h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

You make an excellent point that bullies are likely to be lacking in empathy. I am not sure that this is all that rare. It is hard to detect and is easily confused with lack of skill at the social graces. Any ideas on how to detect this problem?

Anyhow, the point is to deal with it. I would guess that the best approach would be to go the extra mile, to make up for the other persons lack, by reaching out towards them, exaggerating your feelings so that they cannot be ignored and really working at establishing a human connection. Not easy, of course, but good practice.

I am really uncomfortable with your paragraph advising a victim of bullying to show extreme submission. It is perhaps a subtle matter, but I satrongly believe that the objective is to identify the bullies goals and find a way of satisfying them without losing any status yourself because the ultimate purpose is to be accepted as another person on an equal footing. Respect can be offered without loss of self-esteem, if it is offered with head held high, shoulders straight and a smile.

A smile may be threatening to a dog, but it is not to a human.