Wil Wheaton responds to a 13 year old girl's question about being bullied

[thistlechaser]

I wish someone had said this to me back when I was 13:

Back when I was in school, there had been no school shootings yet. Bullying was okay. Even teachers got in on it (either actively or by looking the other way). Only once did a teacher ever try to stop me from being bullied, and when she was ignored, she gave up.

There was no Internet. Talk about being cut off, being trapped with all these people who hated you and made sure you didn't go a minute without knowing it.

Sometimes I wonder what I would have been like now if I hadn't been bullied every single school day. I couldn't walk from one classroom to another without being pushed, teased, jabbed with thumbtacks and pencils, and other such abuses (the words were by far worse than any physical thing). It started in kindergarten (kindergarten! Because of the kind of lunch I had brought -- jelly and cream cheese on graham crackers, the other kids said it looked like worms) and it never stopped from there. Sometime in college it started slowing down. I think my junior year of college was the first year I had with no teasing.

It makes me bitter now, for so many reasons. No one should have to go through that. To think that positive things, like me liking to read and enjoying learning, only made it worse.

I often think I should be able to just 'shake it off' and forget about it. I was a kid, they were kids, I'm an adult now. It's not that easy though.

Edit: I had intended this to be a positive post, sharing that nice video. The subject of bullying seems to always send me in darker directions though.

Comments

[ani-mama.livejournal.com]

I was bullied as a kid too, like so many others here. I was the poor Asian kid with the weird accent, in a school filled with white, privileged children. They hated that I was funny looking and wore the wrong clothes. They also hated that I was smarter and more talented than they were and swept all the contest prizes. :P

Fortunately I was blessed with a wonderful, loving family, so none of the abuses ever stuck. I really believe the best revenge is living well. I have a great life and do my best to insure that my kid also has that strong family to be his rock, no matter what life throws at him.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

And you're doing a great job with him, too! It always makes me happy to read all the progress he's making (and A grades!) in your LJ. :D

I'm sorry you were as well! I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

[ani-mama.livejournal.com]

I have no ill effects from bullying really, because I had a supportive family. I am sorry that not everybody had that.

My kid has a completely different school experience than I had. He inherited Hubby's extrovert gene, and gets along great with everyone.