"Sometimes, Bullying Is Okay"

 You're on Instagram, mindlessly scrolling down your Explore page without really focusing on anything you're seeing on the screen. Until, when one of those TikTok rip-off reels somehow succeeds at capturing your attention. You click the video open. There's a young teenager, filming themself with their phone. They're wearing some type of cosplay costume, they've done their makeup, they even have a wig on. The kid is smiling, they look really happy. They step away from the camera so that you can see the entire costume they're wearing. They twirl around, making the poor quality skirt fly in the air. The kid faces the camera again, puffs their cheeks and does a cat-like pose with their hands. 

A short text appears right in the middle of the screen. It says, "I can't believe I'm finally cosplaying her! This is a dream come true ^__^<3<3"

You smile and press the heart next to the video. The video has 50 likes, but the amount of comments it has doesn't really add up. Why is there two times more comments than likes? You open the comment section, and it makes sense. Your smile fades away, and your heart sinks.

A massive amount of comments calling the kid cringe, embarrassing, ugly, a freak, a weirdo, and a shitty cosplayer. You open one of the threads and see someone defend the kid, saying, "there's literally no reason to say shit like that to a random kid. they're aint hurting nobody, they're like thirteen or sum, leave them be lmao. bullying is so pathetic".

You feel a bit better for the kid, and you like the comment. The thread continues, and someone else has replied to the defending comment.

"yknow, sometimes bullying is okay, and you just gotta suck it up. the kid deserves to knoe so that they can change bc wtf is this shit. cope<3"

bullying works.

It builds character. It's a part of being a kid and a teenager. Everyone goes through it. They're just doing you a favor. You will thank them later on.

I know there are a lot of people who feel that way about bullying. I'd assume those are the same people who don't view bullying as a form of abuse, who refuse to accept its traumatizing nature. They think that the people who are abusing you at school are teaching you what kind of person you need to be in order to be respected in society. What's expected from you, what's demanded of you. Do your own share, follow the norms like the rest of us, and you'll be able to live in peace. 

We all know that there's a lot of very weird people on the internet. They're weird in many kind of ways, either because of their hobbies, their appearance, or their perversions. There are times when you come across these eccentric individuals and you notice someone saying, "sometimes, bullying is necessary". Not just okay, but necessary.

We used to feel the same way about domestic violence. Just a few decades ago, we used to think that beating your children was not just acceptable, but absolutely necessary. It was a part of disciplinary. It taught the kids to obey their parents, never question the authority, and be humble and loyal. Beating kids with a belt or a stick wasn't even considered a form of violence; it was a method of raising children.

A method of raising children that left the kids forever traumatized.

I wonder when society will be ready for that same change of heart again.

Twirling my pink skirt,

ichigonya