Ok, I won't bore you with the needless details of my transformation from being bullied to bullying to my eventual redemption. But to give some perspective from the other side I'd hafta agree with legume on this one. Being a bully is all about power. The need for for power, and by seeking out those that are weak, different and easily intimidated an illision of power is created. Ever think why bullies pick the ones they do? Because it's easy. You get that little bit of power without risk. Introduce real risk, the risk of injury, risk of punishment, risk of embarrasment, and that target becomes no longer... well, no longer a target. The only way to deal effectively with a bully is to push back. Sorry but passivism just makes it easier. When Ziggy decides to run he's giving his power away. And he's not the only one to suffer for this, egged on by their success theses bullies will joyously seek out more victims with increased viciousness. So yea, Ziggy has my sympathy. But not my respect. Stand and fight, complain, stir the pot, enlist friends in your cause. Any of these is better than running and depriving yourself of something that is obviously important to you. as always Just My Humble Opinion Jon

Oh come on now. There are so many public threads where the bullies attack repeatedly, and leave their victims bleeding. And the moderators ignore the calls for help.

I can't speak from any experience except my own. I have contacted the moderators about situations where I felt they could help and they have. If someone is crying for help on the forum and hoping someone stumples upon their message in a thread, then it's not going work as well. It's the difference between dialing 911 and yelling out your window. Both may get you help. Both may get the police to your door. One may be a little faster. And frankly, if you want any more of my opinion, if a troll is attacking someone, where is everyone else on the forum? If the other members posted messages indicating their disapproval of such activity, it would go a long way to curtailing it. I've seen a couple of brave souls deflect the attention of a troll off on to themselves when it seems as if a troll gang is piling up on one individual. If flames are being posted on the forum, we each have the ability to contact administrators and have a halt put to them...and that has been done. I've seen more than one thread snipped because the debate became personal. The difference with the situation with Ziggy is that the messages were done off the forum so only Ziggy could call for help. Instead, for whatever reason, Ziggy chose to step away. I respect the choice even if it is not the one I would have made. I disapprove of the behavior of the attacker. It's that simple. It's that hard.

Can't say that I agree with Dr. Legume's universal perscription. It may be fine for some people some of the time, but not everyone is the same. We all have our individual strengths and weaknesses. Jusy saying, 'buck up, forget about it, don't be a baby,' without knowing the person or their circumstances strikes me as a little callous but hey, if that's your philosophy, rock on. If it were that simple, bullies would have become extinct ages ago. That may not fit in with some ideal notion of how everyone should react to such treatment, but it is reality. Yes it would be nice if every victim did A, B or C and we all lived happily ever after. It would have been nice the kids at Columbine High had followed Legume's advice as well, but they didn't.