There’s an awkward trend playing out on social media especially, where expressing an opinion in a public forum sees one shot down in flames by those of a different opinion. In severe cases, long-lasting friendships are severed by the toxicity. This is where you see good people essentially feel entitled to express themselves, without appropriate thoughtfulness and kindness.
Mental Health s r e tt Ma
Bullying Behaviours
By Derran Heney Mental Health Professional Bullying, harassment and horizontal violence: Can we engage in these behaviours without awareness? Bullying behaviours are on the increase and, despite what people believe, are not only reserved for the school playground with conflict over lunch money. However, this can undoubtedly be where bullying behaviours are first identified. In the larger world, it plays out on television, radio, social media platforms, sometimes role modelled by those we often look up to. Examples are everywhere you turn these days. Usually, this is subtly obscured by the notion that not only are we entitled to our opinions, which is true, but that we are entitled to put others down or shame them for their opinion, belief and values, especially when different to our own. There seems to be less healthy debate and more personal attack and defensive stances taken.
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Supernal Magazine
People nowadays seem to have less awareness of their words and choices especially on social media platforms, where there appears to be a false surety that writing bullying type messages are less damaging. This is incorrect as written words often have more impact. This is shameful as many others read them and it is written forever. These posts are also open to being misinterpreted and can allow others to get on board and engage in the same behaviours.
“Bullying behaviours are on the increase…”
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Horizontal violence is referring to workplace toxicity and verbal attacks are referring to other situations that are specifically occupational. Harassing type behaviours are usually required to be repetitive to be termed harassment, yet any of these repetitive behaviours can be classified as bullying and harassing. Harassing type behaviours are usually required to be repetitive to be termed harassment, but
“Can anyone feel safe to have an opinion different from
