Right on Target: Breaking the Silence of Bullying

By Tracilyn George

Dive into "Right on Target: Breaking the Silence of Bullying," where Tracilyn George fearlessly tackles the bullying problem we've all faced or witnessed. No fancy jargon here – just real stories, relatable experiences, and down-to-earth insights that hit you right in the feels.

 

Tracilyn George doesn't just talk the talk; they walk you through the nitty-gritty of bullying, peeling back its layers and exposing the impact it has on regular folks like you and me. From heartbreaking stories to what makes bullies tick, "Right on Target" digs deep, aiming to uncover the stuff we often hush up.

 

But what makes this book a game-changer? It's not about high-flying theories; it's about rolling up your sleeves and making a difference. Tracilyn George doesn't just point fingers; they hand you practical tools and tips to tackle bullying head-on. With some real talk, insightful advice, and a kick in the pants, this book calls on us to be the change – to stand up, speak out, and make a world where kindness beats the heck out of cruelty.

 

"Right on Target: Breaking the Silence of Bullying" isn't your average book; it's a spark for change, a call to arms against the quiet that lets bullying thrive. In a world thirsty for answers, this is your guide – urging us all to target the heart of the problem and team up to build a future where bullying gets the boot.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Clydesdale Books
• Release date: Mar 8, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224213221

Book preview

FOREWORD

In the world of how we humans interact, there’s this ongoing issue that just won’t quit—it’s like this shadow hanging over different parts of life and many communities. Bullying is the name of the game, and it’s not picky about age, gender, or where you find yourself. It’s important for all of us to contribute and work together in order to bring about change. If you find yourself entangled in bullying, this book is like a supportive companion, providing tips and tools to confront these challenging situations with understanding, resilience, and kindness.

Bullying isn’t just a thing that happens at school; it seeps into workplaces, hangs out in social groups, and even shows up online. It’s a complicated issue, and this book isn’t about pointing fingers or making people feel bad. Instead, this is a resource to provide help and acknowledge that whether you’ve experienced bullying or been the bully, there is support and potential for improvement within these pages.

We get that bullies aren’t only kids in the schoolyard; they come in all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds. Figuring out these different experiences is key to breaking down the messed-up dynamics they create. We’re digging into the details to build a culture of understanding, hoping you’ll see the common ground we share when things get tough.

If you’ve been through the wringer of being bullied, this book hands you a toolbox for healing and finding your strength again. It’s got strategies to patch up your confidence, deal with the emotional fallout, and build up some resilience. Plus, we’re serious about helping those who’ve been bullies find their way to some self-reflection and positive changes.

It’s essential for everyone to be aware of the signs of bullying in order to promote a safer and kinder world. This book gives you practical tools to spot these behaviors, whether it’s in yourself or others, and lays out a plan for stepping in the right way. If we all embrace accountability and empathy, we can chip away at the messed-up structures that let bullying hang around.

This book even takes on the dynamics in groups of bullies, teaching you how to say no to fitting in and going along with the crowd. By giving individuals the power to step away from toxic group stuff, we’re hoping to break the cycle and bring some positive vibes to communities.

In the spirit of everyone coming together and understanding each other, think of this book as a guide to shedding some light on things, a plan for making a change, and proof that kindness can make a big difference. Let’s work towards a world where understanding wins, and the dark clouds of bullying are replaced by the sunshine of resilience and compassion.

So, as you dive into the pages ahead, let it be a journey of healing, growth, and all of us working together for a kinder, more inclusive world.

-  Steve Garvey

Contents

FOREWORD

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1: WHAT IS BULLYING?

TYPES OF BULLYING

CAUSES AND FACTORS OF BULLYING

FACTORS

BULLYING STATISTICS EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW

FACTS ON BULLYING AND HARASSMENT

FACTS ABOUT BULLYING

CHAPTER 2: THE CYCLE OF BULLYING

CHAPTER 3: HOW BULLYING MANIFESTS

CHAPTER 4: INVISIBLE SCARS

CHAPTER 5: TARGETING THE VULNERABLE

CHAPTER 6: THE BULLY’S PLAYBOOK

CHAPTER 7: WORDS AS WEAPONS

CHAPTER 8: THE HEALING PROCESS

CHAPTER 9: IT’S NOT YOUR FAULT

CHAPTER 10: THE GOLDEN RULE

CHAPTER 11: CYBERBULLYING

CHAPTER 12: THE LIE ALL BULLIES TELL THEMSELVES

CHAPTER 13: WORKPLACE BULLYING

CHAPTER 14: HOW BULLYING CARRIES INTO ADULTHOOD

CHAPTER 15: THE OUTCAST’S JOURNEY

CHAPTER 16: ETHICAL CONDUCT

CHAPTER 17: BULLYING FILLS THE GAP THAT EMPATHY LEAVES BEHIND

CHAPTER 18: BULLYING BY EXAMPLE

CHAPTER 19: THE PROBLEM WITH PASSIVITY

CHAPTER 20: THE ECHO CHAMBER

CHAPTER 21: DON’T SUCCUMB TO CYNICISM

CHAPTER 22: SMOKE AND MIRRORS

CHAPTER 23: BE A FIGHTER

CHAPTER 24: CHOOSE YOUR WORDS CAREFULLY

CHAPTER 25: POWER DYNAMICS

CHAPTER 26: BEING THE BETTER PERSON

CHAPTER 27: CELEBRITIES WHO WERE BULLIED

CHAPTER 28: YOU DESERVE BETTER

INTRODUCTION

Have you ever been bullied by classmates? How about co-workers or superiors? Were you bullied by members of your own family? What about a combination of the three?

If you were like me, you were bullied by people in all three categories. Every instance was horrible, and they all had lasting effects on my psyche, but the abuse I suffered at the hands of my family was the most painful.

I don’t know what was worse; being bullied by a family member, or other family members coming to the bully’s defense because of the ‘good’ they did for my parents. People telling me I was super-sensitive about everything was the icing on the cake. They considered the bullying a trivial thing and expected me to grin and bear it.

My standing in the eyes of certain family members was made clear as day. Obviously, they didn’t value me, and I believe it was because my parents adopted me when I was a toddler. They did not consider me a ‘true’ member of the clan, so my feelings didn’t matter

.

For years, I thought I was the only one this family member targeted. But like most bullies, this person made sure their targets didn’t know about each other. The family bully loved isolating people so that there would be no witnesses to their abuse. The bully also knew the ones taking the abuse were too afraid to speak up because we knew we would receive no support. 

Years later, I learned that this person even bullied their own siblings. Who does that to their own brother or sister? If someone had stood up to the bully at the first sign of trouble, maybe they wouldn’t think it was okay to throw their weight around and make others feel worthless.

My feelings were dismissed when I brought up the subject of being bullied, either by a classmate or a member of the family. My school counselor suggested I give my tormentor the benefit of the doubt, as they may have a hard life at home. The family dismissed me when I asked for help with my familial bully.

All I wanted was for someone to stand up for me, but I obviously meant nothing to the people around me. My feelings, my pain, didn’t deserve a second thought. To the people I thought I could ask for help, I wasn’t worth defending. 

However, when I learned my bully targeted others in the family, I felt less isolated. I knew I had allies in any future confrontation with the tormentor. 

I’m sure you’re wondering what the family tyrant did. I won’t go into details about what they did to other members, but I will discuss a few instances of what they did to me. 

The first incident had to do with the death of a family member. I had mentioned on Facebook that the family had lost a special aunt. I never mentioned her name, but when I checked the site during one of my breaks, I received a nasty message from my bully.

They tore a strip off me, demanding to know what I was thinking. How dare I post this without regard for the feelings of the rest of the family?

I reminded this person I was adopted, and as I never gave the aunt’s name, it was entirely possible that I could have been referring to a member of my biological family. I had done nothing wrong, and I stood up for myself and told this bully to get off their high horse. I could post whatever I wanted on my Facebook. 

Still, the incident lingered in my mind, and by the time I arrived at my apartment after my work shift, I was in tears. I called my oldest brother, hoping he’d stand up for me and speak to the family member. Instead, he told me this relative did a lot for our mother so he wouldn’t confront them—and to add insult to injury; he told me I was too sensitive.

He made it clear I was alone in this; no one was on my side. They would let the bully run rampant. That loneliness made me miss my late brother. He had no problem standing up to bullies, family or not.

At the time of this incident, I was living in New Brunswick. I had moved to Saint John from Dartmouth for a job, so I had space between me and my bully. For a little while, at least. But when I returned to Nova Scotia, the bully turned up the intensity.

They would corner me in my room or any other place with no witnesses to accuse me of taking advantage of my mother. This person would accuse me of other heinous crimes, such as posting my feelings about deaths in the family. My bully would laugh and mock me when I started fighting back. 

No one I asked for help believed me, or they thought I was merely overreacting. They viewed my bully as a saint in the family; the bully had a way of blinding others to how cruel they truly were.

As with every other bully I faced throughout my life, I eventually gave up. I was convinced I would never free myself from their torment. They won again, and I was left swaying in the wind. This happens far too often, to far too many people. 

Except in my case, I won