Bullying is Trash

     Bullying has sadly developed a strong presence in our society. It affects everyone, may it be in school, work, or even amongst family, bullying is often present. Bullying has various definitions such as intimidating a person into doing something, verbally harassing them, or physically harming them. 

     The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) states that “underaged kids from urban, suburban, and rural areas were all equally likely to be bullied, while those belonging to suburban areas were slightly less likely, and rural kids were slightly more likely than the national average to bully others.” According to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that in between 1 in 4, and 1 in 3 U.S. students claim they have been subject to bullying. Fewer claimed to have been cyber bullied.  Majority of bullying happens during the dreaded years of middle school. Kids have no sensor during that period, and believe everything they say is funny. 

     Schools are the most well known area where bullying takes place; it is even shown through media such as TV shows and movies. Kids these days are indeed vicious, many lack the basic education of showing respect for others, many take jokes too far and end up hurting feelings. Any child, teen, or even adult perceived as being different are usually the ones bullied. But the fault may lie in the parents or guardians raising the child. 

     

     Parents, by society, are given the responsibility of teaching their children manners, respect, etc. but many don’t follow that path. Neglect, abuse, or just naturally born anger are reasons why bullying occurs. Some of these traits follow into adult hood, which could possibly result in acts of violence. Often children do not have the confidence to defend themselves, and more often than not when they get the courage to say something they get beat for it. But the worst part of this ordeal is that these mistreated kids harm themselves or others because they feel worthless and to some that may sound extreme but it’s the sad truth. 

     Many factors take part in the development of becoming a bully. But not many know the “aftermath” of bullying. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among the youth, being a total of over 4,000 deaths per year according to CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Also a study by Yale University bully victims are 2 to 9 times more likely to contemplate suicide than a non-victim. These numbers are alarming and frightening but many people just seem to pass bullying off like nothing. Bullying is a serious issue which has gotten to the point where people are inflicting pain upon themselves, or just ending their lives and there is no good in that. This problem needs to stop or else these number will just keep getting higher, and higher.