I am, as usual, stating what may be an unpopular opinion. So... here goes.
I am sick to death of hearing the word "Bullying" thrown around.
Different opinion than someone? You're a bully.
Offer constructive criticism? You are bullying.
I feel there are REAL bullies in life. True and Terrible Bullies.
But this constant use of the term is a Henny Penny or Cry Wolf mentality. It is an error of judgement and is labeling many who simply are FAR from being bullies. Very, very far.
In fact, I would dare say, labeling people in a constant need for social media one-up-manship is the actual bully at work.
We live in a world of instant words and misread meanings. Social media, texting, snapchat, vine, all the instant solution for an often over exaggerated problem.
Remember when you ran home and told Mom that someone picked on you? She said... that's life... deal with it, sunshine. Now? Mom gets on Facebook and posts a long worded sermon complete with matching meme. Usually, the "f" word is involved. Classy. Wait... is that Mom now the bully?
I say, yes. Yes, she is. She is using profanity, and a classless medium to support her side of a story that the other side often has no defense against. Perhaps they have been "blocked", perhaps they aren't friends, perhaps it never shows on her newsfeed... But, there it is for the world to see. A public (if not jaded) version of one person's truth.
This is not how I was raised. This is disproportionately irrational behavior. This is (dare I suggest), a form of bullying.
Hiding behind a social media facade and an army of so-called-friends may seem like the answer, but it simply is not. And, lest we be mislead, no REAL bully has ever stopped their actions because of an Instagram meme. A real bully could care less.
Anyone who doesn't play along; who refuses to say everyone is A-ok; who has an actual view point or opinion is the bully in today's warped world. I take issue with that. It is, by the way, my RIGHT to take issue with that. It doesn't make ME a bully. It makes me .... Me. And I am quite alright with that.
