The more I look into this separation of bullying and teasing, the more I see that the two are intimately related. There is a blending point but that only makes it harder to know when too far is
too far. Sure, the occasional tease is not anything like a physical assault and that distinction is clear. I'm also not saying that a significant amount of verbal abuse should warrant prosecutions (of course, it's far more difficult to measure the impact on a mind than it is on the body)... but when the verbal attacks are continuous onslaught day after day (by a large group of people) there is a major unbalance of power going on, which if large enough, can lead to a profound sense of social alienation (which is one of the three biggest indicators of potential suicide along with
feeling burdensome to others and
being competent enough to kill yourself). It can be a really big deal if it goes on long enough. Of course, much like depression, we are quick to ignore trauma that we can't see - we tell people to grin and get on with it.
I don't think you need to experience a load of teasing to develop a detachment from society. That's just one way it can happen. Most of my detachment was achieved in the years after school and was mostly bought about by my lack of interest in society's superficial preoccupations. School screwed me up though - it made me dream of escaping situations rather than finding ways to enjoy them. In the right dose that might have done something for me but school is too much law-of-the-jungle to make you into something functional. (
added: i.e you're functional if you're lucky and possibly barely functional in some cases).
If Rebecca B wants to be a singer, she needs to grow a thicker skin (and maybe some talent)...
whilst true, Who knows (at age 14) how much they can handle. This is damage limitation. Several hours a day of "Friday, Friday" would drive anyone insane (including Rebecca black). I wouldn't recommend trying to get famous to anyone at a school age because you've got to go back to the animals if it goes wrong.
Author
Topic: Friday! (Rebecca Black) (Read 3352 times)