BULLYING

BULLYING

By

Dina Doman

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"Stop! I don't like that!" That's what children are taught to say by teachers. Thats what a teacher would say when a child misbehaves or if someone in the environment is troubling them. They are taught to use those words. Hard to believe but how have we as adults failed to understand the valuable meaning of "Stop! I don't like that!" It doesn't work, something is missing as bullying persists to be a real threat.

Sure bullying has become a hot topic. It's being discussed across the nation in schools, in the workplace and top celebrities and musicians offer their influence to stop it! That's positive but what if it somehow is happening in your own life? 

What can you do if you are being bullied?

I think it affects all of us in big ways and even in the not so subtle ways too. Sometimes we overlook the minor offence because to get into it would require to much effort and for sure bring on complications. If they are forceful or threatening it's not ok to make someone uncomfortable. 

Technically bullying is a behaviour or physical activity that makes another person feel uncomfortable. It's that simple! Guess what? What about awful sneering looks from a co-worker? What's that? It's bullying, making another person feel uncomfortable. Is it subtle enough or make it major? What about when you are spoken to rudely?  Even when you see children pushing each other around having fun sometimes all together or picking on one. That's supposed to be just fun but not for the one being bullied or singled out.

No one feels comfortable when they are looked at meanly, spoken to harshly or touched inappropriatly.

Don't get me wrong even as I sit here and write about bullying, I feel a weight on my shoulders about speaking up when someone is doing something wrong to me and right in front of me. Like you, I experience opposing thoughts in my head like "should I or shouldn't I speak up and out about it?" Or maybe what I experienced was taken the wrong way by me. What If I do speak up who would be impacted and how. It is not easy especially when we are forced to hear from a young age no one likes a tattle tale. Now more than ever we need to speak up, one event at a time no matter how small and for sure when it's big. If we don't everything we are doing to get the message out there is a valuable waste for nothing. What can the law do if it's a costly hassle to get the matter to court. Therefore someone is left in a harsh situation unresolved. Ultimately having to leave an environment and if it's work jeopardize future finances. Imagine that! 

If you have a situation that you are facing, talk to someone you trust about next steps. Not all matters have to become major when they aren't. It needs to be addressed that's what I am emphasizing. Don't leave it private speak to the right person and more than one. If it's not addressed when it's minor it gets the wrong confidence and becomes a major offence, the bullying behaviour can get worse, for you or someone you love. 

Speak out on bullying if you see it or it's happening to you in any way, please.

More posts on love, peace and justice @ 

peacingpeopleoff.blogspot.com