Reply #30: This is why bullying is wrong, no matter the reason.

[Zodiak]

The fact that it was a "sexting" incident, to me, is immaterial. Bullying is so common with American youth that the reasons for such are too numerous and varied to deal with individually. In my day, the gay kids were bullied mercilessly, as were the kids who were a bit malnourished and under-developed. 30% of the youth population are either bullies or being bullied. That is way too much.

It's not cute, and it should not be tolerated.

If you want to crack down on "sexting", fine, but it is not going to stop kids from killing themselves from bullying. The ones who can stop that are parents, teachers, peers, and administrators.

Heck, I even wrote a song and made a video about it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22LDvqFBzQM

Bullies should not be tolerated, but it is all too commonly dismissed as "kids being kids". I notice in this story that these boys seemed to be free to treat Hope in any way they wished without fear of repercussions. That is what has to change.

Heck, look at the behavior of some DUers towards one another. How can we discourage bullying with kids when we adults are so prone to it?