21 replies to this topic

[Ragamuffin]

i am a high school junior student and i see people bully other people by violence and calling names. i believe that its a big problem in schools and i think that people who bully should be punished harder. for example if you bully then you cant get in to any college or something. what do you think of bullying? should it be penalized harsher?

Wait...so let me get this straight. You think name-calling should be illegal?See, this is what happens when people are sheltered, they think that if somebody hurts their widdle feewings, that the person should be PUNISHED TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW.I say this on almost a daily basis, and I'm more convinced of it with each passing day-- people need to realize that they're not special or above criticism, and that yes, not everybody is going to like them or care about their little opinions.Also, taking away college from a kid because they what, called somebody a gaylord in the fourth grade? Are you butthurt about someone bullying you at school or are you just stupid? Uh-oh, I hope you don't get me arrested for saying that!!! derp

[The Mothman]

I believe that it is an uncontrollable set of circumstances, because not everybody will like you in life. To a certain extent, emotional abuse can only be mended with support from teachers, parents, or friends. However, physical abuse (i.e., beatings) is already illegal.I've had bullies in my classes before. To be honest, I chuckle at my past self; anything they would say was quite childish, yet it still upset me. I did eventually become respected by them after just being like "....So what?" No laws can prevent people from saying things, no matter how hurtful they might be. I live in the United States, so freedom of speech nullifies emotional abuse. The physical abuse is something to watch out for, because it is illegal to assault an individual for "fun." My best advice for any person suffering from bullying is to not let them get to you, or intimidate you. The best way to resist a bully is to ignore them. If they punch you, fight back! The law can only protect you so much.

[Huang Fei Hong]

It's not so much bullying that should be made illegal so much as retaliation should be legalized. People should be given the right to fight back against their antagonists given that they are not the aggressors in the situation. That's the main problem. I always fought back against people who tried to cause problems with me, but the problem is that if I did, I got in trouble too since I was hotheaded enough to be willing to escalate the situation when I've endured enough provocation. Meeker students who live in fear both of the bullies and of the system that ties their hands in defending themselves are bound to feel trapped.Similarly, I find it ridiculous that we've made duels illegal. Though, this topic may be best left for another debate, I find the mention of it somewhat relevant as it hearkens back to an age when people were more civil to each other knowing that they'd potentially have to answer for their unkind words to their fellow human being.

[skulhedface]

The sad thing is, you can't police EVERYONE, and it's as inevitable as human nature-- some will be bullies, some will be bullied. The only thing you can really do is discourage it.That being said, I do draw the line when bullying stops being surface annoyment and starts being harassment, physical or emotional infliction of trauma. It's literally impossible, given the current situation, to stop all bullying, but I think there needs to be stiff penalties for bullying that causes, leads to, or involves physical or emotional abuse or a loss of well being. Kids (and even adults) will pick on each other, and it won't stop, but pestering someone to suicide or something like that is what DOES need to be prosecuted. Cases like Megan Meier and the like DO need to be taken to court.

[SlasherManEXE]

I was bullied for a majority of my junior high life due to being moderately overweight at that time, and extremely socially awkward. Yes, it really did feel terrible, and I wish I could forget those years of my life, but it built character, and caused me to have some confidence. I had some adults, including my parents and a couple of teachers that I had admired, listen to me, as well as a couple very trustworthy friends, and soon it got better, because I stopped caring what other people were saying to me. I knew who I was, and I knew that it wouldn't affect it.I'm not trying to set myself apart from the rest of bullying and ramble on about my personal life, but the point I'm trying to make here, is that bullying will always be there, "legal" or not, but the victim of bullying shouldn't be afraid to ask for help, and try to build up their own character. It seems like most bullies tend to subside when fear isn't shown. I do agree that there should be some reprocussions to discourage excessive bullying, as stated above by Legionds, but there will always be people that pick on others that they feel are "lesser" than them. It's just a part of life, and we should all learn and grow from it, so that we can be more responsible adults.

[Ragamuffin]

Yeah, bullying is just part of the natural order of things, that's how we work. To want to make it illegal is nothing but a kneejerk reaction from people with a thin skin. I really didn't get picked on much in school , except for being "the new guy" but that was about it. But, even had I been bullied, I'd have either hit the kid or humiliated him. My point being is that people need to learn how to take things into their own hands instead of turning to others, in this case the law, for help all the time. Also, taking away the chance to go to college over bullying is just insane. I'm not talking about extreme cases here, like when that kid got raped with a hockey stick a few years back, I mean the garden variety name-calling and occasional push to the ground kind.This may be getting off topic, but I have a neighbor who calls the cops constantly. He's an old, half-crazy jerk and NOBODY likes him. Last week, threatened to call the cops on me because I was "shoveling my driveway too loudly" (at noontime!). People like that are annoying and waste everyone's time with useless whining.I can't say for anywhere else, but in America, some people are getting WAY too sensitive and wrapped up in themselves for their own good.

[SlasherManEXE]

This may be getting off topic, but I have a neighbor who calls the cops constantly. He's an old, half-crazy jerk and NOBODY likes him. Last week, threatened to call the cops on me because I was "shoveling my driveway too loudly" (at noontime!). People like that are annoying and waste everyone's time with useless whining.I can't say for anywhere else, but in America, some people are getting WAY too sensitive and wrapped up in themselves for their own good.

If anything, this old guy's the bully LOL.People need to be more tolerant of the environment. In all of history, there's never been one person that everyone liked. Toughen up and take some abuse, it makes you a better person, and who knows. Maybe you'll meet them down the road and be much higher up in life than them. Not that I believe in karma, but it usually seems to happen that way

Edited by SlasherManEXE, 04 January 2011 - 03:00 AM.

[dffhkhksg]

It already is illegal. Harassment and assault XDIf it isn't enough to amount to that, then you either gotta deal with it or get help from friends/teachers/family. The world isn't a nice place, but you can't arrest someone for calling you names

[darkmagil]

well i came from a school were bullying is zero tolerance and i been bullied and its mostly been overacted on and its doesn't make people kill them self and people who do because they have problems that goes on at there home life. so it should not be legal but still have repercussionsGPs were deducted for this post, please read the rules! - tedsb16

[Yuto]

Look it's ok bullies usually amount to nothing anyway...so there karma