The saying: "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me" may have to be re-written. I believe bullying is a most dangerous, yet underestimated form of psychological terror, that can have far reaching consequences for the victim, often for the rest of their lives. Now with the VT shootings and all, I can't help but think about past similar events, where it often was reported, that the killers (or those who had "snapped" in some way), had often been victims of school bullying. If we in any way, are to hope that we can avoid such future massacres, I think we should look to bullying as a possible factor too and adopt a zero tolerance policy in all schools, work places and institutions. If nothing else, it sure can't hurt!

I agree with the above.

I was bullied harshly in school due to a southern accent, religion, early puberty, and not having nice clothes. I first became suicidal when I was 14. I have struggled since then with biochemical depression. The medication I take now, a selective serotonin uptake inhibitor, has worked wonders for me. Reading this article makes me wonder if the stress of going to school actually caused a form of brain damage.

Like most people who have been bullied, I would never consider murder as the answer, but I understand the trauma behind the deed.

Some of our most vivid memories are unfortunately, the bad ones. Anyone who has ever been tormented or bullied as a child, knows and remembers only too well, how utterly devastating it is to one's sense of self and social belonging. I think it can have absolutely devastating effects on the psyche of a child. (An adult too.) When you're a kid, you don't have the skills to ward off or deal with such torment. It changes who they are.

This is a good clip TN,
What always surprised me the most was others reactions to the bullying. There would only be a rare person that would speak out against the bully. Being bullied can change who you are, but I believe that change can also manifest itself as being able to express more empathy and kindness for others.
@Crazy, looking back at the people who bullied you, can you now see that most of them had major problems? I can only hope that will give you some solace to the emotional harm they purposefully inflicted upon you in their sick quest for power and control. I like to think that "they know not what they did" Crazy, and what they did was probably make you a better person.