What is a bully?

[Tinkerbelle]

I've just been reading through the Celebrity Big Brother thread and it got me thinking, what exactly is a bully? The term 'bully' is used so often these days. When I was younger, a bully was someone who used physical violence or intimidation, usually on smaller, more vulnerable kids.

I could be wrong but these days it just seems that the term 'bully' is used so liberally. Does it make you a bully if you don't get along with someone? Name calling, we've all done it, is that 'bullying'?

I know it's a contentious issue because many people have suffered at the hands of bully's but it is a genuine question.

 

[Lolly]

a bully was someone who used physical violence or intimidation

I agree, but I think it also comes in other forms. Yes i think name calling is in a way bullying, even if its behind your back.
I dont think your a bully if you dont get on with someone, unless you start to call them, abuse them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bully

 

[WillowTheWhisp]

To me it's any form of physical or verbal harrassment of another person.

 

[Doug]

Examples of bullying behaviour may include (this is not an exhaustive list):

Verbal or physical threats and intimidation
Unjustified persistent negative comments
Humiliating someone in front of others
Unjustified persistent criticism
Offensive or abusive personal remarks
Setting unreasonable and unattainable targets
Ostracism
Picking on one person for criticism when there is a common problem
Making false allegations

 

[chav1]

so me calling tinks , short arse , stumpy , midget , poison dwarf etc is bullying ?

 

[WillowTheWhisp]

nah - she can give as good as she gets.

 

[Doug]

so me calling tinks , short arse , stumpy , midget , poison dwarf etc is bullying ?

Yes it does you over confident cat killing dip stick....

 

[jedimaster]

Examples of bullying behaviour may include (this is not an exhaustive list):

Verbal or physical threats and intimidation
Unjustified persistent negative comments
Humiliating someone in front of others
Unjustified persistent criticism
Offensive or abusive personal remarks
Setting unreasonable and unattainable targets
Ostracism
Picking on one person for criticism when there is a common problem
Making false allegations

i would agree but i would also add for it to be bullying it would be using the above to intimidate someone in a weaker position than yourself

 

[Mancie]

I think the old typical bully.."big hard nut, no brians" type has been put out of business, its more verbal these days.. like kids slaggin off other kids for not being up to the fashion bods in footwear and stuff.
I would have said that some smart/clever people can manipulate a group to give aggro to someone they don't like, but if its come to the state were Jade Goody is smart enough to manipulate a group to her own ends then lets just give up and let the experts work that one out.

 

[Tinkerbelle]

Thanks for the link Lolly It was an informative read

so me calling tinks , short arse , stumpy , midget , poison dwarf etc is bullying ?

Would you like a kick in the nuts Mr Westlife?

 

[Neil]

I've just been reading through the Celebrity Big Brother thread and it got me thinking, what exactly is a bully?

I have no idea so why don't you shut your gob before I give you a slap!!

 

[Tinkerbelle]

Again cheers Doug for the info. I'm rapidly trying to catch up after being disturbed by mthead needing to use the pc ..... he's such a bully!!

Ibut if its come to the state were Jade Goody is smart enough to manipulate a group to her own ends

Manipulate? Is it not a case of the 3 girls share a mutual opinion?

 

[Tinkerbelle]

I have no idea so why don't you shut your gob before I give you a slap!!

That would make your nose bleed Neil

 

[Mancie]

3 girls? you mean dannele,jade and the s club girl ? even if they worked together I doubt they would pass the entry exam for a toddlers nursey.

 

[accymel]

So telling someone u have had difficulties with to their face, being open & honest about their feelings towards that person.......is that bullying??

 

[jedimaster]

So telling someone u have had difficulties with to their face, being open & honest about their feelings towards that person.......is that bullying??

naah that's just honesty!

 

[Tinkerbelle]

I'm sorry but 'bullying' was a serious issue when I was younger but now it's used so often out of context it has become a joke. For instance, if I tell one of my kids off one of the others whispers (thinking I can't hear) "BULLIED!!!" How can serious issues regarding bullying be addressed when minor incidents are regarded as bullying?

I still don't get it!

 

[accymel]

naah that's just honesty!

Even if your honesty isnt nice & complimentary ?????????

 

[Tinkerbelle]

naah that's just honesty!

Honesty can often come over as aggressive. Is that bullying?

 

[accymel]

I'm sorry but 'bullying' was a serious issue when I was younger but now it's used so often out of context it has become a joke. For instance, if I tell one of my kids off one of the others whispers (thinking I can't hear) "BULLIED!!!" How can serious issues regarding bullying be addressed when minor incidents are regarded as bullying?

I still don't get it!

Thats a bloody point???

Where is the line drawn?? How many times as when u were a kid u got told off for tittle tattling/tell taling on someone over a very minor incident of little name calling but then theres a kid with a serious sytematic mental & sometimes violent bullying that says ..nothing nor admits about it, suffering in silence.

There must be a line between ?