"No matter how loud and obnoxious they are, you must learn to ignore them". WRONG!! This behaviour is bullying and it is the same as is they were pushing her or slapping her. In fact, ignoring them will more likely escalate the bullying than diminish it. A bully does not need a reaction from the victim, as long as she's getting a positive reaction from observers. If the kids around them are laughing, or otherwise validating this behaviour, the bully will continue. Even if no one else responds, two bullies together will feed off each other and affirm (in their own minds) the acceptability of it. When the observers become bored with the show, the bully, ever in search of that attention and affirmation, will progress to "accidentally" bumping into the victim, knocking her books or bag over, and similar actions. It continues to escalate until a deliberate and malicious physical assault takes place. That's when someone in authority finally steps in. By that time, it's often too late to help the victim or the bully. Bullying causes deep feelings of insecurity in the victim -- at any age -- that can last a lifetime. ..................... This needs to be stopped now. If it's happening on the bus, it is the bus driver's responsibility to deal with it, just as he would if one kid was slapping another. If it's a school bus, it is an extension of the school and this behaviour needs to be reported to the school authorities. The simple fact that the bullying is "just" verbal does not make it any less damaging, or any more acceptable. Ignoring it is absolutely NOT the answer.

Re: Lynn. Amen to everything that you've written. That's exactly what happened to me when I was younger - not the friends making friends w/ druggies part, but everything you said about bullying - how it started, how it progressed, etc. It's such a shame that other kids have to get their kicks by bothering others.

Cue the slam on "church" for not being more helpful to the rape victim. We'll be hearing any minute now how one unhelpful pastor has spoiled the entire bin.

For LW1 - One thing she has to realize is that it is no accident that Dave loses his job and winds up on herr doorstep. The thing is, he knows he can and that she's too nice to turn him away. If she wasn't around to catch him, I bet he'd keep that job a lot longer. I had my own bum once. If her experience is anything like mine, she will grow to hate that man. I only hope for her sake that he isn't completely integrated into her life when that resentment comes. -- And the rape victim needs a new church and possibly new friends. Yes, we know that drinking to excess can put you into dangerous situations, but that does not make her any less a victim. Anyone who cannot see that is lacking the compassion necessary to be a spiritual guide.

Adding that I agree with Lyme. I was bullied all throughout school and I hated that advice: Just ignore it! Yes, because it is so easy to ignore people yelling nasty things in your direction or everyone staring and laughing at you. And it's especially easy when you can clearly see an adult present and know that he or she isn't going to help you. We're not talking a day or a couple of days. This girl says it has been going on since last year. She needs to get help from her parents or someone at the school.