4 bullied teens dead by own hand

In the news today it became known that a few children committed suicide due to bullying. This isn't exactly the first time bullying has caused deaths (either murder or suicide). Whether we be victims, witnesses, or suppliers everyone has had experience with bullying. And as to the subject of bullying there are many things to discuss

This thread is meant to discuss several issues.
1. Who's responsible for bullying. The kid for being to weak or the bully. Some people argue if the kid(s) would "man up" these things wouldn't happen (not my personal beliefs FYI)?
2. Who's responsible for protecting the people getting bullied: authority figures/Guardians, the victim, or some other 3rd party (like i wouldn't consider friends an authority figure)?
3. Were the kids in the right to take these actions and kill themselves (some people support people's right to commit suicide, once again not my personal beliefs)?
4. What can be done to help prevent things like this if they should be prevented at all?
5. Is it right to fight back or even physically assault a bully. (Keep in mind not every bully is some red headed step child suffering from parental abuse)?
6. To take #5 one step further. For things like the Columbine murders, where the bullied kids in the right in that situation.?

Feel free to add your own topics of discussion.

I used to get bullied. I got tired of their crap and manned up. Then I fought back and they stopped.

I'm in the same boat as loose. I was bullied for 2 years straight on my bus by two kids on the way to school every morning. First day of 8th grade I decided enough was enough, and I railed both their skulls into the school wall after we got off the bus. They never said a word to me again, though I did get suspended for a week... I just considered it a two week extension on my summer vacation!

I used to get bullied a lot and man oh man I wish that I had done no less than cripple at least 20 people, teachers included. Yeah yeah, I would have gotten in trouble and all that bullpomegranate but all that try to be confident? Try not to let them see it affect you? Tell your parents or teachers or something? All completely and utterly worthless. If you try to act like it doesn't faze you people just try harder, try to tell teachers and they think you're a platypus (as if teachers and administrators gave a rat's ass about bullying unless they think someone's gonna shoot up the school, and then it's just trying to avoid a PR nightmare than genuine concern) and parents...well, I can't speak for everyone's parents but mine were no help at all.

Well, I'm glad I'm in college where I don't have to deal with that pomegranate no more...for the most part.

Whenever I get bullied I just outsmart them with words until they call me a freak and leave. works for me.

Fighting back only works if there's 1-3 people, now if it involved gangs well thats a different story.

I used to bully kids in 7th-8th grade. I was such an ass back then. If i could take it back, i would. In high school, i just took whatever idiot threew at me. I ignored a good bunch of asshats that really wanted a fight thinking an asian kid with glasses wanted to do something. One kid evern had the damn mind to ask if i WANTED to fight . I didn't even know the guy.

I'm sure bullying to an extenet is certainly unbearable, but is it really bad enough to give the bullies the satisfaction of having you off yourself? I don't know what i would do. You can't act like a wussy because showing weakness gets you more crap than anything else. Find yourself some good friends, learn to take words lightly, and if you must, tell someone of authority. In my town, snitches get stitches, but the only way out is through the system if you aren't strong enough to stand up for yourself physically.

In my town, snitches get stitches, but the only way out is through the system if you aren't strong enough to stand up for yourself physically.

That must be horrible for the people that are unable to fight back, being due to physical or mental disability. Or did bullies there not go after those people?

I think cramming a bunch of kids into one place is a bad idea. They can socialize in places like parks, meadows and fields, where they can choose who to be with. Some people just aren't capable of socializing and never will be; those people shouldn't be forced to be with people. What if they develop social anxiety disorder?

I've always been against education in anyway. Waste of public resources.

I've always been against education in anyway. Waste of public resources.

Education is a great thing, just not the way it is currently implemented.

That must be horrible for the people that are unable to fight back, being due to physical or mental disability. Or did bullies there not go after those people?

they do, just not physically. they mess with disabled kids just for entertainment, not to fight with. even where i live, bullies have some sort of self-respect.Picking on disabled kids is like uber douchebaggery.