OP/ED........A huge issue I have with my fellow liberals as well intended as they are in fighting bigotry, is not knowing the difference between getting offended and bullying. I have had this conversation over the years with many people, both left and right. Now Serena Williams claimed that she was being bullied because of some stupid comment being called "Williams brothers"?
Bulling isn't merely getting offended. Bullying is when you are in an environment you cannot leave, like school or a workplace you have to be at when people repeatedly harass you. Bullying is when you are a minority anywhere in the world and that majority uses laws and violence to oppress you. In the west merely being picked on or even offensive comments, when you have the power and are rich enough to say "Stop being a dick" means you can fight back, and when you have that kind of power, you are NOT being bullied.
Blacks being lynched and being forced to use separate schools were bullied. Christians in Iran being murdered by Isis are being bullied. A Pakistani woman may be put to death by the state for basphemy, THAT is being bullied. In the west especially with fame getting picked on and people saying mean things or offensive things comes with that fame, and when you have that big mike to respond you are as powerful as the person saying it which means you are NOT being bullied.
I am an atheist, I get offended by believers calling me immoral and equating me to Stalin all the time and I am not even famous. But even with that I know the difference between getting offended and being bullied. I know atheists who have lost their jobs, been kicked out of their apartments and had their personal property destroyed. But in a mutual setting where I can leave a conversation, like facebook or twitter or block someone, I am not being bullied.
Serena, I was bullied as a kid, I know what bullying is, but I am an adult now and know that people are going to offend me sometimes and say mean things about me sometimes. In a free society, sometimes you are going to hear others say offensive things. Just say "That offended me", but when you have the power you do, and don't claim you don't, you are NOT being bullied.
Bulling isn't merely getting offended. Bullying is when you are in an environment you cannot leave, like school or a workplace you have to be at when people repeatedly harass you. Bullying is when you are a minority anywhere in the world and that majority uses laws and violence to oppress you. In the west merely being picked on or even offensive comments, when you have the power and are rich enough to say "Stop being a dick" means you can fight back, and when you have that kind of power, you are NOT being bullied.
Blacks being lynched and being forced to use separate schools were bullied. Christians in Iran being murdered by Isis are being bullied. A Pakistani woman may be put to death by the state for basphemy, THAT is being bullied. In the west especially with fame getting picked on and people saying mean things or offensive things comes with that fame, and when you have that big mike to respond you are as powerful as the person saying it which means you are NOT being bullied.
I am an atheist, I get offended by believers calling me immoral and equating me to Stalin all the time and I am not even famous. But even with that I know the difference between getting offended and being bullied. I know atheists who have lost their jobs, been kicked out of their apartments and had their personal property destroyed. But in a mutual setting where I can leave a conversation, like facebook or twitter or block someone, I am not being bullied.
Serena, I was bullied as a kid, I know what bullying is, but I am an adult now and know that people are going to offend me sometimes and say mean things about me sometimes. In a free society, sometimes you are going to hear others say offensive things. Just say "That offended me", but when you have the power you do, and don't claim you don't, you are NOT being bullied.
