There are many positives to bullying and suicide awareness, one of which is the ever so slow change in attitudes en masse about bullying, bullies, and victims over the last twenty years. More and more people are coming to the realization that bullying is not “just a normal rite of passage” or “just a part of growing up” like previously thought a few decades ago.
People are finally seeing it for the huge health hazard and the threat to human life that it truly is and perhaps, always has been. Unlike thirty years ago when I was in school, there is a vast wealth of knowledge, resources, and programs readily available to anyone who finds themselves on the receiving end of such harassment.
We now have a treasure trove of articles, books, and videos on what victims can do to bully-proof themselves. Today, we know that victims of bullying are not weak, too sensitive or to blame for the treatment they receive like previously thought decades ago.
We have made great progress for victims of bullying and I cannot thank enough all those who contributed to this progress. However, I want to stress something that I’m positive very few have considered:
Bullies also have access to this widely available information!
Although the data available is meant to help and empower victims, bullies can use this data as counterintelligence and turn it against their targets. And they can do it by using the information to tailor any future attacks.
For instance, since bullying has been shown to cause suicide, there has been a drastic uptick in cases where bullies have told their victims to “kill themselves”. A few have even talked them into it.
Remember that the most talented and seasoned bullies are cowards at heart and always commit their evil undercover and with subtlety. Bullies are smart, stealth, meticulous, and worst of all- patient! They will not risk being caught.
Anytime a victim attempts to assert their right not to be mistreated and to better their lives, bullies only escalate the harassment to punish the target and keep him/her silent and, in essence, enslaved.
I want you to understand that any power the victim regains for him/herself is power the bullies must lose! And when bullies see a threat to the power they have over a target, they will only tighten their grip and escalate the torment.
Bullying is a slow death by psychological, emotional, and physical torture. It is systematic, subtle and sadly, escalation of it is sometimes so gradual that it often goes unnoticed by bystanders and authority until the victim dies by their own hand.
When a target of bullying commits suicide, the bullies have committed murder without laying a finger on the target. And because there’s no physical contact or weapon discharged by the bully or bullies at the time of the target’s death, the bully gets away with this murder.
Bullies murder their victims by gently and over time, persuading and influencing them to do it for them. Now, this is how they get away with murder! What better way is there to kill someone without ever touching them, without firing a single shot, and without fear of ever seeing the inside of a prison?
Bullies know this instinctively! I say this with full conviction and being fully aware that I might be giving a few evil and unsavory souls a few ideas! Of this, I am truly afraid!
The best I can do is to hope and pray to the goodness that no one with evil intentions comes across this blog post!
In closing, if you are a target of chronic and relentless bullying, I urge you to never give up on yourself. Never let a bully convince you that the world would be better off without you! It wouldn’t!
Never let a bully convince you that you would be better off dead because chances are that they only target you because you are doing something right! They bully you because you stand out! You somehow outshine the bullies and they only mistreat you out of jealousy!
Know that you’re worth living for!
Believe it!
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It is so unfortunate of the number of suicides I’ve seen reported over the last several years as a result of bullying. The numbers are alarming, sad, and staggering. Oftentimes, many victims remain silent in their suffering. 🤫 Bullies take advantage of their victim’s vulnerabilities and insecurities to prove their power over them and coerce them to do bodily harm to themselves, and they think they’ve won. No, targets should find a way to fight back and often it’s not necessarily with weapons (like a gun or knife) unless it is in self-defense. It’s showing the bully that they will not be intimidated and that someone bigger than they are will eat them up and spit them out without hesitation. 😝
Bullies are relentless in finding ways to attack their targets and they can get anything they want from some of the most unlikely sources. Caution, not fear is the key to fighting back in this situation. 🤜🏽🤛🏽
Awesome comment, Kym. 😊💖💐 And sadly, since the anti-bullying movement really started picking up steam about 15-20 years ago, and the suicides of targets started getting media attention and airtime, more and more bullies are, in fact, telling their targets- even trying to convince them that they should kill themselves. And what better waynis there to murder someone without going to prison than to convince them to commit suicide?
I’m not saying that we shouldn’t speak out about bullying and suicide because we most certainly should. However, we also need to be prepared for bullies to get some terrible ideas and try to murder their targets without actually doing it. Bullies are that sneaky, that cunning, and that evil. 😢👿
Girlfriend, you said a mouthful of truth there. Bullies have gotten away with murder because no one sees it as the cause and motive of how they do it. Being the criminals that they are, just like you said, they are sneaky, cunning and evil. A smooth criminal! 👮🏼♀️ 🚓 👮🏼 Eventually, justice will be served!!! ⚖️
Exactly girl! And yes, justice will be served! It always comes back to bite them in the end. And I will continue to try and send the message to targets never to allow bullies that kind of power over them. Thank you so much for your kind words of encouragement! You don’t know how much it means! <3 <3 <3
Well Cherie, you are a true and dedicated advocate and you are very welcome. 🙏🏼 You understand the angles from both sides because you experienced it as a recipient and you saw firsthand the diabolical jabs of intent from those who bullied you. 😞 I love your advocacy, your strength, and the way you give people hope. If only bullies will read, reflect and change their ways based on the very things you have written. If someone they loved and cared about was the victim of being bullied or of suicide even, I wonder how they would truly feel and respond? Would they change their ugly ways? Hmmm 🤔
Your platform is needed ladybug. You’re too far in right now to think about ever quitting! 😍 🥰 😘
Aww! Thank you! And you’re right! I’ve come too far with this blog to ever quit! This is my life’s work! <3
And girlfriend, you’re doing an awesome job! I really mean that Cherie! 😍 🥰 😘
<3 <3 <3 :* :* :*
Law & Order SVU tackled this very subject about someone convincing a person to commit suicide. In the episode the person was charged with murder and convicted.
I would’ve loved to see that episode. And there have been actual cases where people have been found guilty, sentenced, and imprisoned.
If you watch they play it as a re-run.
Cool! 😎😎😎