Thread: When a latent bully's insecurity is ignited — when he feels his status is threatened, he isn't getting enough positive attention/credit -- he searches for a new target and tests whether people will tolerate abuse of that target. It usually begins with a single act.

It's a bully's test. If he gets away w abusing that target — if bystanders tolerate, amplify, or reward him for it — the bullying rapidly escalates via recruitment of 'accessory bullies,' more frequent & harmful actions, greater stigmatization & dehumanization of the target, etc.

Bystanders, at the very least, please:
1) NOTICE when this is happening,
2) INTERPRET it as bullying.
When we turn a blind eye, we contribute not just to the bullying of one person, but to a culture of bullying — and that's bad for everyone.

And do NOT reward the bully.

See his behavior for what it is:

1) an entitled, embarrassing, infantile tantrum and demand for undeserved credit, status, attention,
2) that nonetheless can devastate a person's life and will poison a society's ability to thrive.

To more easily find a target that will be tolerated, bullies exploit existing prejudices.

If a segment of society is already biased against the person or group being targeted, they'll gladly pile on with a bully without fact-checking his accusations against the target.

The vast majority of people are not bullies and don't fully understand the viciousness that drives & results from bullying.

but

The vast majority of people have contributed to bullying campaigns that have destroyed people.

Ultimately, bullies are NOT us; bullies DIVIDE us.