Does joining in bullying, then stopping and reporting it, still make you a bully?

[Anonymous]

If several years ago (you were in HS back then), you were initially participating but then upon seeing your friends going too far, you start feeling sorry for the person, you're telling others that it's enough now but they aren't stopping. Then you walked away in total disgust and later on report them, risking your own popular reputation. Are you still a bully since you initially did joined in the taunting? It's that they were a lot meaner and cruel than you... and at some point they disgusted you. For instance you were just into giving the person a nickname, telling sarcastic things but would've never gone far to tell someone that it would be better if they kill themselves nor made jokes about their mother surviving breast cancer nor other truly cruel things.

[Anonymous]

I think you did participate in bullying initially, so it's important to acknowledge that. But the fact that you recognized things had gone too far, tried to stop it, walked away, and eventually reported it says something about your character too. You made a mistake, but you didn't continue defending the cruelty when you realized how bad it had become. That doesn't erase the hurt you may have caused, but it shows growth and a willingness to do the right thing, even when it could cost you socially. I think people should be held accountable for their actions, but they should also be allowed to learn from them and become better people.

[Anonymous]

Does going into a liqour store with friends to steal some alcohol not knowing one of your friends is strapped. And at some point an altercation happens when they catching y'all stealing and you friend pulls it and smokes the guys. Does that make you a murderer? You're guilty by association.

Not all sins are judged correctly in this life. But God knows your heart and what you did and did not do.

[jahaims]

If you help murder someone then tell on yourself you are still a murderer

[Anonymous]

You were still one before you stopped, yes.

[Asker]

True. At some point I felt what they were doing was leading to sadism, beyond the point of just being a typical immature, jerk. I wasn't comfortable by then. Haven't spoken to them for the longest.

[Asker]

That was the last time I ever joined in a taunting.

[Opinion Owner]

You did the right thing eventually. You should acknowledge both the good and the bad there. It makes you a normal human to be a mix of both. We all are.

[Opinion Owner]

Blue Over 45 anon there (not sure why ChiTown33 bothers going anon when everyone knows it’s him) has a nice answer.