Alright. Raise your hand if have you ever been bullied. Well, you’re not alone. According to Gale Student Resources in Context, about 33% of the nation’s youth have too (Gale, Differences). According to Gale Student Resources in Context, bullying is defined as an “unwanted aggressive behavior directed at a victim or victims”(Gale, Differences). This disturbing epidemic can cause many effects on its victims. These include lowered self esteem, depression, increased reclusiveness, and even self harm and suicide (Gale, Differences). As someone who has gone through bullying myself, I can say that I have experienced these symptoms as well, and I know how hurtful it can be. Bullying is an issue that, if left to fester, can lead to destructive consequences. In order to stop this epidemic, disciplinary action, and even legal action in intense cases, should be used.
Bullying is a very well known issue in America, with devastating consequences. This can come in the form of traditional bullying or cyberbullying. Traditional bullying is a face to face encounter or an encounter that takes place in real life. Once again, consequences include depression, lowered self esteem, and even suicide (Gale, Differences). Personally, I have also experienced, and still do experience these issues, mostly the lowered self-esteem, and even led me to consider suicide. While I was able to recover, other bullied teens have fallen victim to intense bullying. Teens such as Megan Meier and Ty Smalley have committed suicide due to the immense pressure and harassment, along with countless others (Gale, Bullying). Even the Columbine shootings may have been aggravated by bullying (Gale, Bullying). These teens had lives ahead of them, families, careers, and a chance to make an impact, and this was wiped away by a few pathetic individuals who decided to harass an innocent teen and make them unsure of their worth, of their value, if they are loved. These terrible consequences should be enough to warrant any means necessary to stop this from happening. In order to save a life, no measure is too extreme or intense.
Bullying is supported by mob mentality and the bystander effect as well. According to the Mob Mentality powerpoint, 5 percent of a crowd can influence the other 95 percent (Powerpoint). This, added with bullying creates a devastating combination. This means that bullies can easily persuade crowds to join them instead of stop them. This also means that a few people who don’t speak up, can also keep others from speaking up as well. The Bystander Effect is perhaps even more important. The Bystander Effect is defined as when people stay out of a situation, for multiple reasons. Multiple students have stated that just one friend or one adult that stood up for them was enough to end a bullying situation (Weekend Edition Sunday, Call-In). This makes it even more important for us to initiate disciplinary and legal consequences. If we apply those consequences of bullying, this makes it important to not be bystanders, and to work to put consequences on bullies.
All of the states in the US also agree that laws must be used to limited bullying, and the House of Representatives proposed an act to make cyberbullying illegal (Gale, Bullying). The parent involved in Megan Meier’s suicide was taken to court and prosecuted. While she was not convicted, it showed how suicide could become a legal matter. Disciplinary matters should also be used and employed in schools. According to Gale Student Resources, “Teachers and principals are best equipped to deal with issues that come up between students.” (Scholastic, Should) While they are not authorized to act when a problem erupts outside of school, the effects that bullying has should be considered intense enough to warrant action. Bullies who act usually do so because they are sure consequence will not come (Scholastic, Should). With more legal and disciplinary consequences, bullies may hesitate or stop with their harassment.
Some people think that the responsibilities of punishment should go to the parents (Gale). However, parental punishment is not enough. While parents should keep their kids in check, many teens do not fear their parents’ punishments, and continue with their bullying, while a disciplinary or legal consequence would have a much greater meaning to bullies. When I was being bullied, my father confronted the mother of my bully. She took the accusations, and promised to keep her son in check. However, this turned out to be less effective than originally thought, and the harassment continued onward. My point is that parental consequence may not be enough, and other means may be more effective.
This connects to our morality readings as well. Morality can be better enforced by using oughts and consequences for not following those oughts (Krager, What). Oughts are goals that society sets in order to tell members what to do and what not to do. Anti-bullying should be an ought in our society. If these oughts are not followed, the disobeyer should be punished for them to learn their lesson. This is why consequences should be established to cut off bullying at the source.
In conclusion, I believe that any means must be employed to end bullying. As previously stated, bullying has extreme and even deadly consequences. Bullying is helped by bystanders doing nothing to stop the bullying. Finally, the legal and disciplinary actions are the most effective in stopping bullying. If we want to stop this intense epidemic, and save so many adolescents from experiencing the same experiences that hurt those of us who have been bullied, we need to embrace this new method. Do it to help people from not having to feel hurt and uncomfortable in their own skin. Do it to keep what happened to Megan Meier, to Ty Smalley, to me and all the other kids who raised their hands here from affecting the youth of the future. Because today’s bullies become the racists, sexists, and homophobes of tomorrow, and today’s victims become the broken souls of tomorrow.
