The Extreme Effects of Bullying

Most people endured some form of teasing or tormenting during their childhood years, but the issue of bullying seems to have taken on a whole new life.

CNN recently aired a town hall aimed at devising solutions to the problem. The discussion took place at Rutgers University in commemoration of the one-year death anniversary of Tyler Clementi, a Rutgers student who committed suicide after being tormented about his homosexuality.

Although Clementi was a college student, the forum also focused on the effects of bullying on younger students. Several public figures from Dr. Phil to Tyra Banks to New York Times columnist Charles M. Blow have denounced the practice of bullying and testified as to the impact that it can have on the young psyche.

Much like abuse victims, victims of bullying may try to hide physical bruises or scars and feel as though they are to blame for being picked on. Of course, with children, and even with adolescents and young adults, no one wants to be labeled "a snitch," or to appear as though they cannot handle their own affairs, so many people choose to suffer in silence. As a result, suicide has become a growing problem among victims of bullying.

Unlike the gossiping, name-calling, and occasional fight after school that most people remember, the nature of bullying has changed. Not only will the girl on the playground talk about you behind your back, she will tweet, post derogatory Facebook statuses, unflattering pictures, and embarrassing YouTube videos about you. The torture is no longer just something that takes place at school. It is constant, and it is displayed in public view for the whole world to see.

However, while everyone seems to be focused on how to stop bullies and how to recognize the signs of bullying in their children, few people seem to be discussing the importance of instilling self-respect and self-esteem in our youth.

While bullying is not something people should learn to just accept, all the Facebook blocks, parental spying through social media, school conduct violations, and even Congressional laws in the world will not stop people from bullying. If murder still exists despite all of the laws against it, that shows that the only behavior over which one is able to exercise complete control is his or her own.

Instead, people need to be taught healthy ways to respond to bullying. That could mean finding some constructive way of channeling one's emotions through sports or art, talking to counselors, standing up to a bully, or simply ignoring his or her actions, even if that means eating some lunches alone. However one chooses to respond, youth, in particular, need to be taught that suicide is not a solution.

Our View: Bullying and harassment of any kind is unacceptable and should be stopped, but it is equally as important for victims of bullying to develop healthy and constructive ways to respond.