Modern times: Bullying

As an octogenarian I find it increasingly difficult to understand young people, no more so than on the subject of bullying.  Children seem to be more sensitive to unkind words, more likely to overreact emotionally, and for example refuse to go to school than formerly.
I say this as one who was bullied myself.  During the Second World War I was the only Jewish boy in my London school.  It was a boy's senior elementary school, and the leaving age was 14.  I received constant jibes and taunts and even physical threats.  This was made worse by the fact that one of our teachers was overtly anti-Semitic and frequently made disparaging comments about whom he called 'Yids.'  One particular boy troubled me greatly and on this particular day when he was pushing me around and making nasty comments I lost my temper and gave him a hard punch on the nose, making it bleed.he was bigger than me and I confess that I then ran away, but he did not bother me again.  This does not mean that I advocate violence as a way of solving problems, but in those days one did not go crying to one's parents, or refuse to go to school.  The only time I did speak to my parents because the bruising was obvious, was when I was viciously caned on both hands for a minor infringement, talking to my neighbour!
There is a new phenomenon now called cyber bullying.  Apparently this is where children say nasty things about each other on social media.  Well there is a simple answer to that, don't react to it, ignore it and get off the media.  Choose your contacts and friends in the real world, only give your mobile number to those you trust and if you want to communicate in any other way do so by Email so that only the recipient sees it.
Of course I don't expect children to take this advice, but then us oldies live in a different world.
Michael Jimack
2.12.2015