Comments on: We Can Stop Peer Abuse! http://www.bloggernews.net/121845 High-quality English language analysis and editorial writing on the news. Thu, 16 Feb 2012 01:29:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Elizabeth Bennett http://www.bloggernews.net/121845#comment-1380794 Elizabeth Bennett Wed, 12 Aug 2009 16:58:08 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/121845#comment-1380794 Hi m2c, I was waiting for the right words to describe this without getting too offensive. What I mean here is the use of the term. Almost everyone in the field continues to call it the B word. People are not regarding this as wrong because they stay with the same mindset. Educate but keep it at the B word. You keep it there and people will NOT take it seriously. Here is feedback I have heard when using the B word: "Bullying is a fact of life. There is no way we can stop it" "We have to let them be kids. I mean come on, kids are cruel and are going to be this way. We all were" "Oh I have no idea how you can push the abuse card with children. They cannot be held responsible for this sort of thing." "Lookit, if someone messes with my kid, I tell my kid to mess back. Not to be such a pansy. My kids got just as much right as anyone elses to hit back." Now, let me give you feedback when I use the term Peer Abuse and put it in clincial terms: "Wow! Someone would not put a rapist in a room with their victim to resolve issues, thats for sure." "Kids are dying from this? Killing themselves? Really? You know, this IS like abuse; people die with other forms of abuse out there." "Oh yeah, I remember this happening to me. I am on medication because of it. Damn right its abuse!" "I never thought of it that way but you are right. This is actual abuse" See the difference? Its been a matter of mindset and taking it to the next level. Its taken far more seriously when put in these terms. Plus, the excuses are not there like they are with the B word. Granted, the B word has gotten us this far, however, when people start feeling helpless like this woman in the article, its time to take it up a notch. Absolutely kids can be taught right from wrong. Remember the James Bulger case in England? He was murdered by two ten year old boys. It came out later after psychological assessments that both boys knew and comprehended right from wrong. Using the term Peer Abuse, people are seeing the wrong more clearly than by using the B word. Anyway, my own two cents. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment. Have a good week. Take Care, Elizabeth Hi m2c, I was waiting for the right words to describe this without getting too offensive. What I mean here is the use of the term. Almost everyone in the field continues to call it the B word. People are not regarding this as wrong because they stay with the same mindset. Educate but keep it at the B word. You keep it there and people will NOT take it seriously.

Here is feedback I have heard when using the B word:

“Bullying is a fact of life. There is no way we can stop it”

“We have to let them be kids. I mean come on, kids are cruel and are going to be this way. We all were”

“Oh I have no idea how you can push the abuse card with children. They cannot be held responsible for this sort of thing.”

“Lookit, if someone messes with my kid, I tell my kid to mess back. Not to be such a pansy. My kids got just as much right as anyone elses to hit back.”

Now, let me give you feedback when I use the term Peer Abuse and put it in clincial terms:

“Wow! Someone would not put a rapist in a room with their victim to resolve issues, thats for sure.”

“Kids are dying from this? Killing themselves? Really? You know, this IS like abuse; people die with other forms of abuse out there.”

“Oh yeah, I remember this happening to me. I am on medication because of it. Damn right its abuse!”

“I never thought of it that way but you are right. This is actual abuse”

See the difference? Its been a matter of mindset and taking it to the next level. Its taken far more seriously when put in these terms. Plus, the excuses are not there like they are with the B word. Granted, the B word has gotten us this far, however, when people start feeling helpless like this woman in the article, its time to take it up a notch.

Absolutely kids can be taught right from wrong. Remember the James Bulger case in England? He was murdered by two ten year old boys. It came out later after psychological assessments that both boys knew and comprehended right from wrong. Using the term Peer Abuse, people are seeing the wrong more clearly than by using the B word.

Anyway, my own two cents. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment. Have a good week.

Take Care,
Elizabeth

]]> By: m2c http://www.bloggernews.net/121845#comment-1378028 m2c Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:04:01 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/121845#comment-1378028 I agree. I'm sure everyone agrees that all children should be taught right from wrong - and held accountable in appropriate ways. Whether it's grabbing a sibling's cookie or stealing a candy at the drug store- it's parents' and society's duty to teach children what is right and what is wrong. I think the difficulty is that so many people do not yet regard bullying as wrong. How they can be so blind is beyond me. But obviously it's time for continued "Adult Education" on the topic. Thank you, Ms. Bennett. Keep up the good work! I agree. I’m sure everyone agrees that all children should be taught right from wrong - and held accountable in appropriate ways. Whether it’s grabbing a sibling’s cookie or stealing a candy at the drug store- it’s parents’ and society’s duty to teach children what is right and what is wrong.
I think the difficulty is that so many people do not yet regard bullying as wrong. How they can be so blind is beyond me. But obviously it’s time for continued “Adult Education” on the topic.
Thank you, Ms. Bennett. Keep up the good work!

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