I'd wager that bullying is slightly worse today than before... maybe. The thing is that as a culture, people are putting up with less and less violence done to them and their kids! I think it's a good thing over all. Teenagers in high school, and pre-teens in middle school - they get away with actions that are now considered crimes for adults to do to each other. Specifically: Threat of bodily harm or injury - this is a misdemeanor in most of the US now. How many bullys threathen others, to beat them up? This is just not acceptable, and they should get consequences for their actions.
What about a bully actually hitting, grabbing and/or restraining another person? In the adult world this is called ASSAULT. A serious crime, yet we allow it 'because they're kids'.
The reason I don't think it may be worse than historically is I have read person journals of a few of my ancestors. My grandfather talks about walking to school in rural Arkansas [1930s> and having to put up with gangs of kids throwing rocks at each other - often landing blows and hurting each other. In the 1840s, grown men would fight in the streets and it wasn't considered that out of place - no telling what young people did to each other in this era.
So, I don't think it's 'way worse' today, I just think we are more aware as a society, and I think that is a good thing. Many bullies are sociopaths and need to be dealt with early.View Thread