***Website archiving. Originally written September 27, 2016***

Being witness to certain recent events has brought the topic of bullying and bullies to mind. The Presidential debate certainly offered its share of interruptions, mansplaining, and a general level of rudeness most often seen coming from those with a bullying mindset. Those of us that witness bullying and especially those of us who have been bullies in the past simply want to rise above it all and come out of the experience with some dignity and civility intact. Another recent bullying episode occurred in the aisles of a grocery store and there were two victims, a small child, and an adult woman.  The bully involved did the typical bully thing and was all puffed up and clearly soaking in the grandeur of his own perceived power and control. His actions were clearly making him feel pretty good about his existence and the way he was handling things. Typical with bullies, they must tear others down in order to feel worthy in their own skin. As soon as this individual saw that he had a witness to his words and actions, he puffed up, even more, assuming perhaps that as a fellow male I would be in his corner and cheering him on in some sort of nonverbal way. What he did not expect was to be called out on his actions and told to knock it off. His gear quickly changed and was preparing to aim his lame and ineffective words at me. Well, I walked away and this took away his audience. He could no longer be all puffed up and proud in front of another person. Walking away, the woman gave a subtle smile as if to say something unknown.

Bullies love an audience and they love to know that those that witness their idiocy will do nothing to stop what is happening. Support comes from those that are silent and it comes from those close to the bully who does nothing but latch onto the perceived popularity and notoriety of the bull.  Somebody has to call the bully out on his or her behavior immediately and without any concern for what others may think. Take away the fuel that the bully uses to burn their tirades and outbursts of hatred, ignorance, and sense of self-worth. The worse thing a bully can experience is being embarrassed in front of others. This embarrassment is nothing compared to that suffered by their targets and their victims.

Growing up I was bullied for the most popular reason of them all. I was different and did not fit into the mold of popularity that was seen as the default childhood setting. I read books during recess, I loved going to class, I engaged teachers in conversation, and I gleefully played with Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars in the dirt with my fellow outcasts. I wore glasses and played a musical instrument. I considered the Principal to be a friend and one of the greatest guys ever.  School from K-6 was a blur of fun, numbers, music, and being bullied. I was lucky as I was a good enough athlete where I could put the book down, play a game of foursquare or handball, and demolish those that were bullying me in the first place. They were embarrassed, they shut the fuck up, and I was allowed to return to my book. I was also lucky in the sense that I simply did not care that others saw me as weird or different. I had a strange sense of self-confidence that allowed me to see them for the means fools that they were being at the time. Unfortunately, not everyone can muster up the athletic skills or the sense of self to use as a shield against bullying.