Does being bullied in childhood make you weak?

Question

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

This is complex. Some of the greatest athletes, inventors, CEOs, actors, musicians, artists, etc suffered bullying and/or a rough childhood. Hell even some famous UFC champions like Georges St Pierre admitted he was bullied his youth. Mike Tyson was bullied when he was a kid for having a “lisp” in his voice. However they were angry and wanted to make something out themselves. They channeled their anger into working hard and making sacrifices most people won’t do.

They accepted the isolation yet found hidden talent and used their pent up anger to work harder to make something of themselves. Also interesting fact. Does anyone remember Biff Tannen from Back to the Future? The actor who played him Thomas Wilson said he was viciously bullied in his youth. He used his experiences to create the role of a perfect bully.

However there can be some long term damage to some people and this can be sad and in the worst cases extremely dangerous (mass shooters).

Anyway we will never get rid of bullying. But we can better approach the following:

Privately teach kids who both physical and verbal self defense. Get them involved with martial arts. But there needs to be a training program on how to teach young boys and girls to be effective verbally. Verbal harassment is where 90%+ of bullying happens. There needs to some sort of improv/school for scoundrels (see the movie to understand what I am talking about) training. Also help them dress better and be more confident.
Find ways to encourage bullying victims that they are valuable and have talents.
Find more effective ways to deal with bullies. Some of them are suffering abuse themselves (abusive family) and abuse others to lash out. Others really are sociopaths or even psychopaths. Those kids need to be identified and dealt with very harshly. They don’t care about hurting people. They only care about what they can get away with.
Stop punishing bully victims when they fight back physically. Really pisses me off how the school punishes a kid for defending himself when he finally gives a bully what they they coming.
Punish parents of bullying. The parents are usually responsible for not raising their kid properly. Worse they might encourage their kid to be a dbag.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

I was  The Fat Kid  in elementary school. Some people around me believed once  The Fat Kid,   always  The Fat Kid.  But I grew out of it by age 14. What I didn't grow out of right away was being withdrawn and timid from the horrifying cancer death of my mother and lack of positive mentoring by a self-important father. So I was on my own. Since I was a loner, I tended to keep to myself; leaving myself open to bullying. After one too many pushes and laughing sessions on the street, I decided to change the rules. I went into Joe's Valu-Pawn and sprang $25 of my hard saved allowance on one of these. It is a retractable stiletto. Push the red button, flip your wrist and out the blade comes. I never sharpened the blade edges, so I could grip the blade if I needed to for whatever reason. And that reason came. Joe Castellano (yep, I remember his name) was with his crew and started to follow me. He pushed me from behind a couple of times, expecting moral support from the laughing of his crew. At that point, I slipped my hand into my side pocket, I stopped, swung around and brought out the knife; opening it, and just stood there, glaring. Yeah, I know. We all watched too much TV back then and Joey-C said:  You can't get all of us with that!   And I said, also in TV fashion:  True, but I can get you first, and after that, what does it matter? We glared at each other for another moment before he started to walk forward. When he was in range, I took the blade in my hand, leaving only the point exposed, reached out and drew an  X  on the front of his down-lined winter parka, at such time, the goose down started to pour out on to the sidewalk. Joey-C then turned and ran, with his crew following, not knowing if there was blood to follow. You will never talk yourself away from being bullied. You have to disincentivize them. That stiletto has become a Springfield Armory XD-M Elite Compact.45ACP Constitutional Carry sidearm. Go ahead.  Push me.

Juneberry91 · Accepted Answer

I think that people that don’t understand that the true weak link is the one who bullies. They are weak emotional & mentally, Protecting frustration and anger of whatever is going on with them. This will stunt their growth and act out selfishly by harming others to build themselves up.

That being said we’re talking about children, In general children can be selfish, Compulsive, Impatient & brash with thier emotions because they are developing. So kids can be brutal. I’m 31 putting a 5yr kid to bed & because he didn’t want to do to sleep told me he didn’t love me anymore. I was not affected by this because I knew what’s up he wanted what he wanted and he was trying to control the situation by manipulating by taking away love. Told him that I will always love him regardless and get to bed now.

Now let’s take this 5yr & have them say to his best friend who was 6 who dosnt want to share a bite ice cream. I don’t love you anymore his friend would cry & take it literally. Not understanding the real motive here. His friend is manipulating the situation to have a bite of ice cream is that really were throwing love away? Lol

Weather if you were the one that was Bullied as a child it was just at the hand extreme immaturity on their behalf. You are stronger than them if you have empathy and have a good character. If you happen to have a child who is being bullied it’s apart of growing up they are going to meet many people in different walks of life. It’s really up to us whether if we will rise above bullies or we will become their victims. At the end of the day it’s kindness that holds the true power people that throw word & fist are Apes.

jennifer_bloom · Accepted Answer

I have a theory that people who are traumatized by abusive adults as young children have low stress tolerance. One woman was abused for 9 months in a kidnapping and later said she was exhausted from being a mother. Many woman are mothers but very few say that mother hood is wearing them out. My grandparents had five kids each and none ever said being a parent was difficult or draining.

Nivinxus · Answer

It can, but it can make you strong, not that anyone deserves being bullied. I'm sure you are aware of suicides because of being bullied and though it doesn't necessarily mean the bullied is weak, it bullying broke them.

Bullying isn't something that can easily be dissected of what happens to the victim as bullying takes many forms such as physical bullying, bullying about the child's situations, bullying about their appearances etc.

There is more to dive on about bullying, but that is neither here nor there. So going back to your question, does it make you weak if you were bullied in your childhood? Yeah it can make you weak if those experiences broke you, but if you get the support and/or mindset to overcome it, it can make you stronger.

ARWINGx1 · Answer

On one hand, I get the feeling that I've never been bullied in school, due to being one heck of an enigma. Like, my "profile" are just blank, so bullies would have anything to work with.

But on the other, it could also be 'cause they paled in comparison to how my parents (and earlier on, my whole family) treat me. Initially, it did scar me.

But over time, and with some "research", such as having Asperger's/High-Functioning Autism, I started to suspect that they'd actually treat me as if I was not. OR, that they'd expect me to "suppress" those "abnormalities". So all that punishing and whatnot would gradually lose their meaning and fade. (however, some of those "scars" are permanent) ... Among others.

misogynistic_pig · Answer

No, being bullied in childhood does not make you weak.

Bullying is a serious problem that can have lasting effects on a person's mental and emotional health, but it does not define a person's strength or weakness.

It is important to remember that each person has their own unique experiences and circumstances and that bullying can be a difficult challenge to overcome.

However, many people who have been bullied find ways to face and overcome these challenges, showing great strength and resilience.

Also, it is important to note that being vulnerable and asking for help is not a sign of weakness.

Seeking support and help from others is a show of courage and strength, and can be an important part of the process of overcoming bullying and other difficulties in life.

CateM · Answer

Actually, the bully is the one who's weak. I remember in elementary school, the counselor taught us about an invisible bucket everyone carries that holds their good thoughts and feelings. When it's full, you're happy. When it's empty, you're sad. Filling someone's bucket also fills your own. There's also dipping someone's bucket. I saw in the pictures that when someone dipped someone else's bucket, theirs was empty too. They would do it in an attempt to fill their own, but it never does. But anyway, bullies down inside are cowards

Anonymous · Answer

I was bullied when I was younger because I was quiet (and the city I lived was bad). But I started taking Karate, Tae Kwon Do, and lifting weights. I started fighting back with a serious vengence. I've fought 2-3 bullies at once on multiple occassions. I've never started fights, but I never lost either. Aside from maybe the ones who act that way because of abuse/trauma, bullies are typically weak people. They only pick on people they think won't fight back, and the second you knock the hell out of them they run like the pathetic cowards they really are. I never had to hit any of them more than once before they ran away. Being bullied didn't make me weak. It made me vicious (but only towards people who asked for it).

Aerissa_Jade · Answer

Not really, I know a guy who was bullied endlessly. Now he just gets a lot of revenge on those, he has gotten a lot of payback on his former bullies and new bullies.

Does that make someone weak to right the wrongs?

I know it makes him super passive aggressive though.

Billlewis · Answer

No, not at all, at least in my case. I moved a lot when I was growing up, and I was always the new kid. I was bullied repeatedly for years, but when an attractive girl, Cheryl Zimmerman, who knew I liked her, but had no interest in me, began to flirt with one of the bigger, stronger guys, to get him to bully me, I just fell hopelessly in love with her, for some reason, and that experience changed my whole life for the better.

FreyaRed · Answer

Not necessarily. Some people need time to understand "leave me alone" is wish think, it's to eat or being eaten. Especially if they grow up protected and loved by their parents or siblings, once they are alone they become easy prey for those who try to improve their mood while they belittle others. I would say it's rather deficit in practical relations with assholes.

Anemone978 · Answer

Bullying did mess me up for quite a few years... but it seemed to hit me hardest when I was at my lowest point in life... I hate people being mean and harassing people.. we all have shit in our life's just leave other people alone... Now days anyone talks down to me I don't have any patience so I will put you in your rightful place...

lightbulb27 · Answer

I think it depends upon ones personality!

It can... if they are empathetic and not as strong.

If they are stronger, depending upon age, it may turn them into a bully or worse as they learn to exert their power on others.

The bully's I know... were trained, one by their alcoholic father...

Anonymous · Answer

I was bullied in elementary and middle school. My father was an alcoholic and mother was very depressed. My dad would slap me around and my mom never attempted to protect me. It made me feel like I was worthless. I ate to cope and got very obese. I was picked on in school because I was an easy target and didn’t care to defend myself because it’s what I was used to. Never dated even though some girls showed interest (after loosing weight) because I didn’t believe anyone could love me. I ended up in gangs and going in and out of prison. I was looking at a very long time after a shootout with rivals. Life had no meaning to me. Here I am at 30 trying to glue myself together. I went to trade school and a company had mercy on me and hired a felon and I’ve worked my way up. It doesn’t make you weaker it makes you stronger. It doesn’t make bullying ok though.

Reem12345reem · Answer

eventually your feelings will get numbed over time , but when the same incident comes again your life , it will shake those numbed feelings bc they're not healed , so the feelings and the intense emotions u felt at that time will be still stuck with u , sure it can make u stronger but only if u learned to accept and heal them first , nothing will make u stronger if u still have emotions attached to it

Gibbons44 · Answer

That's highly individual. It depends to some extent on which nation/community you are from and how well they do globaly.
I got bullied a lot but it's been ages since those who bullied me collectively got properly punched in the face by another country that happened not to let them get away with terrorising others.

Anonymous · Answer

no i was going through some stuff so at first I was angry and tried not to fit in then I realized this made me just feel more alone and unsafe. So I then tried hard with my appearance and to be more friendly and then everyone wanted to be my friend i was in with the pretty girls so I don’t know. I think what you put out is what you get back most of the time.

Adaeva · Answer

You were bullied because you were weak. When you are older, you are still weak but unlikely to be bullied since older people grow out of such childish behavior.

ObscuredBeyond · Answer

No, it just makes you bitter. Especially if it escalates to institutional abuse!

Once it becomes organized, sanctioned persecution, especially if completely senseless, it changes you. Not always in a good way.

SpanishRose · Answer

I think it depends on the individual. Some will seek out pity and remain meek, whilst others learn to take that and use it as motivation. The ones that turn it into motivation usually become well off in life.

lasher7777 · Answer

It can do just the opposite. It just depends. I dealt with a little bit of bullying until I got in 7th grade and then I started smacking people and hitting them with my fist. The bullying stopped really fast. And I ended up being a badass by the time I was 22 or 23.

cryscrys1 · Answer

If no therapy and psychological consulting was never done maybe it will affect them like scared to speak up etc  It depends how long and what bullying about

Account · Answer

According to my personal experience, it made me learn to stand up for myself.  In a way, it made me stronger. In another way, it made me colder.  Take that in any way it resonates.

melanieeeB · Answer

Mostly it makes people stronger and give you humor but some stay in the bullied mindset and stay insecure all their life I guess (One past friend of me was like that, it was exhausting)

Anonymous · Answer

A’ doesn’t = B.
There are different results all over the drawing board.
Being bullied myself by family, not by kids: it’s taught me to have my senses heightened and I sense negative situations that I trust. My instincts will tell me and I don’t get into the situations. Even in a grocery store line up or walking past someone on the side walk, I’ll feel it in my gut if that person is good or bad news. I always trust it before anything else.

sheenagwapa · Answer

if you were bullied in your childhood it means yoy exists in an unhealthy environment. you are not weak nor steinh. no children shoyld face such kind of environment that's just abnotmal

Adam1978 · Answer

No it makes you mentally raise a wall against these things. So your mentally stronger while being more unreachable for things like relationships.

exitseven · Answer

It might but it might have the opposite effect. I was picked on in jr high school. I joined a gym and started weight training. i got big enough to take care on myself.

Bricealan · Answer

Being bullied in childhood makes you a mean son-of-a-bitch as an adult. I went back to a High School reunion and killed most of those assholes.

AdithyaR · Answer

It didn't make me weak but definitely made me unconsciously stereotype the type of guys like my bully and refuse to mingle with them irrespective of whether this person was a bully or not.

TallAnon · Answer

No, but it does make you sceptical/negative, it can push people to a place where they feel the need to prove themselves all the time, they can isolate themselves more and you can become socially awkward.

Fireguy17 · Answer

no, I was sort of a bully, it was what we did. It didn't make it right, and I have apologized to most of them through life.

AsaKyo · Answer

No, most people come out strong unless they end up committing suicide, which sadly a lot of kids do..

GoodGuyBreakingBad · Answer

Yes, it does make you weak because I became mentally ill at age 21 and been on many medications.

Guy13 · Answer

No it made me ready for the world and especially the working world.

sheikalana · Answer

In some cases it can cause a lot of emotional damage.

Anonymous · Answer

no it makes you fucking depressed and angry at every human being. so it toughens your exterior and you don't let anyone in because of it.

Iron_Man · Answer

No, you learn from it you toughen up you over come adjusted and adopt kick ass defend yourself

RockyHammock · Answer

No it makes you strong. Plus there's probably a good reason you getting bullied

Aiko_E_Lara · Answer

Being bullied unfortunately can make anyone crippled and vulnerable if they're not healed from it.

randyzuchows · Answer

No it just shows the character and personality of A fucked up asshole

FeminineHSP · Answer

Not if you are constantly improvising yourself instead of focusing on just bullies and revenge.

Christoff92 · Answer

Actually no. You'll be surprised seeing the best athletes, fighters, etc.

Anonymous · Answer

If you survived and didn't snap and go on a killing spree then you're NOT weak.

AlainD · Answer

Only if you don't fight back, Kreese helps bullied kids

xHazelx · Answer

Yes, it does. Take it from me who has been bullied since 4 years old all the time

Nikki1989 · Answer

No, it makes you stronger.

Phoenix98 · Answer

I don't think so.

Gloree · Answer

no. for me, I learned to be strong.

WowwGirl · Answer

No the opposite

clampfan101 · Answer

Depends on how you handle it.

Manuel2 · Answer

No makes you a police

Twalli · Answer

Depends on how that affected you

Kingofkings1992 · Answer

It depends on the individual

JarneG · Answer

No it could make you stronger.

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