There was an interesting op-ed piece in the NY Times this week about bullying, laws to combat bullying, and the inability of educators to successfully combat the everyday problems of teenagers. Read it.
Now, in a thoughtful, well-written paragraph or two(about 250 words) tell me what you think. Is bullying an issue you deal with on a daily basis? Do you observe bullies in your classes? The hallways? Is there anything that can be done to make things a little more drama-free?
Due: Wednesday, September 28th.
The years that i have been in school i have experienced bullying first hand, and I do observe it. The term is "drama" usually involving girls and it is usually over the latest boy crush or the "dirty look" she gave her. Drama is very big in the late elementary through high school grades. It all starts out by a rumor, conversation, or over hearing the latest gossip. Then it escalates to the girl who is talked about goes to her posse and that is when it all goes down hill. She will start to get hysterical about how Sally likes Jimmy and she "knows" that he is her "man". Then it either simmers down or heats up into a shouting match and rarely a physical fight. A solution to make things drama-free is virtually impossible because there is always that boy or that outfit or that ridiculous rumor, but there is always that one percent chance. One solution could be an all girls school with uniforms and that would eliminate the boy and clothes situation. Another solution to this epidemic could be peer mediation because the two opposing parties might not feel comfortable talking about their issues with an adult but at the same time you need a peer mediator who will say the right things in order to settle the problem. Therefore, bulling of many different types occurs almost everyday but that doesn't make it all right to do. We should try to cut out the drama at all costs because in the end it might just save a life.
ReplyDeleteOne of the most talked about topics today, that associates with teenagers and pre-teens is bullying. There is an epidemic of bullying cases being reported daily. Everyone has been bullied in some form some more or less. Most victims are not able to cope with their problems and take matters into their own hands. Why do people feel it is right to pick on someone else? I hate to see older kids picking on younger kids. Rarely younger kids don’t have the guts to step to anyone a few years older than them. The quote, "Bullies thrive wherever authority is weak” relates to younger kids being bullied because, they are intimidated of much older teenagers. If this is the case and problems continue to arise like they are now, our generation will be in for a rude awakening. Some may say that bullying can be somewhat eliminated in schools by making uniforms mandatory. The outcome may help with the occasional snares of someone’s hideous sneakers or clothes. This may seem like it resolving something. However, people will somehow find a way to put down others. The people, doing, the teasing usually do this because, they are trying to hide something that is wrong with them because, they are insecure Bullying has gone to another level that may be hard to get a sufficient grasp around. Although New Jersey had tried to make stricter state laws regarding the issue, I don’t think anything will be enough.
ReplyDeleteBullying is a situation that many kids faced in our nations and some have to deal with this conundrum everyday. Ever since I started middle school I have dealt with my share of bullying from racial name calling and mocking from time to time. Usually most bullies feels insecure to get rid of that feeling by picking on other. However, what bullies don’t know is that what they are doing is causing more guilt on their consciences, which is making it worst. Most victims of bullying usually just ignore it and have friends or adults, which help them, confront their problems and solve it. In my school people are being bully, but they laugh about to show that it is stupid and other people know they are being bully and yet they don’t ask anyone for help because they can hand it and don’t want people to think they are lame. There is hardly any bullying in the hallway because the teachers are in the hallway and they don’t tolerate any form of bullying. New Jersey informs all school staff and students every year that bully is serious and many kids died every year because of it. That why some high schools have programs and club which is design to help students deal with their issues, relationships, and personal matters including bullying. The way to handle bullying is to inform parents, adults, and friends. In my opinion the best way to handle bullying is to join those clubs or programs which purpose is to help kids.
ReplyDeleteBullying has been a controversial issue brought up in the past few years. I have been the victim of bullying in the past, however, I have always maintained a similar composure. I don't think it has ever really affected me due to my sometimes aloof behavior, but I know that other teens are not as unemotional as I am. In general, I do witness some cases of bullying, although the thin line between bullying and "messing around" has become so blurred that many cases of bullying are dismissed as horseplay. Many times, boys will gang up on a single member of their group during a study hall or even in class and just "bomb" on him. It has always seemed barbaric to me and my heart may sometimes even go out to the poor kid but I hold out that it isn't any of my business. Who am I to distinguish whether they are playing or bulling? Girls exhibit similar behavior only far more conniving and usually more emotionally painful. Unfortunately, eliminating bullying is one of the most difficult problems in the school system. Uniforms may reduce clothes-related bullying, but what about bullying due to ethnicity and gender? Children are harsh apathetic creatures. The media is probably one of the sources blamed too often for this, but it's true. Children have become desensitized because of the violent and cruel acts they witness everyday. Bullying may even be a coping technique for mentally unstable or vulnerable kids. I believe in-school "therapy" sessions with a guidance counselor might help reduce bullying. The problem is that people bully others due to an internal factor. It will never fully disappear.
ReplyDeleteDrama may be something girls talk about, but guys don't really experience it. The difference between bulling and drama to guys is that bulling is when someone makes fun of you on a daily basis or bullies you in some other way, and drama is when someone shoots you a dirty look or when one friend's girlfriend leaves him for the other friend and they completely stop talking. Usually in my classes, bullying isn't an issue to guys or girls, but sometimes I see dirty looks shot across the classroom. Even though girls consider bullying, "drama," they have to realize that high school isn't some show on Broadway, it's actually high school, drama isn't actually part of it. Once they realize this and come out of their "drama" shell, they will probably still call it drama, just to make it sound insignificant to themselves and to others. Teachers need to open up their eyes in the hallways and maybe even talk about the students' social life. If the teachers could get the students comfortable enough to talk about their social life in class, the students might mention some "drama" that they have in school. Bulling never happens in the hallways. With everyone rushing to class or to meet their friends, there's no time to bully others. Another thing that would help would be if teachers had an assembly that teaches teens what is considered bullying and actually grabs their attention. If these things were implied, teens might actually decrypt what "drama" is referring to.
ReplyDeleteIn my most memorable years, -middle school- I've never really seen the act of "bullying" occur. Maybe I'm just oblivious to it, but its true. Everyday I walk in and out of school I've never really seen "bullying" happen. Drama? Well that's a different story. In my opinion "drama" is mainly something that occurs in girls. Sometimes I wish I was a boy, just so I don't have to deal with drama, but it's always there. "Drama," in my opinion is nothing physical, its just a bunch of gossip from girls who think they're higher than someone else. Although I don't recall having to go through being "bullied," its pretty normal for an average teenage girl, like me, to go through as what we call an emotional type of bulling, "drama." Yeah, sometimes I'll get the occasional death stares, but I usually shrug it off. Like some people, we don't necessarily go to our parents or teachers for help with things of that sort, but resort to our friends. Sometimes drama goes out of hand, and it can slowly turn into bullying. Although some may think bullying and drama is the same, I believe it's totally different. Bullying can either be physical or emotional. From little things such as calling someone names to hitting someone smack in the face, bullying is a serious matter. The line between just "joking around" and bullying became so slim, that some people don't even realize if they're being bullied. Preventing bullying is not an easy task. Its like trying to turn off the sun ! Taking small steps to achieve big things is what people should be trying to do. Just immediately trying to stop bullying wont work. If more people knew FIRST HAND what bullying feels like, then I believe we can make a difference in the effort to stop bullying. No, I don't mean - bully someone to show them what it feels like - but give them the mental understanding of how it DOES effect the lives of those being bullied. Back to the "drama" topic, it's not right to say, "drama" will stop. Because it never will. "Drama" is like a never vanishing mole. It's always there, but that doesn't mean you can't do something about it. As I said, taking small steps to achieve big things is the way to go. It's very rare for a girl, or anyone of that matter to actually go to a PARENT or teacher for help. In some schools they've actually started a program called "Peer Mediation." I for one, think this is a GREAT idea. Not only is it a way to prevent and end "drama/bullying" but its also gives the "mediators" (who are kids of the same age) a first hand experience on what the other peer could be facing. If we chose to take these steps and continuously inform kids of real life stories about kids who have been bullied, then I believe we can prevent "bullying/drama" to occur.
ReplyDeleteIt's a sad fact that bullying does exist within schools nationwide, including Oakcrest. I think the fact that teenagers seem to be lumping bullying into high school 'drama' is true and many kids think it's merely a fact of life, something you can't escape. Students need to stop thinking of bullying as something trivial, and realize all the psychological repercussions it can cause. I was occasionally bullied in elementary school, and my self esteem still suffers from those few snide comments years ago. It seems that girls face more verbal bullying, while boys getting bullied face more psychical threats. Thousands of kids, such as the boy in the article, resort to suicide when the bullying becomes to much to handle. I've known kids that everyone picks on, and we think nothing of it. While 'drama' might be something that is mainly contained to girls, boys are just as susceptible to bullying. But no one should be granted the right to pick on others, even if they're trying to make themselves feel better. Nobody should just dismiss bullying as a normal part of high school, because it shouldn't be. Teenagers need to start realizing this is a serious issue, and adults need to start helping kids out more if we ever want this issue to get any better.
ReplyDeleteTyler Sarfert
ReplyDeleteBlog Entry to “Bullying as True Drama”
After reading the article “Bullying as True Drama” it is a good reminder to look at things not as just “drama” but hurting peoples feelings. One of the worst things is to be looked down upon by your peers. I do not see much bullying in my classes as much as I do out of class. It is evident that there IS bullying going on everyday. Some kids might not show that they are the victims of this torture, and others may not realize them as the perpetrator like the article had said. I think people don’t realize sometimes when they bully someone. If somebody told them or the victim told them what they are doing, they would stop. (At least some would) I feel that the main bullying happening today is cyber bullying and rejection in groups and cliques. Cyber bullying is sadly becoming more “popular” because people do not have to tell the victim what they have to say to their face. It is easier to hide behind a computer screen, and type the mean, cruel things they have to say. Bullying will never stop. People are just plain mean to each other. Some people just really need to worry about themselves. Maybe they are blurred by their own shortcomings to actually see that the problem they have with someone else is actually the problem they have with themselves. Just because people don't think like you, dress like you, or act like you, doesn't give you the right to make fun of them or put them down. It's called respect. They need to have respect for themselves, and each another. So no, bullying will never stop and it happens everyday, but if we treat others with care and respect then we can stop some tragedies and emotional devastation. Although it sounds cliché’, treat others the way you want to be treated.
After reading, and pondering the article "Bullying as True Drama" I believe it is truely a distingusted topic in our school that needs to be taking care of. Figures suggest approximately 1:3 children, that have access to the internet or mobile phones, are involved in cyberbullying. Either as victims or proponents. As technology continues to advance, we have seen a numerous increase of cyber bullying. In my opinion, one of the worst feelings in the world is knowing you are being put down by peers your own age. As a student in school, I don't often witness bullying in school, but when I do, it makes me sick to my stomach. More of the bullying now is caused from websites such as facebook, and formspring. People hide behind computer screens, and bag on innocent kids to no end. I don't think there is a real way of stopping bullying, but there's definitely a way to calm things down. The law that Chris Christy just made offcial considers that all jokes that can be hurtful are considered threats, and you will be held for your own actions. (http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/01/nj_gov_christie_approves_tough.html) In conclusion, I believe if all of the students work together we cn prevent any further issues. It starts with only one to make a change.
ReplyDeleteAs I read “Bullying as True Drama” I definitely realized how cruel teens are today. A boy committed suicide because of jokes classmates were making which is shocking and devastating. What’s even more shocking is how he cried out for help to adults yet, nothing changed. I haven’t experienced bullying so much as joking around with my friends. While walking in the hallways, I don’t see bullying going on, or maybe I just don’t look close enough. If there ever was, I’m sure I’d step in and do something. After seeing and reading that a boy killed himself from jokes about him being gay, why would you just stand there and let people bully someone else? Maybe us as teens need to think about what we’re saying before we say it; even if we are joking around, it could take a toll on someone after awhile. There’s always been “drama” in my life, such as, fights with friends, break ups, make ups, etc. but bullying doesn’t fit in those for me. Drama and bullying are two different things. Of course there will be situations within the student body where two people disagree and argue but is that bullying? Also, when teenagers cry out for help and tell adults they’re being victimized by bullying, the adults should be equipped with what to say and how to handle the situation. Obviously, whoever Jamey went to didn’t know how to handle what was going on because it resulted in his death. I noticed this year in school, they’re taking bullying prevention to the next level, and I completely agree with it because the headlines in the newspaper should never again read, “Teen Kills Themselves Because Of Bullying.”
ReplyDeleteThroughout my years of schooling, bullying is always a topic, in some form that my English teacher has us write about. Every year my opinion on it remains the same, it is by all means unnecessary. After reading "Bullying as True Drama", I've come to realize a side of bullying not seen as much due to the fact that it does not effect many as individuals. However, an issue raving around the country, and the hottest thing to bully about now a days is for being 'gay'. Teens are bullied through cyber bullying, face to face, and even through groups. You even have to write a letter explaining yourself if you would like to take someone of the same gender to prom. In my eyes, how is that fair to them? they're human just like we are. This is not the only thing teens are being tortured for either. 9 out of 10 teens who bully others is due to lack of confidence in themselves. The next leading reason is pressure by peers. If students would stop and think before they say something bullying wouldn't be such a nuisance. The only way to end bullying is to make a change and it starts with yourself.
ReplyDeleteEveryday, there are many new victims of bullying. Some victims are able to ignore and cope with bullying well. Unfortunately, others do not know how to deal with bullying which results into either depression or suicide of the victim. Luckily for me, I do not worry about being bullied on a daily basis (I rarely face the issue bullying). Even though I am not the common victim of bullying, I do witness it. Most of the time, I am able to witness a bully in action during class time. Bullies usually tend to negatively talk about their “prey” with others either behind the victims back, to their face, or when they think the person isn’t looking when in reality, they are observing their predators the whole time. From what I have witnessed in the past, I have commonly seen innocent students either mess up or say something ridiculous when speaking to the whole class. Although this has happened to everybody, some certain people (the ones labeled as bullies) feel it is necessary to either snicker at the student speaker or whisper to their peers about the most minor mistakes made by the individual. I really do not think it is necessary for someone to bullied just for being imperfect in the smallest ways. We have all heard that nobody is perfect and everyone has flaws but for some, that message seems to be going in one ear and out the other. Generally, I do not think anyone deserves to be bullied. Although, I do believe that there are exceptions when it comes to bullying others; sometimes those who commonly bully others deserve to be bullied back. It’s like the old fashioned way of teaching someone a lesson (cliche wise, they need to get a taste of their own medicine). If humanity were more drama-free, we may not have so many common stories about bullying. If more humans knew how to accept others and their opinions, if more humans respectfully addressed their problem with another peer directly towards that person, if more humans appreciated their peers addressing any issues that he/she had towards the individual, we would have a decreased rate of bullying, less annual suicides, friendlier peers, and an overall blissful society. In that case, innocent people won’t be bullied as often and bullies won’t have to get bullied back in order to learn a lesson. The bullying rate lies in the hands of all humans part of a society. It’s up to you: what are YOU going to do to make the world a better place?
ReplyDeleteUpon looking up bullying you may find a definition that says the intimidation of a weaker more vulnerable person but, I think it’s even more than that. From being in school for the past nine years I have seen that bullying can affect even the strongest of people. It can be an outfit, a guy or even a game meant to be fun that starts this toxic pattern of bullying one another. This heinous act is mainly committed by girls because no one can make you feel bad like your best friend of even someone you used to be friends with. Girls most often dismiss bullying off as “drama” to escape the shame they should be feeling about ruining someone else’s day or even more crucial, their life. I have been a victim of bullying and it’s not fun in fact it’s like knowing someone hates you but, never finding out why. To stop people from destroying one another over the petty we need adults to realize that bullying is serious sometimes it doesn’t seem like it’s just one person that’s constantly hurting your feelings you feel like it’s everyone. This constant hate bomb is just ticking until a day of hate seems like a lifetime and you just explode from the constant bullying that you’ve experienced. To prevent this everyone both girls and boys need to realize that nothing is worth destroying a person not issues of race, religion or sexual orientation is worth causing a person pain. If not even all gender schools with uniforms won’t stop this issue adults call bullying but teenage girls are more prone to call “drama.”
ReplyDeleteBullying is revolving around us everyday, yet no one has the courage to stand up and say they crossed the line. As teenagers, we are as if become tolerant of bullying. Most teenagers would rather sit there while a kid is being bullied than taking the chance of being the next victim to getting bullied. It is like a disease of bullying spread from one person to the other. In addition, students are always afraid to seek out help instead of being called a 'snitch' or they tell authorities and the bully verbally attacks the kid again for seeking out authorities. What me must do to stop this endless plague of hate is set the bullies straight. Raise the bullies self-esteem, since most bullies are bullying kids to make themselves feel better. In this fashion, the circle of bullying can be put to an end.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading Bullying as True Drama by Danah Boyd and Alice Marwick and thinking about the subject of bullying for a few minutes, I could not see where I’ve seen bullying in school or out. I guess it just not as blatant as some kid being picked up and shoved into a locker. The most common form of bullying that I have seen or experience would have to be rumors. And not trying to be sexist but they are nine times out of ten from girls. And I have seen many of these cases become serious problems to where it is worse than physical bullying. And there can be nothing really done to stop rumor from spreading. The only way I could think of is have a week in a health class dedicated to show the effects of bullying to people. But you can’t really monitor the spread of rumors. And it’s sad to see where bullying gets so close that people are taking their own lives. Just like when Tyler Clementi from the College of Rutgers University committed suicide after classmate released video of him having gay sex in a college dorm. Later that day that he found out the video was on the internet and people started to treat him weird, he then jumped off the George Washington Bridge to his death. Events like this don’t have to happen if people would stop making fun of people and just worry about themselves. If we could just inform kids at a very young age of these tragic events, they won’t be as prone to bullying at and older age. That’s what I think of bullying and how we could try to stop it.
ReplyDeleteBullying is an issue that many schools in the United States of America face today. As the article "Bullying as True Drama" states, some bullies do not realize that they are bullying. Bullies may not realize that they are hurting someone mentally and in the long run possibly physically. Suicide is a major consequence of being bullied. The number of suicides that happen in one year is hard to record but is one too many. Is there bullying happening at Oakcrest High School? You may not hear them, you may not see them, and they may not be affecting you personally, but they are there. I have been affected by a bully in my life and I'm sure almost everyone has been bullied. Bullying can be avoided, if bullies realize what they are doing is wrong. Also if you or someone you know is being bullied you should tell someone and they can help you.
ReplyDeleteThough it is apparent that bullying is a nation-wide problem, I do not feel as though I have ever been bullied, nor have I ever witnessed a case of bullying that was extreme to the point where the victim became depressed over it or driven to suicide like Jamey. In my experiences, teasing overall is just commonly accepted, and other forms of bullying are not particularly a local issue. Also, there is just generally a difference between bullying and teasing. Though friends who regularly bust each other's stones could be conceived as bullies, this is usually not true. In eighth grade, my little clique always shot verbal venom at one another. Besides the fact we were friends, we did not become upset because we did not take it to heart. Though we could preach to our posterity that calling Jimmy a butthead is not "nice," we also need to teach children to gain more confidence, to work up the nerve to report bullying, and to not take things to heart. Sure, there are severe cases that should require adult intervention, but even mature adults still pick on each other (oh, the irony), and it just something that won't easily change. We cannot change the fact that things happen at home, so children become bullies. However, children learn by example, and if we can teach our children to ignore the jerk faces, have more confidence, and report extreme cases to someone who can help them, bullying will bare less significance. In addition, if we can teach our children the importance of being able to see the world from an opposite point of view, we can have more understanding and compassion. If Johnny can see that Jimmy is a bully probably because he may be neglected, poor, ignored, etc., Johnny probably won't be as offended next time Jimmy bullies him. I believe bullying will never become non-existent; all we can do is take precautions to lessen the impact that one receives when being picked on.
ReplyDeleteBullying is a big issue in a lot of schools but I have to say in the past couple weeks at Oakcrest there was not any bullying going on in my classrooms. Of course most of the time bullying is happening all around us even without us noticing. Bullying is a big deal and not something that can just be pushed aside for the "moment". Just like Jamey sometimes bullying does get to a certain point and kids do commit suicide. Sometimes it's innocent where the bully doesn't really understand how bad it is really affecting the person but even so it shouldn't be happening. After reading "Bullying as True Drama" by Danah Boyd and Alice Marwick you think about all the times one of your friends would be joking around and saying really harsh things to people and you realize well maybe those people don't take it as a joke.? Lastly, lately everything is drama. Anything that anyone says has something to do with drama. But that's what we need to be careful of now. If we keep pushing things off to the side because we think that it's "drama" eventually something is going to happen,who's going to be the next Jamey.?
ReplyDeleteIn the hallways at school I hear the whispering of snobby girls trash talking about Carey’s shirt, the snickers of immature boys as they trip Paul on his way to the door, and the pointing of fingers at the homosexual boy collecting his books at his locker. The American Justice Department states that one out of every four kids is bullied. This is not how our society should be living and as United States Citizens we need to do our part and take a stand for a bully free land.
ReplyDeleteBullying is not an ordeal that I face everyday but I have witnessed several encounters during my lifetime. Many people are less fortunate and are not as blessed with the clothes, makeup, and other accessories that other people take for granted. Therefore, they tend to be categorized as “weird” based on what they wear. These people are made fun of, called names, and tormented by bullies and it’s wrong. On top of that, people are teased because of other characteristics such as their culture and sexuality. These victims feel helpless and consider suicide and drugs to numb the pain. I believe we should turn the table and show the bullies how it feels to be the victim. Us as Unites States Teenagers should detect these bullies, point out their flaws and help them see that it truly hurts to be harassed on a daily basis and it is a viscous cycle. In addition, we should have a bully awareness day once a month in schools across the country and show videos and documentations of kids being tortured by bullies. If these videos are realistic, then maybe those rebellious teens will end the cycle. It might not work wonders but if it saves a life, it is certainly well worth it.
In today's society, I believe that everyone has been a victim of bullying. However, most will not come to the conclusion that they have and admit it truthfully. Some are bullied physically, and some are bullied emotionally. Although, being a victim of emotional bullying causes the worst pain. As a teen, the biggest challenge you face is fitting in with 'the crowd.' Even through adulthood, fitting in is a major aspect of life. The term 'drama' is often used with girls, which involves cattiness, and rude behavior between cliques, groups and individuals. The saddest part of it all, is the bullying is becoming more familiar and frequent with the younger generations. There is such an immense amount of bullying throughout schools and everyday life, its becoming something that isn't such a shock anymore to hear. Observing it is a dreadful thing to watch. Christy's law of bullying that was recently made official is one of the many steps that can prevent bullying. In my opinion, bullying will never be set to a halt. But, we can take the initiative to prevent and calm it down.
ReplyDeleteBulling, teasing, taunting, mocking, joking, however you want to put it, bulling is a serious issue in today’s society. Me, I’ve experienced bulling in fifth grade when a group of girls would constantly tease me on the playground during recess. Although I had a few friends that would help me and stand up for me, those bullies would get under my skin. I observed that as the years go on through middle school and high school it doesn’t seem as though there are as many bullies as elementary school. In high school there are those people who say mean things behind peoples back. Occasionally I see bullies in my class room saying mean things about other people. Although in the hallway I don’t see as many bullies, mainly because I just don’t see many things that go on around me. I attend church which helps me see that it is very hard for people that are subjects to bulling; therefore I try not to bully others. I say church can help make things a little more drama free. Of course not everyone wants to go to church though, and I feel like when our authorities talk to us about bulling, it doesn’t seem to get through to anyone. Maybe we3 could start a fun group at school or have a segment about bulling put into the curriculum for health or English. This still may not stop the bullies, even though there are rules and laws against bulling I believe there is no other way to stop the bulling from occurring.
ReplyDeleteThrough many years of school, bullying has always been a topic of discussion. Every year we hear tragic stories of the effects of bullying and how it can alter peoples life forever. You would think that after being through countless assemblies that there would be a very small quantity of bullying, yet it happens everyday. Our generation has learned how to deal with simple forms of bullying and often take them as jokes. For example, calling a friend a loser. Yes we laugh and usually have a smart remark back, but a stranger or someone you rarely know may take it in another way because we have no idea what their personal life is like. I personally have fallen victim to bullying through school as I believe nobody is a stranger to rumors. I do not let these bother me; in fact I find it hilarious that someone took the time just to make something up about me and tell all of their friends. Rumors don't bother me at all; it just reminds me who my true friends are and who I can't trust. Honestly, I don't think there is an absolute way to stop bullying, but the only possibility that comes to mind is if something they said or did really effected that persons life. If they said a harsh comment to someone and saw them cry when no one was looking they would definitely feel bad. Sadly it would have to be this way in order to prevent bullying. Most people don't understand the victim's personal life or what goes on at home and it is not fair that they have to go to school everyday just to be made fun of. As growing mature students, we need to set an example and stand up for our classmates in need and show how pathetic these immature bullies really are!
ReplyDeleteI was sitting in my living room watching the news when I hear the CNN anchor report Jamey Rodemeyer, a homosexual 14-year old, committed suicide and took a moment to reflect. As society logged another causality of the epidemic of bullying, I thought “Wow, this kid could have easily been in my class! I could never fathom something like this happening at Oakcrest.” But then I realize it could happen. Not because of any noticeable violent bullying and fights, which national efforts have done well to reduce, but because of the drama and “harmless jokes” that could lead to a young child taking his or her own life. As I have learned, the shouting of gay and racial slurs has almost become a ubiquitous sound throughout the hallways of Oakcrest. While to the credit of our current anti-bullying efforts, I have noticed no instance of violence, but rather plenty instances of drama and jokes that could really hurt a person who decided one day to react. Our current anti-bullying programs need to emphasize the dangers of the little things now instead of the violent brawls. If we can break through to teens’ minds that it is the little jokes and drama that can really kill, teenagers might feel more reluctant to do things that would hurt a fellow classmate. We could start by implementing anti-bullying programs geared toward showing teens the consequences of drama and jokes. These programs should include powerful movies that can really trigger an emotional reaction. Albert Einstein defined Insanity as “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting the same result.” We have to change our approaching to handling bullying in order to tackle the more prevalent problem of bullying-induced suicide. If we can do this successfully, who knows how many live we could save?
ReplyDelete“Bullying as True Drama” was a huge eye opener for me. I have always been aware that bullying was there and existed but never exactly realized how much it takes place just based on the simplest of things. Whether it is one on one physical bullying, girls talking behind others back stirring up more and more drama or taking advantage of technology through cyber bullying it is there whether we like it or not. Bullying is something that I observe in the hallways and classrooms. Fortunately, I have never been bullied or a bully but I do however stick up for others when I see bullying happening, why wouldn’t I when in some instances the situation get to a seriously tragic point as in Jamey’s case where the victim commits suicide because of it. Now how could you just walk past that and let it be? I believe that there will always be bullying no matter how hard we try to change it from the current stage bullying is paused at today. Bullying can positively change however over time if you simply do what you can to resolve some of the conflicts created by drama that you walk past every day. Even if it is asking the person afterwards if they need help do what you can to help patch the hole and make the future of the United States a better society all together. As the Lao-tzu the Chinese philosopher once said “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”, be that first step.
ReplyDeleteBullying is a topic often discussed by anyone from students to legislators and is present wherever you go. There are many bullies and people that are being bullied around our school. A schoolmate walking right past you in the hallways might be a victim of bullying and we just might not know it because of a smile that is always on their face. I am happy to say that I don't have to deal with a bully at a daily basis. That however, does not exclude me from witnessing fellow students being bullied in my classes, and in the hallways. This includes watching a person be teased about how they walk, how they talk, what they look like and other things the bully could think of. Students should not treat other students differently because of how they are. Victims of bullying lose self confidence and sometimes go as far as committing suicide when the bullying just gets too much just like Jamey Rodemeyer, the 14 year old boy that took his own life due to bullying. There are many things that we could do to help the victims of bullying. Stepping in to defend a person being bullied is one thing we could do to help lessen bullying. Bullies also need to accept people as who they are since we are all equal. As much as we want bullying to stop, I don't think it ever will, but we could try our best to keep it to a minimum. It's all up to ourselves to make a difference.
ReplyDeleteBullying isn’t something I deal and hope to never deal with on a daily basis, but I have experienced it. One thing for sure is that it’s a heart-sinking experience to go through and can be something deeper than that to the point of suicides occurring. It’s becoming a bigger and bigger problem each day. First off why do people do it in the first place is what goes through my mind when I see it happen to someone. I’ve sat in class before seeing a fellow classmate listening to others talk crudely because of how she dresses. Why do you need to care? Or what does it matter to you? Is what I say to them and then they just give me these dirty looks that they think is oh so threatening, which I laugh at. Both girls and boys act like that. There’s always some kind of “drama” that goes from the way people dress to childish things of that’s my “woman” or that’s my “man”. But bullying is evolving into things like cyber bullying in which others are tormented by others not in person, but on the internet which anyone can see or do and it stays there like permanent ink in cyberspace and in that persons mind. The way society is now it’s a bit more of a challenge to make things a little more “drama-free”, but we all know is that no matter what, we should always respect others even if they look different, or have other traditions, and even a person’s sexuality. It really should be like a common sense to us by now, were all human beings.
ReplyDeleteAs we walk down the hallways of oakcrest highschool we see some unbareable sights. However the one thing that i cant stand and watch is bullying in process. Bullying is a topic that everyone has known and fought against, but has never had the true power to stop it in its heinous tracks. As a freshman in highschool, i have just begun to witness such a
ReplyDeleteflabbergasting concept. All around the school there is a segregation of people who make fun of the same people that is probably making fun of them. I believe there is no pure way to be rid of bullying however we are able to do the little things that will decrease the number of bulliers and bullies. If each person wiped that ignorant look off there face, erased the embarrassing joke from their mind , and gave people an actual chance, life would be chick full of laughter. Therefore i leave it up to you, my reader, willl you go down the path of mas distruction, or the path of positive and happy oportunities. Which one will you choose?
Granted, I’ve been at this school for only a few weeks, and I’m not the #1 most observant person on the planet, but honestly I haven’t seen any real bullying going on. Even being the tiny freshman I am no one has really bothered me in any way that I could ever see as offensive. Any kind of teasing I see on a normal basis is just child’s play in a world where people like Jamey feel the need to end their own lives over rude and ignorant teenagers who think its fun to torment someone to that kind of point. To be honest I’m not sure anything can be done about ‘bullying’. People could form all the programs, campaigns and whatever else to urge acceptance for all out peers, but some people just refuse to let others feel the happiness and belonging they deserve, and there’s not much anyone can do about that. To be honest even just the term ‘bullying’ makes me want to cringe, and I understand what the article means about no one using it and instead use ‘drama’. The word ‘bullying’ is so old-fashioned to our generation and brings up such a traditional kid-stealing-lunch-money picture it’s no wonder many teens say nothing of the sort happens. I’d be just as delighted as the next person to find that ANY form of drama or bullying disappears, but I’m a pretty logical person so I won’t be holding my breath.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the article "Bullying as True Drama", I feel as if bullying has become an intense topic, needing to be changed everyhere. Some types of bullying are minor, while others are to a much bigger extent. The most important topic that strikes my mind immediately would be cyberbullying. Ever since technology has advanced, kids have been more involved in bullying their peers on the internet. For example, Facebook, Formspring, or any other social networking site. It has been proven that when a child is in the process of being bullied, their grades begin to decrease and their self esteem plummets to rock bottom. Another example of bullying would consist of a student being teased in the hallways about how they are dressed or about who they hangout with. These things are all linked to bullying. The only way we will be able to stop bullying, is to not follow the trend set by so many other cruel students and to terminate it when you see it in your school. Stand up for the victim in the situation. Be the hero or the one to lend a hand to someone in need. Ghandi once said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world."
ReplyDeleteIt’s awful to see that such avoidable things like bullying are making this huge of an impact on today’s youth. Teens such as Jamey Rodemeyer, mentioned in the New York Times article “Bullying as True Drama”, are so greatly affected by being bullied, whether it be physical or cyber, that it has even driven them to suicide. Bullying can be found in various places in today’s society, such as the internet, in schools, and many other areas. School is a common area for bullying to take place. In the halls or even during class, many teens are bullied by the surrounding students. Over the years, with the on-going advancing of technology, bullying has grown and spread. Although physical bullying still does occur, cyber bullying has taken a huge part in the increase of bully-related problems. Many teens may find it much easier to say something to someone through text message or social networking rather than face to face, which has led to many rude, demeaning, and often threatening comments being made to innocent people. Personally, I do not think we are doing enough to prevent this issue. Of course, there are plenty of interventions and assemblies on bullying, but this is just raising awareness. Most bully victims will not directly reach out for help. Usually, no one is actually involved until the situation has progressed into something that cannot be reversed. I know that we obviously cannot completely negate bullying all together, but in my opinion, there at least needs to be more of an attempt to help them.
ReplyDeleteBullying
ReplyDelete"If you let a bully come in your front yard, he'll be on your porch the next day and the day after that he'll rape your wife in your own bed." -Lyndon B. Johnson; harsh but true. It is my personal opinion that bullying is not totally the fault of the bully, but partial credit goes to the victim as well. How long can you let someone boss you around until eventually they're raping your wife in your bed? (Figuratively of course.) Bullying happens to everyone at one point in their life or another; whether it be because the color of your skin is brown or white, your religion is Christian or Hindu, whether you're a boy or a girl. Now of course there are more extreme cases like Jamey Rodemeyer and those are absolutely considered a tragic event, but it's life; stuff happens. With the recent law being passed about bullying being illegal, I believe everyone is looking for their own pathetic plea to minor cases involving some harsh words exchanged over Facebook or a dirty stare in the hallway. Never would I want our parents to be mislead into believing that bullying gets that out of hands. As I stated earlier and I'll state it again, in "the grand scheme of life" you need to learn how to get over things, accept who you are and forget everyone else, be you and not care. I would love nothing more than for everyone to be singing songs of happiness, joy, and freedom, but it was about time I woke up and smelled the cement being used for our overly industrialized country; it's not going to happen. My heart goes out to all the people who feel belittled and bullied, but one day soon it'll all be over whether it's in the afterlife or the day you throw your cap up into the crystal blue sky. Life goes on and bullies grow out of their harsh ways.
Posted by Tatianna Leon at 5:50 PM
Bullying
ReplyDeleteIt is perhaps a teenager's best kept secret, something that they feel alnost ashamed to admit; the fact that they are being bullied and harassed. Some children feel as if they cannnot go to anyone to help resolve this problem and usually the outcome of this situational feeling can be tragic. Personally, bullying is no longer the stereotypical situation where the older student takes lunch money from a younger student. The act of bullying has now evolved into more aggressive forms. Cyber bullying is a form of bullying that takes place on the computer; meanwhile gossiping is usually done behind someones back. Bullying can affect anyone regardless of age, race, ethnic background, or religion. The main reason why this plague of hatred keeps spreading is due to the fact that people are not able to accept each other. For example, Jamey Rodemeyer took his own life when bullying about his sexuality became too much to handle. if the student body had not barraged him about his sexuality, Jamey Rodemeyer could have still been alive today. Acceptance is one of the key components to a productive and happy society. Deep down in my heart, I know that humanity is capable of loving one another, but the people in society have to want to make this happen, not just sit around and talk about it. "You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will live as one," John Lennon, Imagine.
Posted by Jazzy in the Sky With Diamonds at 4:50 PM
- i think bullying is unnecessary . . . Kids commit suicide because people take it to the next level . i don't think bulling should be allowed NOWHERE . i think people should just STOP bullying and let other people live their life . alot of people have commit suicide in the past year or so. and people think its cool just to do it . do you think its cool ? ! people should think of it as like would you like somebody to commit suicide just because of YOU bullied them and they took that far ?
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry about handing this in late.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, bullying is a waste of time and completely unnecessary, and trying to convince the bully, or the bully's parents,that they are in fact, a bully, is completely pointless. The kids think that they are doing the world a favor telling off a person that follows a different path in life than them, and the parents think that they did too good of a job raising the kid to even believe for a second that their kid could stoop to something that has been a major problem in school system from the invention of school systems. So, usually, the kid will grow up with a lowered self esteem, and maybe mild r even serious depression, while, the ego inflated bully will go on to bigger and better things. The only way to make a bully pay in any way for their actions is to get concrete, undeniable proof that the child is a bully.
I have had to deal with bullies most of my school life, pretty much up until this year. I felt hopeless a lot, I would feel like everyone was against me, and it felt terrible, I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy, but a few people went against the large social majority, and they slowly but surely built my self esteem and happiness, and maybe saved me from depression. Honestly, to solve bullying, all people need is a friend, a shoulder to cry on. That is what will stop the "drama" in schools.
Sorry that this is so long, it is a topic I think very strongly about. :)