Really, people? Really?

[meridian_rose]

Young girl bullied for liking Star Wars. Story at Star Wars Blog; also Go to Geek Girls, ACTIVATE!! has the details and you can leave a comment in support of Katie. If you tweet, add the hashtag: #MayTheForceBeWithKatie to show love for girls loving scifi.

Is it me or is bullying starting earlier than ever? And to be bullied for liking something that's "for boys" so a girl feels she has to conform by getting a pink water bottle rather than one from her favourite fandom - just makes me rage.

Comments

[greatshow.livejournal.com]

Teachers can't stop all or even most of it, though. It's especially difficult to stop in high school, where the kids are smarter, slicker, meaner, and borderline adults, if not adults already. There are always going to be a group of girls spreading rumors about other girls, for example. There's a reason so many people say high school is hell. With boys, yep, certainly aren't as bitchy/messy as girls, I agree, which is one aspect I can favor males for.

[greatshow.livejournal.com]

Then again, I have come across some pretty bitchy males, but they are usually gay (LOL).

[meridian_rose]

I think we're hoping that lessons of tolerance can be taught early on. High school is too late for many kids, who've spent their whole lives picking on those who are different with no consequences. I dread to think how awful some kids are going to be at high school if they're already starting to bully at such a young age.
It was disheartening seeing some people on one of the blogs claiming that it wasn't bullying. As if verbal abuse, being made to feel you are somehow 'wrong' and socially unacceptable, is nothing to get upset over. That's the sort of attitudes that need tackling, though I don't know how; with young kids might be the only option since some of those saying it's not a big deal are parents and clearly aren't going to instil tolerance and respect into their kids.

It shouldn't be up to teachers to do everything. It's up to parents to teach their kids respect. And it's up to society as a whole to stop mistreating people. No easy answers or ways to deal with this :( On the other hand, so much support for this girl is a good thing, letting her know that so many others are "different".

[greatshow.livejournal.com]

Very well said.

And anyone claiming verbal abuse isn't bullying is just being plain silly or stupid. Do people actually believe that to bully someone you must physically beat them up? Just look at girls. While many boys go to the physical, most girls don't have to go to that level; they do it (bully) in other ways, such as rumor-spreading, as I mentioned above. Internet stalking/abuse has already taken the lives of young teens (the bullied teens ended up committing suicide). So to say that verbal abuse -- words -- do no harm...it's just completely ignorant. That old saying "sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me" is not entirely accurate.