The twist is the 'crybully' -- someone who bullies others and claims victimhood when confronted. In this way an accusation or counter-accusation of bullying can itself be a form of bullying.
The term "bully" is not helpful in the first place. It's too vague. It used to refer to kids who beat up other kids in school. That's a specific behavior. Modern usage had deteriorated into meaninglessness. It's kinds of ridiculous that the terms is used to refer to adults.
But what you said is essentially valid, except I would state it in even broader terms. Accusations of bullying became an effective way to launch a social attack, either proactively or in retaliation.
This is why you can't solve this by simply instituting punitive rules and committees that "fight bullying". Beyond certain very basic level (you get fired if you punch someone at work, clear cut case) they will get mercilessly abused.
What you really need is to increase autonomy of all participants of the system so people can act in response. No one should be completely in thrall to their boss or adviser. At the very lease people should be able to leave without being harasses and sabotaged at their destination.
> The term "bully" is not helpful in the first place. It's too vague. It used to refer to kids who beat up other kids in school. That's a specific behavior. Modern usage had deteriorated into meaninglessness. It's kinds of ridiculous that the terms is used to refer to adults.
A cursory look at the Wikipedia etymology contradicts the notion that it was ever limited to children, or that the current usage is significantly broader than it has been in the past. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullying#Etymology
>increase autonomy of all participants of the system
Yes, forced association causes bullying. There's no bureaucratic 'solution' that won't be gamed by the bullies. And there's no substitute for having good/brave people around the place.
But what you said is essentially valid, except I would state it in even broader terms. Accusations of bullying became an effective way to launch a social attack, either proactively or in retaliation.
This is why you can't solve this by simply instituting punitive rules and committees that "fight bullying". Beyond certain very basic level (you get fired if you punch someone at work, clear cut case) they will get mercilessly abused.
What you really need is to increase autonomy of all participants of the system so people can act in response. No one should be completely in thrall to their boss or adviser. At the very lease people should be able to leave without being harasses and sabotaged at their destination.