Hello @MDT
and others following this thread
In the following response, the positions, opinions and beliefs are my own and may, or may not be similar to those held by others. Neither are they offered, in any way, as professionally qualified observations. This post covers areas and issues that I have explored in my own life and may be challenging or triggering for some. @HenryX
(Total words ~670)
To explore answers to the question asked by, @MDT on
"03 Oct 2021 09:57 AM
Re: Hi
"At what point does self criticism, self hatred and harshness, toward the self, constitute bullying?" and addressed to the following forum members:
"@HenryX @TAB @greenpea @Appleblossom @oceangirl @BlueBay @Shaz51"
I would first ask the question,
“A what point does criticism, hatred and harshness toward anyone constitute bullying?”
Criticism, to my way of thinking, could be viewed as bullying when it is inappropriately presented, or if there is no foundation, or reason offered for any such criticism and there is no benefit to be derived, from any such criticism, by the person, or others, within that person's life and field of activity.
Hatred, of any sort, I think, is like a malignant cancer and consequently, injures or destroys anything it touches. It is my opinion that there is no place for continued hatred or the feelings associated with it, even in the most extreme of circumstances, for a civilised, informed and educated person. However, there are occasions when we may, for a short period of time, feel something akin to hatred, when we experience or observe heinous crimes perpetrated against ourselves or others. These feelings may give the initial stimulation needed to commence our response and attempts to resolve the issues and practices about which we may have experienced any such extreme feelings. But continued hatred, or similar feelings, can cause a form of blindness to logic and reason. As such, they act as a barrier to possible resolution of the situation that may have precipitated those feelings. If such feelings are held, against oneself or others for a considerable time, then any such feelings should themselves be addressed and modified by logic and reason, possibly within a therapeutic environment.
Harshness towards ourselves and others, may be appropriate when reason, urgency and importance (gravity of the situation) dictates. However, if such harshness continues and progresses to become an habitually practised behaviour, it is my belief that the outcome can be similar to that caused by parasitic and malignant hatred.
It is my opinion, formed by both the experience and practice, in the past, of those three expressions within our active behaviours, towards ourself and, or others, that they can eventually progress to become all-consuming, parasitic and malignant behaviours.
Because the effect, of such expressions of behaviour, can have such devastating effects and consequences, it is important to seek out the reasons for continued application of such behaviour and treatment, particularly, in and toward ourselves. Such expressions of behaviour, practised and acted on toward ourselves, often overflow into our self-expression towards, and assessments and judgements, of others.
Your question, @MDT really begs another question, not
“What is the reason for self-criticism, self-hatred and harshness, and when does it constitute bullying?”
That is because such a question assumes the validity of each of those three expressions of behaviour and any consequent outcomes.
The question that I believe needs to be asked, by me about me, is,
“What, in my development, has caused me to acquire and apply such unreasonable and unrealistic expressions of behaviour, in the way that I view myself and my own activities; and possibly, in similar fashion, the positions and behaviour of others?”
With My Concern and Best Wishes
@HenryX
Edit: ~5.00 pm 4 October 2021. The question, to which this post is my response, I have added at the beginning of the post, since the answer, on its own, raises the question about the reason for the post.
Apologies for any confusion that may have arisen as a result of the absence of the question, or reference to the question in the initial post.
