Bullies often pick on someone who they think they can have power over. While ignoring the behavior might be a good strategy for some people, one of the best ways to deal with a bully is to confront them. Most bullies are con-artists and they love getting a reaction out of someone who they feel they can push around. For instance, a bully might pick on someone who they consider to be smarter or different than they are. However, appearances can sometimes be deceiving. While someone might look nice and sweet, they could have a strong pit. So when somebody shows the bully that they are not in any way intimidated by them, then they have no choice but to look elsewhere. Remember that a bully is not used to being put on the spot.

Now let me give you another example. How do you handle a bully on line? Behind the disguised mask that they are wearing, they are scared of revealing who they really are. Yet, they want you to reveal things about yourself. On line bullies might have a large circle of friends, but usually they keep themselves hidden by not displaying an on line picture of themselves. Perhaps their own friends would be shocked if they discovered the real truth. On the other hand, an on line bully can also be a lonely person who has been bullied in the past by other people. And this is their way of getting even for the damage that they have caused them. Never show the bully you are scared. If he or she goes to your school, look at them in straight in the eye as you pass by them down the hall. Stand up straight and put on your most serious face. This indicates confidence and that you are not intimidated by their behavior at all. If you look at the picture below, the kid wearing the white shirt looks frightened. His body language is saying to please leave me alone and go away. However, unless he punches the bully on the face or tells him to stop or he will go to the Principal’s office and file a complaint, the instigator will continue hurting the boy. Again, he needs to be confronted, otherwise, the bully might think that pushing other people around is a normal thing to do. If you have a bully at your school who is making your life impossible and you are not sure how to handle the behavior, then stand in front of your bathroom mirror and practice. Pay attention to your body language. Next time the bully comes up to you and tries to steal your lunch money, you will feel more courageous.

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