[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Zee

Well of course the problem in this situation is that they are putting the pressure on him. It's not "we don't like him", it's "he's changed which makes us not like him", so he is somehow to blame for their reaction. And if he removed them from his Facebook, they would pursue that line of thought further and make fun of him even more, saying he really can't take a joke and that he really takes himself too seriously, etc... I don't see any way for him to win. I'm going home in two weeks' time for one of those people's birthdays and am quite keen to say something to them all in person, because I think if they hear it from someone else they might actually take notice that what they're doing is not funny, it's cruel.

I think with adults bullying adults though, there is a perceived stigma that you should be able to deal with it yourself, as adults are perceived as being independent and self sufficient. To somehow be bullied by another person doesn't sit right with that logic and people tend to scoff at it, saying they should grow a thicker skin or just move on from it or something. Who's going to sit you down and tell you off for bullying another adult? There are no teachers anymore.

I agree with your last paragraph. The problem with most bullying is that the bullies feel 'justified' in their dislike of the victim...therefore it's not really bullying in their minds. The vistim can also be quite a strong character in themselves and can often outwardly seem to be unaffected or 'give as good as they get'...these are reactions adults can have that children may not...it's still bullying though, even if the victim isn't a meek feeble character