It’s sad to say but bullying happens much more on college campuses than you or I actually realize.
You would think dealing with bullies was something that only happened in high school or junior high. But it’s not!
It happens all the time and is everywhere around us. Sad to say, but even adults still do it. They are the ones who you would expect to put out more model behavior. But many of them don’t. In fact, many of the younger kids learn their bullying behavior from their parents or the person that raised them.
We all know that bullying still exists, but the question is what do we do about it? How do we handle it if it happens to us or a friend of ours? I’m sure that many of you have walked down the street and have seen someone you have known being beaten up or picked on. What went through your mind when that happened?
What can I do?
What if they do it to me too?
I’d like to step in, but I’m scared.
We have all had those thoughts at some point or another. There comes a point where we all need to stand up for what is right. If it’s a friend and they get are a victim of bullying on our watch, how can we live with ourselves afterward?
How to stand up to a bully
To help ease your mind a little I am giving you a few tips to think about if it does happen. Because rest assured, there will come a time when each and everyone of us will be put into a situation where bullying is rampant, if we haven’t already.
Assess the situation
Bullying comes in many shapes and forms. Some of it is overt and some situations can be very subtle. So the first thing you need to do is to identify what type of situation and what type of bully you are involved with. Knowing what type of bully the person is will indicate to you what to do.
Try a different way of going home.
Don’t do the same route twice. You will learn your way around the campus more effectively and you will avoid the bully. If they can’t find you, they can’t hurt you. Don’t go out of your way to let them know you are doing this. A bully smells fear and they react wildly to this. If they sense fear within you chances are you will get beaten up much more.
Show them there is nothing that they can do to get to you.
Bullies react to negative energy. They also react to pain and discomfort. If you show them that you are not hurt by what they are doing, chances are they will get bored and move on. Some may try a little bit harder, but for the most part, a bully will not get anywhere if he or she can’t touch you.
Don’t give them the attention they are seeking.
If you can deflect an insult back on to them, this lessens their power and they in turn will be laughed at. So don’t give in to what they want. Give it back to them if possible. Once they see that they have no power over you, they are less likely to intimidate you anymore.
You should also report it to the cops or some authoritative figure.
Remember this: they are seeking power and pleasure from your pain and your job is to remove the crown of thorns from their head.
Photo by Free Digital Photos.
