Bullying and Teasing: No Laughing Matter

CRYSTAL CHEAH
Staff Writer

A bully is a person who tries to hurt others by making them feel uncomfortable such as through calling others names, spreading nasty rumors, making threats or physically hurting them. However, not all bullying behavior is done with intent or with the realization that their demeanor is hurting another individual.

Bullying comes in various forms. It can be physical, verbal, racial, sexual, or via the internet. Physical bullying is the easiest to recognize because it involves obvious forms of intimidation, including shoving, hair pulling, inappropriate touching and damaging another’s possessions. Verbal bullying is very common and often accompanies physical behavior. Some examples of verbal bullying include demeaning jokes, gossip, slander, intimidation and persistent teasing.

Sexual bullying, which is unwanted physical contact, can be the combination of both physical and verbal bullying. It can include using words that demean a person’s gender or sexuality, unwelcome physical contact or posting inappropriate photos online.

Bullying scares a lot of people and the majority of time the victim is terrified to speak up. The APA suggests victims to calmly tell the bully to stop bullying or simply walk away instead of bullying back. As for those who recognize a bullying act, it is important for them to report it immediately to a parent or an adult they trust. APA also recommends students to avoid situations where there are no other students or teachers such as going to restroom with a friend or eating lunch in a group.