Let's get back to my high school life. Senior year was the best: my classes were easier, because I had completed most of my required courses, I had more friends than ever before, and I was writing what I thought was gonna become a kickass Sonic the Hedgehog fanfic! (sadly, if you'll recall, that project is canceled now.)
Unfortunately, lots of kids still harassed me, and for the same bullshit reasons as always. However, by this time of my life, I finally figured out how to stop the bullying without getting in trouble. Kids, read this: it just might save your life.
You see, unlike most dipshits of my generation, I never say, "I don't care what you think about me!" or "I don't give a shit what you think of me!" I actually cared about how others viewed me. Two reasons: One, my family believes in projecting, if not a good image of oneself, at least, you should present a decent image of yourself. And two, from my firsthand experiences, people who say, "I don't care what you think of me!" usually just use that as an excuse to be a horrible person.
Anyways, I was like this through K-11. I followed the rules, never started any fights, never harrassed anyone myself. And what was my reputation? That I was a gay fag because I didn't like pornography, that I didn't think Britney Spears was "hot", (Now J Lo on the other hand . . . oh wait, that's getting off subject) or because I hated anime, (yep, this was back before FMA obviously existed) (Yes, I am probably the only person alive who has ever been discriminated for not liking anime. I must be the reincarnation of Rodney Dangerfield) or because I liked the original Xbox more than the PS2, (I swear, though! That was only back then! The PS2 has better games nowadays!) or for any other occasion where my opinion differed from what was considered the norm. I realized that no matter what I tried, I had a shitty reputation, no matter what I did. So I figured, I'll just lash out at these people. They'll hate me either way. Even if I have to be an asshole myself to get them off my back, it's gotta work better than what I have been doing. And my friends knew that I was not, by nature, a jerk. I rarely cuss in real life, and I have not done any "lashing out" in over 4 years, but still, I had enough.
It started with the "friends" of mine who were otakus. I've talked about them in the past. Well, I, in a sense, broke up with all of them in the beginning of my senior year. I told them that I hated all of them, I told them why I hated all of them, and then I walked away. They never bothered me again since. And any time someone else harassed me, I used that tactic; I became verbally aggressive. For example, it's lunch. I walk down the hallway alone. A douchebag and his friends see me walk by. They call me a nickname I find offensive. In the past, I would've either ignored them, or told them, "Leave me alone!" Now that I didn't care about my reputation anymore, you know what I did? I stopped and asked, "Hey, wanna do me a favor?" with a fake smile on my face. They say sure *insert offensive name* what is it? I then walk up to who I suspected was the ringleader. I got right up to his face and said, "piss off." with venom in my voice. I then turn around and walk away. They were stunned. They also never bothered me again. I think I did that three times, ex-friends notwithstanding. To the strangers, I didn't have to explain why I hated them. I think they knew.
So by the end of the year, I had a different reputation. The kids who weren't my friends no longer saw me as a "gay pussy." They now saw me as either a hardass, or "a psycho." Again, they had a misinterpreted impression of who I really am, but at the same time, the bullying came to an all-time low for me.
However, ever since I've graduated, I've feared encountering someone that I hated. I still have this fear today. Luckily, I have encountered approximately one asshole from my past since I graduated. I told him to piss off. It worked. (For the record, this happened before I started college.) However, I'm always on guard, so to speak, whenever I leave the house. Not all of my enemies have seen "the new me," so I'm always ready. By the way, I've never reached critical mass when I've been verbally aggresive. Basically, if you see me screaming obscenities at someone at the top of my voice, and I'm not rehearsing for a play, then that means I'm one step away from just wailing on whomever I'm yelling at. Luckily, I've never had to go that far . . . yet.
So this is my advice to those who are bullied; don't fight with your fists. Don't fight with weapons. Use your attitude, your words, your voice, and your body language. Look them straight in the eye. You have to be mean to them. After all, they've already been mean to you, right? Except unlike them, you have a reason to hate them. You have to tell them that you hate it when they call you a faggot. Tell them that you'll never be friends with someone who treats you like shit.
And what if they get the message? They clean up their act? Provided they don't abuse you again, start showing them respect. A former enemy of mine was really put off by my verbal aggression, so he stopped hating me and started treating me with respect. We're still friends, for he's done nothing to offend me since. Tough love can work. But if they hurt you in any way after that? Cut them. Not physically cut them, mind you. Cut them out of your life. You can grant someone one chance after you've told them off. Anytime afterwards? Chances are that person doesn't deserve anything from you.
This worked for me. It just might work for you too. And remember, a true friend of yours would never do anything to harm you. I knew this by my senior year, and that's why it was the best school year ever.
