For Those Who Don't Feel 'Counter-Bullying' is "Appropriate";

[lumberjack_jeff]

22. In JR high, I joined the wrestling team.

Whatever degree of bullying that I experienced (as a medium-large but unaggressive kid) prior to that point stopped. Further, because wrestlers come in all sizes, I learned from coaches that it was justified to stick up for the smaller teammates when they were being bullied. Being empowered to stick up for the smaller kids did it for me. I don't take myself especially seriously, and consequently don't stick up for myself as often as I should, but people learned to not pick on anyone else around me. Even most bullies are good enough with math to walk away from that situation.

Defending the truly defenseless is a primary reason that I spend my volunteer time with the developmentally disabled.

Ideally, the school administration will do a good job of preventing it, but failing that, it's fully appropriate to counter it in the language that bullies understand.