The third thing that bullies do is choose victims that they perceive to
>have no effective means of retaliation. A favorite tactic is to torment
>the victim into lashing out visibly, but ineffectively; so that the victim
>gets punished for...you guessed it, "bullying".
>
>Recent events have shown that these perceptions can be tragically wrong if
>their tormented victim chooses a form of suicide that includes mass (and
>indiscriminate) retaliation.
>
>Sadly, both parents and schools are inadequately attentive to the problem;
>they sometimes even act as enablers. Nor is it specific to the USA; in
>fact, it is much worst in countries (such as Japan) where intense
>competition begins at primary school.
This is true.
But often, simply standing up to them is enough to end it. Nine out of ten will back down if they think they are really going to have to fight you. The tenth one is a chance you have to take unless you are content to be bullied.
Other times, it is much more serious.
Fred