Is Bullying Social Darwinism where the weak go to the wall ? - Discuss

bayern282 · 05-05-2011 08:02PM #1

Two appalling cases in these links and naturally any right thinking person sympathises with the victims and their families.

It begs the questions though, are some people born to be victims ? and can this type of thing really be eradicated as they're inherent in human nature.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/phoebes-last-text-it-would-be-easier-if-they-handed-me-a-noose-2638097.html

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/letters/our-beautiful-son-broken-by-school-bullying-2638042.html

ScumLord · 05-05-2011 08:14PM

Bullying is a natural thing for any animal to do. I'm not surprised it happens, young people don't have all the social niceties learned off yet, it takes time. Schools seem to make less of an effort these days to teach children how to interact with each other.

I was lucky enough in that bullying wasn't a huge issue in any school I went to. The teachers where the biggest bullies which probably gave the children a common enemy to unite against.

AhSureTisGrand · 05-05-2011 08:14PM

"Weak" is a relative term and there will always be some weaker than others in society

Pauleta · 05-05-2011 08:16PM

Interesting theory (hopefully it doesnt get taken up the wrong way)

Apart from Spousal abuse, bullying is usually committed in groups to a lesser number of people. Its would be more like a pride of Lions. The Lion is the king of the animal kingdom because they are in prides. If they were solitary animals they wouldnt be remotely as succesful at what they try to achieve. I think bullying is a survival in numbers thing and the more numbers and more ferocious they are the higher they reach in the food chain.

cml387 · 05-05-2011 08:18PM

We had a guru brought in to work to give us all a pep talk some time ago.
He said that people who are bullied allow themselves to be bullied.
Needless to say he got a lot of debate going about that,but ....

pragmatic1 · 05-05-2011 08:19PM

AhSureTisGrand wrote: »

"Weak" is a relative term and there will always be some weaker than others in society

True. The town hardman might be a bitch in prison. Its all relative.

Knasher · 05-05-2011 08:19PM

I consider bullies to be weak and cowardly individuals who are scared of being victimised and so pick on others to try and divert attention from themselves. As such I wouldn't consider it Darwinism when such individuals prosper.

Spunge · 05-05-2011 08:20PM

Knasher wrote: »

I consider bullies to be weak and cowardly individuals who are scared of being victimised and so pick on others to try and divert attention from themselves. As such I wouldn't consider it Darwinism when such individuals prosper.

And the people being bullied are strong individuals who love being bullied ?

gargleblaster · 05-05-2011 08:21PM

Let's say for the sake of argument that it is. If so, then it is primitive behavior. As such, it deserves to be stamped out without hesitation, as the time when it might have been useful is long gone.

cml387 · 05-05-2011 08:22PM

Knasher wrote: »

I consider bullies to be weak and cowardly individuals who are scared of being victimised and so pick on others to try and divert attention from themselves. As such I wouldn't consider it Darwinism when such individuals prosper.

But in our capaitalist system,bullies seem often to prosper.
Bill Gates,Michael O'Leary....

pragmatic1 · 05-05-2011 08:24PM

cml387 wrote: »

But in our capaitalist system,bullies seem often to prosper.
Bill Gates,Michael O'Leary....

I strongly doubt Bill Gates was a bully in school though. Wonder were hs bully is now.

TaraFoxglove · 05-05-2011 08:26PM

The bullies in my school were also spectacularly dumb for the most part - Darwinism my hoop.

cml387 · 05-05-2011 08:28PM

pragmatic1 wrote: »

I strongly doubt Bill Gates was a bully in school though. Wonder were hs bully is now.

Ah,but bullying is not confined to school.

Knasher · 05-05-2011 08:28PM

Spunge wrote: »

And the people being bullied are strong individuals who love being bullied ?

No, the people step in against the bullies and do their best to stop it are the strong ones.

But there is no way that I would consider a group of people who victimise somebody else in any way strong. Invariably they hide behind their social standing and goad their group into victimising others in order to make them look strong. Which, to me at least, seems pretty pathetic.

MungBean · 05-05-2011 08:29PM

bayern282 wrote: »

Two appalling cases in these links and naturally any right thinking person sympathises with the victims and their families.

It begs the questions though, are some people born to be victims ? and can this type of thing really be eradicated as they're inherent in human nature.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/phoebes-last-text-it-would-be-easier-if-they-handed-me-a-noose-2638097.html

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/letters/our-beautiful-son-broken-by-school-bullying-2638042.html

It might be inherent in animal nature but its not any more in human nature. It can be avoided through education and awareness. Children can choose not do bully someone by becoming aware of how wrong it is and the effect it has on that person. Provided the parents have taught the child to respect other people.

CreepingDeath · 05-05-2011 08:29PM

In any social hierarchy in the animal kingdom, there's always jostling for status. In the school yard that may be physical.
In a company, it may be political.
In a female social group, it may be bitchy.
In a family group, it may be competitive.

Not much you can do about it, while we all have egos.

The only way to avoid bullying, crime, war, etc is to completely destroy / genetically engineer out the part of our brains that wants to better ourselves in relation to others. But that's the part that makes us confident, ambitious, striving for excellence etc. So we'd end up as mindless drones, like worker ants.

Paparazzo · 05-05-2011 08:30PM

OP, you can argue that the Holocaust was social darwinism.

Kevin Duffy · 05-05-2011 08:32PM

If this turned out to be the way we are going as a species, we're fúcked, 'cos we'd have lost Einstien, Newton and Darwin from the gene pool in favour of Tyson, Steven Seagal and Vin Deisel (ignoring the timeshift). That's not a world I want to live in!

Our brain is what has led to us being the dominant species, not our propensity for violence.

WindSock · 05-05-2011 08:33PM

Not all bullying victims are weak. Not all bullies are strong.

Kevin Duffy · 05-05-2011 08:34PM

Paparazzo wrote: »

OP, you can argue that the Holocaust was social darwinism.

You have the floor.

cml387 · 05-05-2011 08:35PM

Paparazzo wrote: »

OP, you can argue that the Holocaust was social darwinism.

Nooooo! Godwinned.

But seriously,there are rulers and ruled.Those who are ruled maybe are happy enough to have a strong leader to protect them.
In organisations,bullies are giving a lead which often means success and share options all round to those who hang onto their coattails (and accept being bullied to an extent along the way).

pragmatic1 · 05-05-2011 08:36PM

cml387 wrote: »

Ah,but bullying is not confined to school.

Thats true. However, if Bill Gates were to meet a thug in the street, whos going to be the weaker party. He might be a bully in the boardroom, but a victim in another setting.

Turtyturd · 05-05-2011 08:36PM

Paparazzo wrote: »

OP, you can argue that the Holocaust was social darwinism.

Have to prove it happened first. :pac:

cml387 · 05-05-2011 08:37PM

pragmatic1 wrote: »

Thats true. However, if Bill Gates were to meet a thug in the street, whos going to be the weaker party. He might be a bully in the boardroom, but a victim in another setting.

Bullying does not imply violence.

Bucklesman · 05-05-2011 08:37PM

This is a sad and depressing thread.

ShooterSF · 05-05-2011 08:39PM

I don't understand what the hell is "social darwinism"? Do you mean bullying is a trait that makes you more successful in society and therefore the eh idea becomes popular and more people bully??

So confused

pragmatic1 · 05-05-2011 08:41PM

cml387 wrote: »

Bullying does not imply violence.

I didnt say it did. I'm saying in that context he would be a victim. Social positions arent static, they change.

fontanalis · 05-05-2011 08:43PM

Then again Darwinism is a way of explaining how nature works, not necessarily how society should work.

cml387 · 05-05-2011 08:46PM

pragmatic1 wrote: »

I didnt say it did. I'm saying in that context he would be a victim. Social positions arent static, they change.

If Bill Gates met a thug on the street he may very well be beaten up.
Bullying is a different thing,using your force of personality to have power over indiviuals using intimidation in whatever form will work.

Paparazzo · 05-05-2011 08:49PM

Kevin Duffy wrote: »

You have the floor.

Well, the Holocaust was the Nazis "bullying" the Jews on a massive scale. Godwin i know, but if you're talking about bullying causing people to lose their life for no good reason it's similar.

wild_cat · 05-05-2011 08:51PM

Any of the bullies I knew from secondary school are now living pretty crap lives.......

But they do have the whole pro creation thing down to an art. :rolleyes:

Is Bullying Social Darwinism where the weak go to the wall ? - Discuss

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