Comments on: It Gets Better

By: Pop Culture Nerd

Pop Culture Nerd — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 03:28:35 +0000

Dean, thanks so much for stopping by and for your heartfelt comment. I’ve been thinking a lot about how to start a project like the kind you described but haven’t had the time or resources to figure out how to do it yet. If you have any great ideas, let me know!

By: Dean Scott

Dean Scott — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 11:36:39 +0000

The same thought you had about bullying being bullying regardless of underlying “justification” is what made me search and find your article. I’m glad the GLBT It Gets Better Project is around and I sincerely hope it helps people. In watching a recent video based in Ireland about homophobic bullying and supporting your GLBT friends, I had the selfish thought, “Well, gee, where was this kind of support for the bullied nerds, geeks, and outcasts when I was a kid? There was no “safe place” for us to go in schools and on campuses. As far as I know there still isn’t. I’d like to make a serious proposal, and I admit I don’t know how these things get started or how projects get funded, but I think there should be a video(s) for all of those people who just don’t seem to fit in or are ostracized due to whatever oddity that society deems as unworthy. Being one of those people growing up and looking back on all of the overt bullying as well as subtle shunning I had to endure, I would like to let people in current similar situations know that I understand the loneliness and pain and let them know it does get better and you get stronger and, though it doesn’t seem like it at the time, you learn how to use and apply all of that experience, loneliness, and pain. So, if anyone has any ideas as to how to get such a project going for the nerds, the geeks, the outcasts (the Minority Majority), let me know. Does anyone know if Bill Gates was picked on and bullied as a kid? Wouldn’t that be something to know? And certainly the drama club people got their share of bullying, so I’m sure there are celebrities who could share their stories. Just a thought. Thanks for having this forum!

By: le0pard13

le0pard13 — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 04:55:23 +0000

It is touching, Poncho. I don’t know what my reaction would be in that instance (as it has yet to happen). Still, it’d be nice to experience something like that.

By: le0pard13

le0pard13 — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 04:32:21 +0000

Wise words!

By: Donna

Donna — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 04:18:42 +0000

Haven’t been to any class reunion and don’t plan on attending. School was ok but just wanted it to be over. Wanted to experience life. Now once a week Dad + I head over to IHOP for the buy 1, get 1 free senior special. Lol! Life turned out different than I thought it would but you just can’t beat the simple pleasures of life. I think we’re always ‘in school’ but we pick + choose our battles. And bullies don’t have a chance.

By: Pop Culture Nerd

Pop Culture Nerd — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 03:10:43 +0000

It makes perfect sense, Donna. And Jann, during certain periods of my life, books were definitely better companions than some of the kids in school.

By: Donna

Donna — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 03:06:30 +0000

Books were a form of escape, entertainment and learning. Funny thing is that although I dealt with bullies on occasion I was quite shy when it came to meeting new people – at least those who lived off base. And family life was difficult so reading helped keep me centered and on my toes. It let me be me but in a different time, place and with other people. I was stronger, more confident. To this day am still shy but able to be me outside of a book. Does that make sense?

By: Poncho

Poncho — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 23:59:52 +0000

When I went to an elementary school reunion (of sorts)… the bullies actually came to me to ask for forgiveness. It was kind of touching at first, but then they became drunk and kept asking so I became really annoyed by it.

By: Pop Culture Nerd

Pop Culture Nerd — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 21:14:26 +0000

My husband and I were just talking about this yesterday. He said if he went back for a reunion, he wouldn’t know what to say to his former bullies. Pretend it never happened or bring it up, which might make it seem as if he’s been holding a grudge all this time? The truth is he hasn’t; he’s barely given those kids any thought. But if they act all nice to him as if nothing ever happened, that might make him angry, too, because it would mean they never had to answer or apologize for their actions. We agreed the best thing for him to do is to never go back.

By: Pop Culture Nerd

Pop Culture Nerd — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 21:07:08 +0000

I’ve never understood the “mean things were done to me so I have to turn around and do it to others” mentality. I prefer the “it hurt when it was done to me so I’m going to treat others better” choice and it looks like you do, too.

It always makes me feel vulnerable to get personal so I appreciate your saying that.