Bullying and Disability: Stop Crying, Start Turning the Tables

Something happened today that made me think. I saw a post from someone with a disability being targeted at work. The usual stuff: jokes, edited images, people laughing. And this person asked, “Should I report it?”

I paused. Because the “right” answer is yes. Report it, stand up for your rights. But then I thought… does it really change anything? I’ve been through it. Maybe not in exactly the same way, but I’ve experienced bullying. The real kind. The kind that hits you when you’re most vulnerable and pushes you further down. At first, it hurts. It really hurts.

What No One Tells You

Over time, though, you realise something no one tells you: the problem isn’t what they say, it’s how much weight you give it. And that’s not immediate. It took me years. Because in the end, who are these people? People who need to laugh. Others who need to feel superior. And some who, without someone to mock, probably wouldn’t even know what to say.

And you give them the power to ruin your day?

Turning the Game Around

Today I see it differently. If someone makes a meme about me, takes the piss, does something like that… I might even print it. Seriously. I’d put it in my office. Or turn it into a T-shirt. And if someone asks, “What is that?” I’d say: “No idea. A gift from my colleagues. I liked it so much I kept it.”

That’s it. Game over.

Because in that moment something shifts. You’re no longer the one feeling uncomfortable. They are. And online it’s even more obvious. Fake accounts. People throwing insults. People who don’t even have the courage to show their face. And you’re supposed to feel bad about that?

Come on.

What Actually Matters

The real problem today is that we try to protect everyone from everything, but we don’t teach anyone how to handle anything. And the moment an insult shows up, people collapse. I’m not saying it’s easy. It isn’t. But at some point you have to choose: do you want to spend your life defending yourself, or do you want to live above these things?

Because the truth is simple.

Bullying works as long as you react the way they want.

When you stop… the game is over.

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