Don't be a bully. You have NO idea who, or what, might be watching. Do NOT be a bully, you have no idea how strong the ones you're picking on, despite them being much smaller than you, truly are. Just... do NOT be a bully! -- Anon Guest
Of all the small crimes of Human society, the most pernicious and egregious has to be the bad habit of bullying. Asserting dominance and some fragment of superiority by putting someone else down. Climbing up the social ladder by stepping on other people's fingers, as it were.
Humanity has spent centuries trying to reprogram social mechanics to eliminate it. Some methods were more effective than others.
Such as listening to the victims, and acting accordingly. When a child is caught out and reprimanded for unapproved behaviour, they're less likely to repeat it. But there's always a few who double down.
"You stole my free time," accused Len, looming over Caer. "Stupid snitch, I'm gonna teach you."
"You don't have a teaching license," said Caer. "It was your behaviour that made it so you had to have extra therapy. And you're earning more now because of surveillance." Caer pointed out the black hemisphere close to the higher part of a nearby wall.
"Can't stop me smashing your stupid head open," said Len, raising a fist.
Which was restrained by a genuine teacher. "It seems that your first session was insufficient," they said. "As Caer said, you don't have a teaching license. You will follow me."
As for the ones who resort to social aggressions... they're quickly weeded out by the Smooth Socialisation Classes. Which begin in the pre-literate stage.
Some parents still object to this, no matter how many endorse it.
"I don't see why my little angel has to suffer these ridiculous classes before she can pass the first grade," ranted the parental. "She's perfectly normal. There's nothing wrong with her!"
The teacher of said 'little angel' replayed some footage from the school's securicams. Where the 'little angel' was proving herself to be more than devilish indeed.
"Perfectly normal," said the teacher. "Really? Do you consider this behaviour perfectly normal?"
If the parent said 'yes', then they too would enter into mandatory therapy. If they said no, then the 'little angel' would be relegated to longer hours learning how to be a better citizen.
As for the would-be victims... they could progress so much easier without pressure from their peers.
[Photo by Tina Floersch on Unsplash]
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