YOUNG PEOPLE ASK: What can you do if you’re bullied? Don’t react. “Bullies want to know that they’ve succeeded in making you feel bad about yourself,” says a young woman named Kylie. “If you don’t react, they lose interest.” The Bible says: “He that is wise keeps it calm to the last.”—Proverbs 29:11. Don’t retaliate. Revenge will add to the problem, not solve it. The Bible says: “Return evil for evil to no one.”—Romans 12:17; Proverbs 24:19. Don’t walk into trouble. To the extent possible, avoid people and situations where bullying may occur.—Proverbs 22:3. Try an unexpected response. The Bible says: “An answer, when mild, turns away rage.”—Proverbs 15:1. Use humor. For example, if a bully asserts that you’re overweight, you could simply shrug your shoulders and say, “I guess I could lose a few pounds!” Walk away. “Silence shows that you are mature and that you are stronger than the person harassing you,” says 19-year-old Nora. “It demonstrates self-control—something the bully doesn’t have.” Work on your self-confidence. “Bullies notice when you aren’t relaxed,” says a girl named Rita, “and they might use that to destroy whatever self-confidence you have.” Tell someone. According to one survey, more than half of all victims who are bullied online don’t report what’s going on, possibly because of shame (especially for boys) or fear of retaliation. But remember, bullies thrive on secrecy. Speaking up can be the first step to ending the nightmare.
Posted on: Tue, 06 Aug 2013 17:32:24 +0000
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