Why do we continue to excuse Peer Abuse?

Greetings! I wanted to take a few minutes and address my thoughts on recent articles in the news concerning bullying or what I refer to as Peer Abuse.

This week, a school board meeting was held to discuss this issue in Charlotte, North Carolina. Some felt that school would be safer if Peer Abuse (sorry, I call it as I see it and this is abuse) were not such a problem and something was done to nip it in the bud. But of course, as with any other place, one board member felt it was not an issue and should deal with other important things. Folks, WHY are people still denying this? WHY are they putting this on the back burner? Do you want me to tell you WHY I think they are doing this? Because bullying is still seen as “kids stuff” and “some right of passage” while others are seeing this for what it is. ABUSE! We protect those suffering from child, rape, domestic, sexual and elder abuse, why is this any different? Same behavior and psychological impact. Yet, we tend to excuse this and accept it but help others suffering from these other forms of abuse. Sounds to me like some folks need an education!
On a positive note, in Orville California, an article was written in the Orville Mercury Register that Peer Abuse affects everyone….and that hit’s the nail on the head. It affects a community as a whole. It stresses families out. The workplace becomes toxic. Of course, in school, it becomes unsafe. The article left some great information from the Department Of Health & Human Services and it was good to see someone calling a spade a spade. Yes, this affects a person physically and psychologically. Yes, it is hard to overcome. No, this just does not “go away”. I commend this publication for raising the awareness and getting real about this serious problem.

The bottom line is that this is a form of abuse. The victim deals with a multitude of problems such as depression, social anxiety, PTSD and other issues while the bully grows up to be narcissistic and pathological. Also, many wind up in prison by the age of 24. You want to know what else? Its our tax money that keeps these prisoners in prison and I do not know about you but I, for one am tired of this. How do we combat this? We get serious about this problem……treat it as we would child, domestic, sexual and elder abuse. Bottom line!