Oh Great... More Shootings...

[Kiki]

^ I agree with you on so many levels. I don't understand it when people say, "oh yes, that person bullies other because they were bullied themselves". Same goes for pedophiles, however... *sigh*... in /my/ opinion, there is no excuse for abuse (that rhymes, heh). I've been teased, most people have at some stage of their lives, so the only logical thing to do is... tease innocent people...? I'm a flexible person who can look at things from a different perspective quite easily, but... I just can't put myself in that frame of mind. And in all frankness, I have no sympathy for these people. In the words of Blanche (the troubled soul from A Streetcar Named Desire), "delibrate cruelty is not forgivable".

Yeah, it really is sad. It also depends on the individual to, I reckon. I know numerous people who are just plain paranoid, who think people are teasing them all the time when I know for a fact that that is not the case, and they really do overract, and they end up hating everyone. These people need to put things in perspective (also: I remember a girl commited suicide over cyber-bullying. After that everyone was going on about how the internet is all evil, etc. The girl posted a nude photo of herself on facebook and people reacted. Yeah... that was the reason- no joke. Tragic, on many levels. And also -I'm sorry, but it is guys- stupid). But as for the people who actually get tormented and nobody has taken action... that's sad. And so common... :/

(H*ll, they actually made t-shirts...? That's shocking. And ironic...)

 

[RedPiggy]

It took years to admit that "there for the Grace of God go I" in public. It used to be just being shorter than everyone else ... then it was the "late blooming" thing ... then boys started calling me homophobic slurs because I wouldn't kiss them or sleep with them. Had it ever occurred to me to just knock off the people who abused me ... I think I might have. I was once accused of stealing a cheerleader's protractor and I had to replace it because the teacher was a former cheerleader and naturally I was guilty. The teachers, even if they didn't say it overtly, had the facial expression that the victim was just inconveniencing them.

Still ... trigger-happy idiots aren't thinking. When Columbine happened, you heard the "shocked" -- "Gee, I guess we were mean"-type whining.

I gave it two weeks.

Forgot how long it took, and now there's evidence that there really wasn't nearly the kind of bs going on with those kids they said they did ... but lessons were only vaguely learned.

And considering that it turns out the "victims" weren't bullied nearly as much as they said initially, then the other obvious thought is that there is a bunch of people with things like borderline personality disorder or whatever and are not diagnosed or not treated. Psychological disorders is either treated like "Snake Pit" or completely ignored due to stigma. It doesn't have to be this way. We need to be dealing with these people early or we'll end up hearing of murder/suicide as they are or they'll grow up to be the next Dahmer.

 

[Kiki]

I'm so sorry, Kelly- that's shocking.

It makes me wonder whether people know if they're teasing others. The obvious answer that comes to mind for me is, duh, of coarse they dom and there shouldn't be an excuse, but a few years back I witnessed a really unusual regarding the girls in my year level.
This was when I was in year nine. We went to this place for our annual retreat, it was pretty much talking about loving one another, not judging eachother, and all those other things that teenage girls are experts on. I was 14, or maybe 15 at the time, like most people in my year level. Towards the end of the retreat, we had this young guy come in to talk to us reagrding bullying. He told us to close our eyes. All he pretty much said was, "imagine if YOU were the one being bullied?" and within seconds three quarters of our year level were in tears. I personally didn't know what to make of this: it was good that they were having a wakeup-call, right? But hadn't they /ever/ put themselves in that frame of mind where they were the victims? This confused me. All it took was some guy to pose a basic question and they were bawling?

(On a random note, that day some girl apologised to "all the unpopular people" -yes, in those words- and addressed me personally. I found it lol-worthy, but they rest of the girls were like, "WHAT? !". Keep in mind this girl wasn't exactly the most popular girl ever, either).

I know I'm fairly younger then you, and I'm currently attending highschool, but I'm somewhat curious to know how school's function in the states. I wouldn't've thought that they'd be much difference, but having many friends in the US and listening to them about their school it seems that things are really different.

There are definately times when I wish I was more assertive. Obviously I have know many people that at least deserve a good slap, but obviously I'd be in the wrong, like all the other times I've tried to stick up for myself. :/ But I'm a little over that, and people should be as they get older, but but I'm a bit of a hypocrite that way: I tell all my friends to confront others and not tolarate certain things (tohugh I'm getting better, and generally I'm able to stick up for myself), but I *can* be a pushover, and being assertive alone scares people, because they believe I'm angry and they only believe that I'm Always Happy.

Seekijg help early is always good, but at the same time it can be hard, because you'll find that most people won't take any action. D:

 

[GonzoLeaper]

Sad. It's things like this that make me wish guns didn't exist at all. But it doesn't matter- you can't blame it just on a gun. It's who's using it and how it's used. And even without guns, people find other ways to kill. I just wish people troubled like that would find real love- it's the antidote to pain and hate and anger. Even though love has to deal with pain too- it's long-suffering and it always rejoices with the truth. And all I can do is try to show that kind of love to everyone- and pray for the victims and the bullies. I'm thankful for Jesus who embodies that love to me. He's the only sure foundation I can hold to in a world of violence and fear.
....sigh- still, it's always sad to see these things happen. As Elvis Costello said, what's so funny about peace, love and understanding?