Quick! Bully him, he's smart!

[CodeOrange]

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/the-big-picture/2709-Magneto-Was-Right

Moviebob addressed this in a more entertaining and nerdy fashion than I would.

In my experience the hostility is generated by perceived threat from the display of a rare ability. By reacting with hostility and ridicule a group of poor learners can avoid the issue that they have faults.

No, it's all just for shits and giggles. You're giving too much credit for children; insolent beings that can't shut up without a bludgeoning. Ever picked up uh lets say, a sandbox and gone apeshit? You know what I'm talking about. That, or peer pressure or an easy social activity that the dull and boring engorge themselves in to appear interesting and witty.

It doesn't matter if you're smart, dumb, [insert physical characteristic that is "normal" in terms of social context] etc, you just have to be part of the majority, as well as someone who was short-changed in the genome pool.

 

[Griffolion]

So my dear escapists...

Here I was, casually surfing the web when a thought struck my mind. I can't remember what it was, but it pulled up the memory of school ( one I dislike ). A lot of you may have experience this too, where the other children will pick on the "smart" kids, for...well? Being smart. I got it most in science, because Physics came to me much faster than any others in my group. This got me thinking, why do they pick on the "smart" kids? Just because we understand what we were being taught and picked it up is grounds to bully us? Maybe it was them thinking we were weird or just different. I'm not sure.

What do you think escapists?

* I am by no means calling myself smart ( Before you think I'm arrogant ), hell Science was one of the only subjects I was good at...

EDIT: This is from a UK based school - I understand some of the response are aimed towards the US schools, so to add further discussion, how do US schools differ from UK based schools in terms of bullying and behaviour towards other students?

Bullies pick on the smart kids because they can't take the fact that someone is better than them at something, so they need to validate themselves by physically oppressing those who are smarter. It stems from insecurity, pain born out of a bad home life and anger from the same source. It's all for the superiority, the alpha male compulsion many of us are mostly free from.

At the end of the day, they're going to be the bums operating a wrecking ball 9-5 and you're going to be working at CERN isolating the higgs boson (or whatever). I know this is an exaggerated prediction, but it's an image of things to come.

 

[Ghonesis]

Bullies always makes me think of this song:

It shows what bullies can do to people. (well, sort of)

A bit off-topic, since it has nothing to do with smartness, but still.