Bullying

[Beet]

My instinct is to agree with Obamanation and fezzy, more. Kids need to learn to stand up for themselves. On the other hand, I was bullied, and it would often drive me into an incoherent rage. I felt that I needed to "top" the other person and thus do something crazier and more violent than they'd expect. Fortunately I never really hurt anybody, but I can't say for certain that I never would have. It's when "fighting back" leads to something really injurious that can send somebody to the hospital that I worry.

However, assuming that even kids know deep down what lines they can cross and which they can't, I do think that bullying can be character building if the kid responds to it and defends themselves. Heck, even as an adult, I thrive on being mistreated. It sends me into overdrive to prove myself, and I end up being a lot more productive and bold than I normally am. Sometimes, I feel that modern life is just so meaningless, too much has been done to avoid pain, and that if we had greater obstacles to overcome, we would actually be happier in the long run.