Teasing: Sticks and Stones

(Okemos, Michigan, United States)

I'm still pretty young, so I can relate to all the younger red heads out there. Other people my age can be offensive with little-to-no provocation. But I force myself to see through their harsh words, remembering that I'm a unique individual. If you look back through the centuries, everyone -- no matter what it is that sets them apart from others -- have been discriminated against. But it looks like our turn now. The best we can do is step back from your bullied situation and look through your bully's bluff.

Grown-ups are always saying that bullies bully because they really feel bad about themselves, so they try to build up a little self-esteem by demeaning others. If you figure out what the bully sees as a fault in themselves, you should NEVER, by any means, use that against them. Two wrongs don't make a right, and bullying never really solves anything.

My advice to you is to simply let their hurtful comments go in one ear and out the other. Let it be known that everyone has faults, and those who hurt others are no better because of it.