Today is Pink Shirt Day. It falls on the last Wednesday of February every year.
It is a movement to create a more kind, inclusive world by raising awareness and funds for anti-bullying initiatives. It is beautiful.
Today I am reminded of Pink Wine Chats. It’s a personal thing a very good friend & I used to do to unwind, unload & reconnect…. No Agenda, No topic Off limit. Only Rule ~ Be Kind & drink Pink Wine.
Geesh, I could use one of those nights right now.
I just scrolled through my social media accounts & saw so many beautiful photos of people in pink. With their co-workers, with their kids, with their pets…. Initially a smile spread across my face, the concept is so beautiful. I’ve been bullied, as a kid, but ALSO as a GROWN woman In a “professional” environment. My kids have been bullied, so have others that I love & care about. So I get it. I personally know the importance of this message. But what I don’t get is some of the people I saw in these photos. They wear their pink with pride. But are their smiles real? Do they not authentically look in the mirror? Over the past few months I have read numerous mean social media posts & comments written by these very same people. Words of ridicule, shame & insult because of an opinion other than their own. Indirect Name calling, eye rolling, shaming…. Clumping people together as “as$es” or clowns” or even “as$ clowns” & saying things like "they'll get theirs", "they'll see" & the best one, “don’t you feel like throat punching them?”.
Isn’t THAT bullying?
Isn't 'joking' about wanting to physically harm another bullying?
And How is it possible that people feel using the words of physical harm to express an emotion a joke?
It’s disgusting.
And I am pretty sure none of these people would consider themselves bullies. I'd say it's time for a little introspection.
It saddens me that these people are on my feed, that I’ve read these ignorant words in silence.
And I wonder, why is it that? Why am I in a circle with people who speak in such a way?
I know. I feel inferior to the Bullies.
I fear the repercussions.
I guess that is the point.
According to Wikipedia the first paragraph of the definition of Bullying is this:
Bullying is the use of force, coercion, hurtful teasing or threat, to abuse, aggressively dominate or intimidate. The behaviour is often repeated and habitual. One essential prerequisite is the perception (by the bully or by others) of an imbalance of physical or social power. This imbalance distinguishes bullying from conflict.[1] Bullying is a subcategory of aggressive behaviour characterized by the following three criteria: (1) hostile intent, (2) imbalance of power, and (3) repetition over a period of time.[2] Bullying is the activity of repeated, aggressive behaviour intended to hurt another individual, physically, mentally, or emotionally.
It seems as of late , or maybe I’m just ‘waking up’ to the fact, that some people seem to feel that bullying via social media is ok. Or is it that a bully does not recognize this trait in themselves?
Or if they do, they just don't care?
I just don’t comprehend it.
But at the end of the day, call it bullying or not, Being an As$h*le is that, you just being an As$h*le.
So if you’re going to wear the pink, then walk the walk & talk the talk.
Don’t claim to be Anti-bullying when you yourself are in fact a Bully.
If you find I that no longer follow you after today, then this is perhaps the reason why.
No hard feelings.
Please be better humans.
Stay Safe Softies
jj
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