How is bullying any different today than it was 10, 20, 30 years ago?

People are making this huge ginormous deal about bullying. Task forces to stop bullying are being set up in schools where victims of bullies committed suicide. Laws are being presented into legislation. The media is beating it to death.

Yes, I can’t stand bullying. Kids can be mean little bastards. I know firsthand, as a fat, poor girl growing up as the racial minority… being caucasian. I got bullied bigtime. Physically injured, sent home in hysterics more than once, my belongings stolen or damaged. It’s horrible.

But really, isn’t this part of growing up? Yes it’s a rotten stinking shame about the kids who committed suicide. I think it’s more about suicide being more “popular” for lack of a better term, than it is about bullies being worse. Kids have been tormented by each other as long as humans have existed. There have always been gay kids, short kids, fat kids, mixed race kids, etc. etc.

How much is all this effort to stop bullying really going to help? Sure you might reach one here or there but let’s face it: Kids are kids. They’re jerks. They’re mean. They’re naive and immature. They’re little bundles of raging hormones. Nobody is ever going to be able to wipe out bullying. But if we coddle kids, how are they going to grow a thick enough skin to make it into adulthood?