Bullying

My post today is inspired by an article that’s been going around on Facebook about female-leaning fandoms getting more hate and criticism than predominately male fandoms. (I suggest that you read this article before reading my post. It makes a great point that I’m reciprocating here. Also, for those of you who don’t know, a fandom is the community that surrounds a tv show/movie/book etc.) The idea that struck me with the most horror was the realization that fandom-shaming is a form of bullying.

Saying that you think a show, movie, sports team, musical artist, or whatever is stupid is having an opinion. However, calling people idiots or other such names just because they like a certain [insert whatever here] is irrelevant and thus becomes a personal attack. Repeated personal attacks combined with marginalization and stereotyping turns into bullying. Saying that those who do this are participating in bullying is not bullying. But going around to people and saying, "You're just a stupid bully!" would, indeed, be a form of bullying.

There is a fine line between bullying and having an opinion. At that line is our ability to have caring, respectful relationships with human beings that don't share our opinion. We cross over the line and into bullying when we stop caring about other people and become overwhelmed with our own opinion and putting others down simply because they don't share it.

I know multiple people who have been mocked and ridiculed because of something they were not only interested in, but something they connected with on a personal level. These things were not petty interests, but were often their only sources of escape and comfort. Once someone attacked them because of that interest, they felt ashamed for liking whatever it was, and eventually turned away from it. Having their main source of dependence taken away from them shattered their confidence, and they lost a sense of who they were. Their self-concept, identity, and esteem were all damaged because someone felt the need to make fun of them for something they believed to be petty. Unfortunately, their inconsideration caused real emotional damage.

Regardless of the extent to which someone likes something, it is wrong to purposefully make fun of them for their interests. Bullying in any form, or to any extent, is wrong.