You hear a lot about bullying these days – and even though we didn’t hear much growing up in the 80s and 90s, only a truly clueless person (or a bully) would pretend it didn’t use to happen on a daily basis then, too.
It makes you wonder how these kids turned out and what they’re doing now, and lucky for us, these 16 people are using the internet to tell us just that.
16. Hilarious.
“you always have such a great energy!”
thanks, it’s from the trauma lmao
15. It’s about personal growth.
It made me more accepting of the differences in others but still insecure about my own.
So much of my personal growth the last couple of years has been related to the way I see and interact with others. Something about being ruthlessly bullied made so critical of other people’s differences to the point that I would intentionally distance myself from other’s who shared the same weird interests as me.
Now at least I’m not so critical of other people living their own beautifully-weird and unique lives, but for some reason haven’t been able to grant myself the same compassion.
14. He stands up for others.
I have ptsd because of it and as an adult if I heard anyone making fun of someone, I go OFF on them!!!!
Always shocks the person and been unfriended because of it. I dont give a shit, do not want to be a friend to anyone that feels they have to insult someone to make themselves feel good
13. Now seeking validation.
Very self-conscious and hyper-sensitive to criticism. Constantly seeking approval.
I generally despise social pecking orders and status hierarchies, while secretly wanting to be at the top of them.
Sexually promiscuous as a means to receive validation.
12. A little too nice.
At work right now, I’m always the one with the worst shifts because: I’m too nice. I’m always the one that accept to trade shifts with someone because of an appointment, to the point where I cancel my own appointments to make it work.
This weekend I’d normally have 2 days off. Instead I now traded shifts with a coworker, and therefore work the whole weekend, which means I work 2 weeks completely through. Why did I accept? because he wanted the weekend because he has his daughter this weekend, but the manager gave him the next weekend off instead.
I even help the cleaning staff at work in my break, so they are done with their work earlier and have their break earlier. I get told I don’t need to, but, like, “why not?”. I genuinely don’t think I’m being nice but rather being.. helpful and considerate, or at least trying to make myself useful at least.
Sadly, this also goes the wrong direction. Because recently I’ve worked almost 4 weeks through, with every single day my shift starting/ending at a different time, because the manager knew I’d not say “no”.. I was pretty close though.
11. You have to channel it.
Filled with suppressed rage.
You have to find a way to channel that anger.
Broadly, some people enjoy working out, some video games, others reading, woodworking.
Do what can help you smile or just zone out so you don’t focus on your anger. It can and will tear down your body.
It can get better. And I wish you well on doing so for yourself.
10. It’s a lot of work.
Unhealthy coping mechanisms, distrustful of people in general, i can be triggered pretty easily, it’s taken a lot of work not to be so reactionary to certain things,I come across as pretty cold sometimes, I’m really not, you just learn very quickly to never show weakness or tears when your bullied so it makes for a pretty fucky adult, I’d say I’m ok for the most part, I came out far better than a lot of other people in my situation & things did get better when I left school & thankfully I’ve never run into my bullies as an adult.
9. Pretty much the same.
Social awkwardness and poor self esteem
Edit: damn this blew up huh?, Thanks for all the awards and uplifting comments, it’s quite comforting to know I’m not the only one, it’s been 10+ years now since I’ve last been bullied, and I’m slowly working on myself, having close friends and family helps alot.
I still have trouble being in social environments and always second questioning if I’m ever enough. Like some have also said, I always fear that I’m getting laughed at, or just judged, but I’m slowly getting better. I hope everyone here is also able to get better, cause you’re all special and amazing people! Love you all!
8. You hate to hear it.
Depressed and suicidal, I’ve become my own bully after finishing school so I could keep the tradition alive.
7. A vicious circle.
I’m definitely wary of anyone who gives me a compliment because I feel like they’re just joking or setting me up for an insult.
And its a vicious circle. Cant accept complements so we always deny them, which leads to people not complementing you at all which makes you feel worst.
6. Lasting effects.
Have had a major depressive period that made me fail my university education, i have no friends and no romantic partner.
Basically im 26 and working a minimum wage job while still living with my parents.
5. Friends are still hard.
I was bullied in grade school and high school. I don’t think I’ve had any actual friends since I was in my 20’s (I’m 50 now- I have ‘work friends’ but nobody I could actually invite over to the house or hang out with). I get anxious in social situations, and I never feel like I’m good enough for anything so I tend to overcompensate by being an over-achiever or being too generous to people.
I do a decent job of hiding it though- I have a chameleon thing were I can blend in to any crowd I get associated with, but it’s pretty much an act. The funny part is my career requires me to look like I’m in control, a leader, and the guy that has all the answers, and I do that very well, but again it’s acting.
4. Find a good therapist.
It caused my depression, social anxiety and probably a host of other mental issues.
I plan on finally getting therapy next year. Not doing so well at the moment.
3. A different take.
The whole “socialization” argument for public schools really is one of the dumbest things I’ve ever heard. For thousands of years, people grew up mainly in small villages or towns, with maybe a handful of other kids around their own age, and that was the norm. If anything, being around adults all day probably gave them a better handle on how to behave as an adult.
What’s not natural is throwing kids into a situation where they’re suddenly trapped in an environment with hundreds – or sometimes thousands – of their peers, all of whom are just as emotionally and developmentally stunted as they are, with a relatively small, usually overwhelmed group of adults to act as a control valve. Its no wonder that so many schools wind up becoming unintentional emotional torture chambers for so many kids.
Arguing for schools as a learning environment? Perfectly valid. Arguing for them as a source of “socialization”? Complete horses*%t.
2. They learned the hard way.
Still trying to stop bullying myself.
1. Pretty much ok.
Not to pat myself on the back, but everyone says I’m a really nice person. I know why, it’s because I don’t want anyone to feel what I felt, all throughout every school year, from kindergarten to senior year, like I just wanted to run away from everyone and everything.
I know the real reason why I’m nice, most people don’t. They just assume I’ve always been that way, because they didn’t know me in school. I don’t interact with anyone that I went to school with, none of them.
They are all out of my life
I’m glad there are no lasting scars for some, and hope others get the help they deserve.
If you were bullied during your youth, tell us in the comments what your life is like as an adult!
