[CaptainF]

Bullying is kind of a natural part of life. Humans are animals, and animals prey upon one another.

The only solution is to stand up for yourself. If I had a son that was being bullied I'd encourage him to get even, but only when the bully makes the first move; never be an instigator otherwise you are no better than the bully himself. Bullies don't like picking on people who fight back and make them pay for their actions.

Sad that many school authorities nowadays punish the bullying victim when he snaps and retaliates. Great job schools, you're teaching the next generation to be helpless victims whose first instinct is to run for the authorities!

 

[Narz]

Bullying is kind of a natural part of life. Humans are animals, and animals prey upon one another.

In a hierarchical, competitive system like public schools (most schools really) it's going to be more common though. The dumb kids are going to resent the smart kids (who get more status from teachers due to good grades). There is no incentive to get along or work together, only to sit back & watch while some kids excel & some don't. This is a recipe for resentment & bullying is inevitable (not to mention kids being resentful in general to have minimal control over what they learn & go home to vastly different economic/domestic situations).

Theoretically though, I belive it is possible to have a school (a small one) with very little bullying.

The only solution is to stand up for yourself. If I had a son that was being bullied I'd encourage him to get even, but only when the bully makes the first move; never be an instigator otherwise you are no better than the bully himself. Bullies don't like picking on people who fight back and make them pay for their actions.

Sad that many school authorities nowadays punish the bullying victim when he snaps and retaliates. Great job schools, you're teaching the next generation to be helpless victims whose first instinct is to run for the authorities!

Everytime I ever fought back I did not regret it.

I was suspended once for dodging this dumbasses punches & laughing at him & then the teacher came & "broke it up". Shortly after I dropped out.

 

[Leoreth]

I've been thinking about bullying since about last week, when a man who graduated in 2006 settled with my school district and got $100,000 because the staff at the high school and middle school didn't do enough to help put a stop to his being harassed.

Is bullying a natural part of life?

Is it possible to stop bullying?

Are Schools doing enough to prevent bullying?

You forgot one question: is there still any sanity in the American legal system?

 

[Yeekim]

No, we can't.

Our perception of what "bullying" is will change along with social norms.
Say, we succeed in that kids actually stop giving each other mean names.
Next thing, unpopular kids start getting real emotional traumas when friends don´t "like" their Facebook updates. Etc.

 

[Synobun]

As long as Humans are what they are today, bullying will never end. We are a despicable species.