The Adult Bully: World Day of Bullying Prevention
by GoComicsUnless we're talking about a character in one of the GoComics funnies, nobody likes a bully. It's bad enough we had to deal with them back in school as kids, but (gasp!) some of them grew up to become the worst type of human: the Adult Bully.
The woman whose glare intimidated you into letting her cut in line? Adult Bully. Your coworker spreading nasty rumors at the office? Adult Bully. Your spouse nagging you to do the dishes? Adult Bull"Ќ ... wait a minute, that one's just your spouse.
We're pretty sure they're the cause behind global warming, 2016's election nominees and the fact that we work the Monday after the Super Bowl. But, alas! This deplorable group of grown-ups can be stopped with these simple tips:
- Can't beat 'em? Ignore 'em: The Adult Bully is self-centered and feeds off reactions. Unlike your golden retriever at the dinner table, the Adult Bully will go away if you ignore it.
- Call them out, politely: "Ma'am, I'm sure you didn't mean to cut in line, but it actually starts right behind me." Don't forget to smile!
- Play dumb: The vicious Adult Bully is the reason sarcasm gets a bad rep (*sigh*). If the Adult Bully chooses to abuse this comedic art form by putting you down with sarcastic gibes, don't let on that you're aware (Think: "Oh thanks, Jim! I actually took three Excel courses back in college!" ).
- Kill them with kindness: Call us crazy, but we think it's kinda hard to be mean to nice people. Ask the Adult Bully how its day is going ... heck, give it a genuine compliment while you're at it. You'll confuse it so much, it won't know what to do.
- If all else fails, call HR: If the Adult Bully remains invincible to your bullying-prevention pursuits and you must endure its presence for 40 hours each week, we suggest contacting human resources.
Who knows? Maybe you'll turn the Adult Bully back into its alter ego, the Mature Adult.