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Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones
And Words Can Hurt, Too
By Donna Smith
What type of person is singled out to be the victim of bullying? Maybe they are different in some way: the color of their skin, the way they talk, their name, the way they look. Some people are bullied for no particular reason at all. Bullies do tend to seek out others that will not defend themselves; someone who will not fight back. Remember, a bully is seeking power and most of the time is trying to show everyone how tough they are. What better way to do that than to find someone who won't fight back?
"Looking back, I see it was my timidness and shyness that attracted the bullies to me," says Sally from Missouri, who was bullied at school. "Cruel kids hone in on any weakness displayed by other kids and they focus on that." One day Sally stood up to the person bullying her. "In sixth grade I overcame my shyness and triumphed over my tormentors. I will always remember it as a victory!"
The "new kid" at school might be singled out. "My parents moved when I was in third grade, and one older boy in my grade began picking on me," says John from Texas. "My father told me eventually I would have to stand up for my rights. He said bullies, like animals, sense fear, and you must stand your ground."
It is usually the first reaction toa bullying incident that will determine if the victim will be approached again. Bullies don't want a confrontation. They don't want their power questioned. What happened to John after he stood his ground? "I think we probably had a couple of pushing and shoving matches, but nothing that amounted to much. Afterwards, both of us simply went our own separate ways."
