[user104658]

Originally Posted by Livia

Didn't notice this post till Ammi quoted it. I agree entirely.

It's often (sort of) both, to be honest. Many bullies are angry, damaged kids and they take out that anger on smaller, weaker kids. But the kids who AREN'T smaller and weaker tend to laugh at / ignore / be dismissive of those sorts of people. Not really bullying exactly - mainly just because they don't want anything to do with them... and so, the bullies often find themselves left out and mocked. Which makes them more bitter, more angry, and more determined to continue to take it out on the ones that they can victimize.

Basically they get hooked on the feeling of power they get from making someone else feel small, and then when others take that feeling away from them, they double their efforts to get that feeling back.

I think this is exactly the sort of bully that Pauline is. Being "challenged" by some of them made her instantly ten times worse.

Compare that to Conor, who was your classic "boulder-head" bully... just basically a big unintelligent and aggressive toddler-bloke who liked to throw his weight around and sulk in general. A massive three year old who wanted all of the toys and never grew up.

They're very different beasts... Conor was truly awful but I hope Pauline is out, fast, because I think she's potentially worse.