I would hope and expect that the book presents it as a more complex issue that this quick explanation/tangent, though.
It does.
I'm not sure what your bullying entailed, but the book is specifically about the kinds of bullying that cause friends to suddenly stop talking to you altogether, to whisper rumors about the subject of their anger to a third party, to sharply declare "No!" and storm away when asked if they're mad, to say things like "I feel sorry for you since everyone hates you," to circulate anonymous petitions declaring someone outcast, etc.. The book talks about styles of aggression and why there is no positive way to mediate--it's that while victims know their bullies are bullying, it's unrecognizable to outsiders.
Avoidance of direct confrontation--either constructive or destructive--does seem to be more of a girls' problem than a boys' problem, although it's not all girls who do it, and not only girls. The book makes a pretty good case and notes that a lot more study has to be done.
Yeah, it's an interesting subject--everything I found out is! All of my bullets could be expanded, but these lists are meant to be interesting teasers and summations. I don't want to make them too long, although it is tempting sometimes. But you're right, I did over-generalize; I'll edit.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2009-03-23 04:04 am (UTC)It does.
I'm not sure what your bullying entailed, but the book is specifically about the kinds of bullying that cause friends to suddenly stop talking to you altogether, to whisper rumors about the subject of their anger to a third party, to sharply declare "No!" and storm away when asked if they're mad, to say things like "I feel sorry for you since everyone hates you," to circulate anonymous petitions declaring someone outcast, etc.. The book talks about styles of aggression and why there is no positive way to mediate--it's that while victims know their bullies are bullying, it's unrecognizable to outsiders.
Avoidance of direct confrontation--either constructive or destructive--does seem to be more of a girls' problem than a boys' problem, although it's not all girls who do it, and not only girls. The book makes a pretty good case and notes that a lot more study has to be done.
Yeah, it's an interesting subject--everything I found out is! All of my bullets could be expanded, but these lists are meant to be interesting teasers and summations. I don't want to make them too long, although it is tempting sometimes. But you're right, I did over-generalize; I'll edit.