Oh god, not this one.
Bullying is a hard thing to handle when you are young. I put up with my fair share of it. I was born in a small Scottish town called Paisley (near Glasgow) and went to several schools which I had to leave in the end due to bullying. I believe I had turned out fine, but when I think about my past now, I still feel the anger boiling inside of me. I now know that a lot of the perpetrators are now dead, either by suicide or they have been murdered by some means. I now realise that most of these people came from pretty broken families and took their frustrations out on me which I reacted to very badly.

Various memories:

Having my hand held down on a desk and having a compass stabbed right into the back of it and the teacher turning a blind eye due to the claims of every pupil in the class that it was my stupid fault and I shouldn't be playing with it. In reality, the teacher was terrified as our school was right next to Ferguslie Park where the scum of Paisley reside.

Thrown out of a 3rd floor window during a free period and cracking my head on the concrete below requiring stitches and STILL getting the blame for it from the teacher. once again, terrified of repercussions should he punish the perpetrators.

being accused of murdering my best friend (who commited suicide due to his choice in sexuality when he was 14 and it being spread like wild-fire round the school). Apparently I pushed off a high building and he died (I didn't). However, we were very good friends and I was really his first boyfriend and it devastated me that he was killed.

Being absolutely terrified of leaving in the morning to go to school as every morning, there would be pupils waiting to kick the crap out of me if I even dared to leave the house. My parents/teachers advise - "oh just ignore it". Stupid cunts.

Being chased round the school...one of the pupils slipped on the floor and cracked his back..ended up in hospital...got screamed at by head and being called a useless liar by the headteacher and being taken home and beat up by my father despite my protestations that I was innocent on this.

Being chased from the Big Apple pool hall in Paisley West End and getting caught and having several people repeatedly hitting me over the head with pool cues (one of them even broke).

Being chased when I was in the scouts. Woke up lying on the ground with my head bleeding profusely. Apparently I was caught and the perpetrators had smashed my head several times against a brick wall however, I remember none of this. Spent some days in the RAH in Paisley.

Through all this. I learned that a lot of our thoughts in later life come from our youth and I took a lot of anger into my adulthood. I've only now realised that this was the cause of my own unhappiness in later life and I've put it all behind me in the satisfaction that I now have a well paid job with the BBC in London, in a comfortable gay relationship with a man that I love to bits and most of the people who done this are now dead, in jail, or constantly on the dole.

Remember, when we take our anger from our schooldays into our later lifes, it hurts us a lot. We must remember that sometimes the only way to be happy is to forgive and forget the people who are responsible and take satisfaction that they are probably worse off than us, deservedly or not.
(scotsbloke, Wed 13 May 2009, 15:10, 9 replies)

"I like this" is probably not particuarly relevent.
Sounds like you had a fucking awful time of it. I hate it when the authority figures themselves basicaly pretend that it's not happening. It's an utter betrayal of the kids they're supposed to protect. Still, congratulations on coming out of it the better man.
(Fredz A graveyard of hopes, a dump of ambition, Wed 13 May 2009, 15:15, closed)

^ this
I work in a school now - have done for 5 years but only will for another few weeks (new job) and we've made huge efforts here to stop bullys getting away with it. I have to say though that this is so rare that we now have to teach other schools how to do it and THEY JUST ARNT INTERESTED. They see bullying as an interuption into time they could spend doing something else (like going on facebook it seems) and that makes me so annoyed.
Bullying will never stop but it sure as hell can be handled.
( SiX and his hat, Wed 13 May 2009, 15:21, closed)

hello
well done. A lot more schools needs to take your advice. I know from my nephew that a lot of bullying is overlooked in schools even to this day.
(scotsbloke, Wed 13 May 2009, 15:51, closed)

Really enjoyed reading that
You've come through one hell of a lot and I know the area well so your payback - as with most of us - is that the people who used to bully us are now either dead or might as well be.
Glad you turned out ok though fella :)
( SiX and his hat, Wed 13 May 2009, 15:18, closed)

You speak wise words.
I am glad that you have put it all behind you and are doing really well. If only I could follow your example and put things like that behind me, but unfortunately I am now totally consumed with rage and resentment towards those days.
Well done to you.
(Daisho Arseholes everywhere I turn., Wed 13 May 2009, 15:38, closed)

I feel for you...
I wish you luck my friend. I realised by appreciating the people around me now helped me overcome my anger from my younger days and realising that my unhappiness was due to the anger inside me and only I could deal with it. I also read some books by the author Thich Nhat Hahn which may have had some influence on me as well.
(scotsbloke, Wed 13 May 2009, 15:48, closed)

West of Scotland Fannybaws
Yes, there are lots of them. I grew up in Port Glasgow and have lived in Paisley. And while Paisley can be brutal, Port Glasgow knows NO depths of inhumanity.

I know exactly the type of cunts you describe here. But as you say, the last laugh is with you, as the cancer and the dole claim each of them, one by one...Not before they ruin the lives of anyone who comes into contact with them.

Good on ye buddy!
(Cancer Joy was short lived, Wed 13 May 2009, 15:56, closed)

It does make you wonder
what goes through the minds of the people who do this, at the time they're doing it.

Although "minds" is probably being a bit generous.

(Also makes me realise that the bullying I suffered was extremely mild... far too mild for this QotW.)
( Sonic the Hedgetrimmer doesn't care what you think, Wed 13 May 2009, 17:35, closed)

Wow
I bet you drink a lot.
(Leyxia, Wed 13 May 2009, 19:30, closed)