Childhood bullying tends to put things into a (not-so-)funhouse mirror... it seems way worse when you are going through it than the individual acts really are. And years later, it's strange what memories can burn a hole in you when everyone else involved has long since forgotten. The effects of bullying are very serious; teenage suicides and the like. But it's often over stuff that is so small that you wish you could have said to them "Wait five years, and you will be so far beyond this."
Also; your sense of morality is in evolution when you are a child and even when you are a teenager. Children largely start out as cute little selfish psychopaths and improve from there. There are bumps along the way. If you see a child act in an inappropriate way, of course you correct them, but you also understand that they do so because they are a child. The person who bullied you when you were 10 is not necessarily even remotely the same person now (though they could be). But the person who is bullied at the age of 10 may hold the scars forever regardless.
Only other thing... I prefer circles of friends or acquaintances that take the piss. It seems more honest to me. But in such an environment I try to be careful to watch out for people who are always dishing it out, or people who are always taking it. Bullying can take place unintentionally.
I think also when you're a preteen or teen, everything is so BIG. You're just getting a handle on these grown up emotions and they are totally overwhelming. So I agree, if we could just get kids to understand that it gets better, that would be a good start.
Also; your sense of morality is in evolution when you are a child and even when you are a teenager. Children largely start out as cute little selfish psychopaths and improve from there. There are bumps along the way. If you see a child act in an inappropriate way, of course you correct them, but you also understand that they do so because they are a child. The person who bullied you when you were 10 is not necessarily even remotely the same person now (though they could be). But the person who is bullied at the age of 10 may hold the scars forever regardless.
Only other thing... I prefer circles of friends or acquaintances that take the piss. It seems more honest to me. But in such an environment I try to be careful to watch out for people who are always dishing it out, or people who are always taking it. Bullying can take place unintentionally.
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