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Richard
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10 months ago
in What is bullying? on The (late) Breakfast Society
Hi Mas, I'd argue against all those who say that bullying is 'character building' or simply part of growing up. Yes, young people need to learn how to deal with certain behaviours, but there is a difference between learning about how to deal with issues around failure, criticism and conflict, and believing that bullying will make you stronger. There are naturally those who disagree, and it is an argument that we will contest, and ultimately it is part of Beatbullying's aim to change that culture of thought.
Interesting you mention cyberbullying - it is a significant problem, but it is simply an extension of a lot of the offline behaviour that's been around for a long time, and which continues to happen. Some young people do find it easier to deal with, by turning off their computer or mobile phone, but many others also find it much more intrusive, threatening, and inescapable. What happens when you turn your computer back on? The perceived anonymity, albeit a myth, adds another dimension, as well as the 24 hour nature of cyberbullying, and the extension of bullying from the schools and streets, into our homes.
Beatbullying is working to address the issue of cyberbullying and online safety, and we'll keep you informed of the developments we make.
Interesting you mention cyberbullying - it is a significant problem, but it is simply an extension of a lot of the offline behaviour that's been around for a long time, and which continues to happen. Some young people do find it easier to deal with, by turning off their computer or mobile phone, but many others also find it much more intrusive, threatening, and inescapable. What happens when you turn your computer back on? The perceived anonymity, albeit a myth, adds another dimension, as well as the 24 hour nature of cyberbullying, and the extension of bullying from the schools and streets, into our homes.
Beatbullying is working to address the issue of cyberbullying and online safety, and we'll keep you informed of the developments we make.
10 months ago
in What is bullying? on The (late) Breakfast Society
Hi, thanks for your feedback on the website. As you know, www.beatbullying.org now hosts two sites - one for adults and one for young people. There is a whole section on "what is bullying" on the kids site, but not on our the adults site, which is a more corporate version about the work we do.
You bring up an interesting point though, because it is difficult to find one definition for bullying - there are lots. At Beatbullying, we look to the young people we work with for help with the definitions. Some will describe everything from feelings, effects and consequences, while others will describe that bullying is something that is about power and that is done on purpose. Others still will point out the need for the action to be repetitive: punching someone once could be a violent outburst, whilst punching someone every day for a week would be bullying. The intent to cause harm to someone else (verbal, physical or emotional), the power imbalance, and the repetition are all important factors in helping find a definition, but by over-classifying things, we can sometimes miss the reality being experienced by young people.
If you search across the web, you might find several different definitions of what is bullying, but it is difficult to prescribe one that will suit every child's situation. Only by working directly with young people, as Beatbullying does, can we help them understand for themselves what does, or does not, constitute bullying.
Richard
Communications Manager
Beatbullying
You bring up an interesting point though, because it is difficult to find one definition for bullying - there are lots. At Beatbullying, we look to the young people we work with for help with the definitions. Some will describe everything from feelings, effects and consequences, while others will describe that bullying is something that is about power and that is done on purpose. Others still will point out the need for the action to be repetitive: punching someone once could be a violent outburst, whilst punching someone every day for a week would be bullying. The intent to cause harm to someone else (verbal, physical or emotional), the power imbalance, and the repetition are all important factors in helping find a definition, but by over-classifying things, we can sometimes miss the reality being experienced by young people.
If you search across the web, you might find several different definitions of what is bullying, but it is difficult to prescribe one that will suit every child's situation. Only by working directly with young people, as Beatbullying does, can we help them understand for themselves what does, or does not, constitute bullying.
Richard
Communications Manager
Beatbullying
