October 24, 2016:

Every so often you get those moments of clarity where a thought or concept all of a sudden transitions from a vague cloud of confusion to crystal clear thought. I was watching this Vince Vaughn movie titled “Unfinished Business”. In it the Vaughn character was trying to deal with his sons problems and I finally understood.

You see, for some time know I could not understand why bullying had become such a headline. I didn’t really understand what the problem was. We had all grown up having to deal with bullies in some form or another. We all made it through that part of growing up and we were stronger because of it. What is the big deal with these kids today? Just a bunch of wimps we are raising and it’s all because everyone gets a trophy and we don’t spank anymore. I can now say that I could not have been more wrong.

What I finally understood was that the playground I grew up in had certainly changed. Back in the stone age (pre internet) a bully at school was only at school. Sometimes this bully was also in your neighborhood but even then there was the safety of home. Behind those walls you were safe and no one could reach you. This is no longer the case. Today, a bully can track you down in cyberspace and with the aid of a few confederates, penetrate the safety of your home and hound you mercilessly. There is no safe place, no escape from one of these predators and their parents do not understand the terror these kids are put through every day. I now get it and better understand what these poor kids are going through. https://www.stopbullying.gov/index.html