I was, by all accounts, not a nice kid between the ages of 8-12.
I was a bully.
I would pick on the kids, who like me, were different. Short kids, fat kids, kids with glasses etc. My difference was my color, being the only olive-brown kid in school. Thinking about it now, I can say it was a defense mechanism.
One day, it all changed.
I was now being bullied.
What happened was, I found an unused tampon still in it's wrapper on the floor and picked it up, obviously not knowing what it was. Some kid caught sight of it and so started the rumor that I use tampons.
The collective laughs from the boys I used to bully was my recompense I guess, but it sorted me out. No longer were my threats of "I will punch you until you break a bone" being taken with any merit, because now I was the kid who used feminine hygiene materials. I can laugh at heartily now, but back then i'd cry often. Then came the physical bullying - although I was bigger then all the kids as i'd relentlessly train there was strength in numbers.
A group of boys a year older than us sorted it out by saying they would bash the kids who were bullying me.
I learned my lesson though. Being put in a position where you have that done unto you which you have done unto others - even with the older boys scaring the kids, I didn't go back to bullying because I knew what it felt like.
from 14 onwards I was no trouble whatsoever, made some great friends and developed as a person - started talking to girls and like Pack93z, became a sort of "big protector to the little targets".
I would never say it's a universal tool that works; but me as a bully getting bullied was what sorted me out. It made me realise the feeling of having everything against you and trying hard to fit in.
"VinceLambeauStarr" wrote: