The Sounds of Advice #48: Social Bullying

The definition of social bullying: social or covert bullying involves spreading rumors about another person, purposely leaving someone out of an activity or group or embarrassing a person in public. Another form of bullying that falls into this category involves encouraging others to avoid a certain person or group.

The topic of today's blog post is about social bullying: how you can combat it and cope with it.

Sandy: We all at some point hear something about ourselves that clearly didn't happen. As adults it can still happen in a work environment. I have dealt with things like this before. The rumor was that I hacked this other co-worker's Facebook. All because she posted something on her fb and her husband saw. Instead of taking the front of what she did she blamed me because I was over at her house the other day helping her with something. Now some people believed her and others didn't. I just shrugged it off because I knew the truth. I had no reason. To hack her Facebook to post something like that. The thing about others spreading things about others is that people are going to believe it or not. I just kept going about doing my job. I wasn't going to waste my time trying to convince people I didn't do anything. It wasn't worth my time or breath. Just stay strong. You know what the truth is and that that all that matters. Stay strong!

Michaelle: Here are some tips for dealing with social bullying:

1. As soon as you hear a rumor, feel that someone is being left out on purpose, being embarrassed in public, or you feel that someone wants you to join in on mistreating another, it is imperative to immediately recognize the bullying to put a stop to it.
2. Seek advice how to best handle the bullying. A counselor,  teacher, or trusted adult is always best.
3. Usually mediation between all parties is needed to talk out how to stop behavior, bad behavior must have consequences to avoid further bullying, and counseling to deal with feelings for healing. 
4. Lastly, together we must be proactive to put a stop to bullying. Knowledge and communication are key to stopping the 160,000 kids staying home daily to avoid bullying.

Kate:  Social bullying can happen in school and in the workplace. No matter where social bullies attempt to hurt others, their actions should be reported and measures taken to protect the victims, as well as discipline the offenders. Proper handling of any situation that involves bullying is imperative to prevent it from happening again or harming the victim’s reputation and good standing in their community, school or workplace. If you are being socially bullied, tell someone of authority right away. 

Try not to let what they say about you get to you, as hard as that may be.