Welcome to a comment I posted on deviantArt, in response to a Journal Entry about the classic anti-bullying message everyone has to preach today. You might find this correct, you might find it silly. Either way, I'd love it if you reviewed, because this is the type of thing where hearing the opinions of others is important. Happy Reading :)

Human Nature:

I won't ever get humanity. They always try to stifle our lust for power and our competitive nature. They seem to believe it can be extinguished (who said it even needs to be... it only needs to be kept in check). But if that was possible, it would've been done ages ago. With each new generation comes a new crop of people willing to push the limits and do things that shouldn't be done; that can't be stopped. So why is everyone always trying to put this metaphorical 'band-aid' on the problem of bullying?

Don't get me wrong, I definitely don't condone bullying. I don't think it's okay, and I never will. But trying to stop bullying is like trying to stop a freight train with your bare hands. It won't happen, so stop trying to fix the problem from such a silly angle.

We need to teach kids to stand up for themselves and each other. Don't teach them to lay down and beg others for help. Think about it for a second. If you lessen the punishment in school for getting into fights, more fights will happen right? It sounds bad at first glance, but doing so also means that more anger will be released, rather than pent up. A large part of the reason children even have a problem with bullying is because they are taught to believe that, by retaliating, they're no better than the bully. Therefore, the rage, frustration, and despair builds until they eventually do something drastic, like shooting up a school, or killing themselves. If they have an outlet; if they're taught that it's okay to defend themselves, then you'll fix the problem. It is never wrong to defend yourself, or those that you love; as long as you don't go too far.

Obviously, if you can get to a bully, and actually teach them that what they're doing is wrong... then do it. But don't assume it'll work for all of them.

Let me tell you what my school tried in response to this problem; and this is a true story, rather than some internet chain letter like everyone passes around. One random day, in the middle of the year, several people came to my school with white makeup on their faces. They were made up to look like they were ghosts. They didn't talk to anyone, they didn't look at anyone; nothing. They simply went to their classes and listened. There was no warning about this; only those doing it knew, and they did their job of keeping it secret (and being 'ghosts') spectacularly. About halfway through the schoolday, everyone was suddenly called down for a huge assembly. It lasted the last four hours of the day. In it, there were lectures about how bullying was bad. Kids our age who were bullied came to talk about their experiences, stories were told... and then the crazy part came.

Those students that were supposed to be ghosts during that day came out in a line. One by one, they stepped up to the microphone and each read aloud, a letter to their family and friends (that they each wrote themselves) about how they couldn't take it, and they killed themselves because they were bullied. Several of the speakers cried while reading their letters. Many people in the crowd did too. Nobody laughed; everyone understanding that it was a truly emotional moment that needed to be taken seriously. Even the druggies, low lifes, and bullies themselves took it for what it really was. Sounds like mission accomplished right?

Well, for the next week or so, everyone talked about it... all day long. Everyone seemed to have changed their ways. We seemed truly united, as if everyone had a new shot at life... a chance to be a good person. Once-bullies appologized to the students they hurt. But it didn't last. Within the next week after that, it was all back to the way it was before. Absolutely nothing changed in the long run. The bullies went back to harrasing others, and those that were against it only became even further disgusted with the fact that it was happening. Still, they did nothing about it.

My point is that no 'special' tactic we use will work. People are inherently competitive; you're considered strange if you don't lust for some amount of renown and power/ control in your life. To some that is financial success. To others that means success in love and family affairs. To others still it's sticking to your morals and your faith. And to a select group, power and renown is something to be corrupted and taken advantage of. Those people won't stop when you show weakness, and ignoring bullies to make them go away never works. They only get more persistent, because they feed off of the challenge. They want to break you because it shows that they have the power. That's how evil politicians and dictators are created. It's how killers are created.

So to combat this, take the power away. Teach children at a young age to defend themselves. Of course, teach them what limit it should be taken to. We don't want mass beatings simply because one kid called another a stupid git. But taking a stand for who you are, and not taking crap is not wrong. It will steal the power away from the bully. They'll have no way to hurt you, because if they do, you're willing to hurt them back. Coming from much experience on my end, they almost always back down. Eventually, they'll get fed up with the fact that nobody hands over the power; the challenge is too much for them. Then and only then will they possibly focus their attention elsewhere. And if we all are willing to stand up for others as well, they'll have nowhere to go. They'll have to simply give up and use their energy for better purposes.

Teach your children to be their own hero, rather than looking for help from others, and calling themselves the victim; that is my point.

Obviously, it's not a perfect system, but history has proven that it works a damn sight better than trying to go up against the freight train that his human nature.

So, as I said before, tell me what you think. Hope you liked :)