By Caroline Infante, Staff Writer
Bullying. It's a word we are all familiar with. Some people have only heard it, some people have seen it...and some have lived it. However, not all bullies are like the ones in the movies. Not everyone faces physical harm. And it's not always online either. There are some kids, whose parents can't afford to shop at Hollister or American Eagle. There are some kids who don't talk a lot. There are some kids who act a little different, but there are still people and whether they're as lucky as you or not, they deserve respect. Some people live their whole lives living under a rock, terrified everyone will judge them on what they like and do. Personally, I have never seen the point in trends, and sometimes neither do they. They just want to be themselves, but society won't let them.
I am not trying to generalize. There are very nice people who have money and are not judgmental, and I know you have heard the phrase,”Don't judge a book by its cover” to the point where it's become sickening, but before you roll your eyes and skip to the end, just listen. Words can hurt more than sticks and stones. I know that sounds cheesy and maybe a little dumb, but it is true. If you say something that hurts someone or their confidence, even if you say, ”I'm kidding” or “I'm just playin’ bro”, they take it to heart. They overthink it. And if someone says you hurt them, you don't get to decide that you didn't. You don't know what someone's life is like. Even if they are your best friend and you see them all the time, and go to their house. People are excellent actors. Besides, do you really have to comment on someone's hair, clothes, or actions? Do you have to say, “Bro that's gay as hell!” just to impress your friends who giggle behind you like idiots? If it is for a girl, none of us find that attractive. Sure we like a guy that can make us laugh, but seriously, you don't have to degrade another person to do that. I know girls do it too, and maybe more, but my point is we don't need to be cruel to be cool.
Remember we all judge people, and it's a habit we need to stop, but even stones can be broken.
I am not trying to generalize. There are very nice people who have money and are not judgmental, and I know you have heard the phrase,”Don't judge a book by its cover” to the point where it's become sickening, but before you roll your eyes and skip to the end, just listen. Words can hurt more than sticks and stones. I know that sounds cheesy and maybe a little dumb, but it is true. If you say something that hurts someone or their confidence, even if you say, ”I'm kidding” or “I'm just playin’ bro”, they take it to heart. They overthink it. And if someone says you hurt them, you don't get to decide that you didn't. You don't know what someone's life is like. Even if they are your best friend and you see them all the time, and go to their house. People are excellent actors. Besides, do you really have to comment on someone's hair, clothes, or actions? Do you have to say, “Bro that's gay as hell!” just to impress your friends who giggle behind you like idiots? If it is for a girl, none of us find that attractive. Sure we like a guy that can make us laugh, but seriously, you don't have to degrade another person to do that. I know girls do it too, and maybe more, but my point is we don't need to be cruel to be cool.
Remember we all judge people, and it's a habit we need to stop, but even stones can be broken.
Monsters
I once met a monster.
Horns protruded from his head,
His words were very garbled,
Made a mess of what he said.
He must have weighed ten thousand pounds,
And stood fifty buses tall,
His face was very ugly,
Not attractive or nice at all.
I pointed out every hideous feature,
I thought he needed to change.
But then he started to cry,
Which I thought was very strange.
He sank his wide sharp shoulders,
Hunched his giant back.
He covered his head and sobbed,
As if he was under attack.
I stood stunned and wondered,
What did I even do?
Of course that’s the day I realized,
That monsters have feelings too.
I once met a monster.
Horns protruded from his head,
His words were very garbled,
Made a mess of what he said.
He must have weighed ten thousand pounds,
And stood fifty buses tall,
His face was very ugly,
Not attractive or nice at all.
I pointed out every hideous feature,
I thought he needed to change.
But then he started to cry,
Which I thought was very strange.
He sank his wide sharp shoulders,
Hunched his giant back.
He covered his head and sobbed,
As if he was under attack.
I stood stunned and wondered,
What did I even do?
Of course that’s the day I realized,
That monsters have feelings too.