by Summer Tyme

Created on: March 21, 2009   Last Updated: May 10, 2009

The line between harmless fun and bullying: What is it?

Man belongs to the kingdom of animals. Men are territorial as are males of the different animal species and will fight to maintain dominance. But men and societies make laws to regulate the warfare between dominate males and those who may threaten to steal territory. possessions or prestige. Many of the reasons for laws of this sort can be illustrated by taking note of something that happens everyday all over the earth.

Imagine a farm, the morning sun is shining from behind the barn, a cool breeze is rustling the corn and cows are herding into the pasture. A pastoral scene nearly anyone could enjoy. And then in comes the bully. The little chick is being chased and harassed by another, a larger, older animal or just a stronger, healthier one. This is bullying and it happens on every farm. If something doesn't happen to end it, other chickens will take their turn and the little chick will be killed for its weakness.

This kind of behavior is not unique to chickens or others of the lower animals in man's world. Man picks on man and woman, women pick on each other and sometimes men, and individuals of each gender pick on children. Children thus learn, through nature and nurture, to pick on, or bully others.

Unfortunately, it has been largely ignored or used as a teaching, or learning tool. Until recently when the one who was being bullied could stand it no longer and retaliated. The one retaliating had, perhaps, tried to gain assistance in his or her fight against those who were bullying. The plea for assistance might have been a verbal complaint to a parent or teacher, a relating of events that 'So and so' took my pencil, lunch, jacket or other item. It may have been that the one being bullied didn't want to go to school, had eating problems- either too little or too much- or they seemed angry or depressed. And perhaps no one listened, or they gave platitudes about why the bully was behaving in such a way

When the child comes home with the proverbial black eye, there may even be laughter and if they are actors in a stereotypical sitcom, someone brings out a cold, raw steak to place over the offended, injured orb. And everyone laughs and talk of what to do if it happens again precedes a happy ending when the two become good friends, the injured child stands up to the bully and 'gives as good as he got', or the bully is bullied by another, larger avenger of the downtrodden. This is not real

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