Back Up, Bully

I’m embarrassed to admit this, but I’ve spent the better part of two days stewing about this exchange with a viewer.

For most of my career I’ve ignored people like this, but as you’ve witnessed in recent years on this page, I’ve been calling them out.

Here’s why…

I’ve decided that the, “Just ignore them,” advice that so many of us have been given since we were little kids is totally screwed up.

When we ignore this kind of behavior; whether it’s mean comments, physical assaults, or social media badgering we give the worst people among us far more power than they should be allowed to have. By doing and saying nothing we are essentially condoning their awful behavior.

It’s time to start saying, “This isn’t ok. You’re a horrible person. I’m not tolerating you treating me this way.”

It’s also time to start standing up when we witness others being mistreated. To say, “Stop. I won’t stand by and watch you do this to someone else.” I’ve been filled with so much regret on that front after a childhood friend of mine wrote about how she was bullied in middle school. This is a small part of what she posted:

“The damage they did to my self esteem and heart is beyond words, they broke me.

I know what it’s like to be ready to end it all, the anguish of having to face another day of crap and knowing I’d face it alone because the teachers weren’t going to help me, the guidance counselor certainly wasn’t going to stop it so everyday there I was.

Had one person stepped up and taken my side or defended me who knows how things would have played out. No adult stepped up and said enough is enough.”

It’s time for all of us to step up and stop ignoring what’s wrong in the world.

Cindy - if you can’t say or write something kind, then shut up.

And if you don’t like my hair, change the channel.