bully verb
: to frighten, hurt, or threaten (a smaller or weaker person) : to act like a bully toward (someone)
: to cause (someone) to do something by making threats or insults or by using force
I applaud you for being able shrug off the verbal abuse, but I'm also curious how you felt during those moments. Honestly, did the verbal abuse (whether or not combined with physical) just not bother you at all? OR did you shrug it off after the fact as time passed and you got older? Be honest with yourself. If as a kid you were indeed able to just let the verbal abuse go without even feeling a knot in your stomach, then were indeed a strong kid, and I commend you!
I was rarely physically bullied in school, it was all verbal. Man, there was sometimes I was trying for a black eye, just so there would be EVIDENCE. That's what's truly horrible about the verbal abuse. It can go unnoticed for YEARS. I didn't have a smartphone were I could show an abusive text back then to "authorities".
I'm not going to debate you on whether physical violence is "worse". It just doesn't fucking matter. No child should have to suffer mentally or physically at the hands of another child. The word "teasing" trivializes what we are talking about here, and your case aside, it can be very damaging.
Freedom of Speech. Why do people want to read that as "Freedom to be a dick"? Freedom of speech doesn't give you the right to harass. Would you call one of your coworkers fat and ugly everyday and not expect to be reprimanded in some form?
At any rate, Freedom of Speech is only allowed in First Amendment Areas, which are probably all closed because of the shut down ;-)
