It is taunting. It is being pushed into a locker, teased for your appearance or disability. The definition of bullying is so simple it encompasses many different behaviors.
On Tuesday, Oct. 11, students in the Game Plan For Success program in the Family Resource Center conducted a presentation on bullying designed by the students.
A PowerPoint Presentation defined bullying as "an act of bring down the self-esteem of another person." The presentation, explained by Zach Alles, Jeremy Grilli and Zach Freeman, said it can happen to anyone and can be physical or emotional. Bullying can be mental and emotional, according to the presentation. Emotional bullying is frequently about controlling another person's thoughts, making them feel bad about their friends, hobbies, appearance or financial situation, including cyberbullying.
Physical bullying is more obvious: physical assaults such as tripping, beating up another person or knocking books down.
The question is why. Why do people, not just young people, take others down? The answer, according to the presenters Oct. 11, is sometimes within the person himself.
"A lot of them want others to feel the same pain they're in," said Jeremy Grilli.
He said it is possible some have problems at home. In some cases, according to the presentation, it is a result of depression.
Bullying can result in self-harm or cutting, even suicide. Victims have also been known to seek destructive coping mechanisms such as substance abuse, sexual activity, bullying others and generally erratic activity.
The question then is how does a person identify bullying. Bullying can be seen in people's actions. Are they picking on others, or is there more gossip? Students were also encouraged to watch for the mental state of other people. Do they seem more down than usual, or have they told you about anything unusual? Students were also asked how they respond to bullying. Students offered answers on whom to seek when they are victims of a bully: parents, friends and school counselors. They also said it is commonly overlooked that the bully might be experiencing the same abuse he or she is applying.
Students also addressed how to prevent bullying. The first way to prevent bullying, according to the presentation, is to help others instead of bringing them down and be the reason a person smiles. Students were also encouraged to be positive, don't always focus on the negative aspects of life and greet others with a smile.
Students also confronted the question of what is the bully feeling and how would he or she feel if the victim succeeded with suicide or self-harm. Students thought the bully might feel worthless, guilty or depressed.
Forrest Hershberger: 970-526-9281, firstname.lastname@example.org