Bullying Transcends Age

October is anti-bullying month. Our school districts and college administrations are doing their part in educating the students in their care on the perils of bullying. I fear, however, that their efforts may be for naught.  

Bullying is bullying. It doesn't just occur in the classroom or on the playground. It is not only limited to text messages between "mean" teenage girls. It happens all too often among adults; in the workplace, in public settings, on the internet and in the home.  

Bullying does not follow an age restriction. Adults well into their "golden years" bully each other as if they were still in middle school. In fact, cliques, harassment, ostracism are prevalent among elders. (Senior Bullying) Many of us have witnessed bullying in the workplace among co-workers and employers. We have seen it in places of worship between members of the congregation. We have observed it at one time or another in the park or ball field. We are not immune to the bullying on various social media sites where commentators have resorted to name calling and harassment rather than engaging in meaningful debate centered on the facts.

We have become desensitized to the negative campaign tactics of our politicians. Rather than calling them out on their over the top lambasting of their opponents, we tend to remain quiet all in the name of it being "election season". Politicians can and should disagree on the issues; but those disagreements should be debated on their merits and not on personal traits of one's opponent.

Again, I applaud the efforts being made by our school officials to end bullying in their institutions. However, until adults start behaving like adults; not like characters from "Mean Girls", their efforts may not hold weight once their charges are off campus among the "adults".