Are they calling you by your name? or with contempt?
By jtmblossom
@jtmblossom (470)
Philippines
January 11, 2007 4:42pm CST
There's an old saying, "Sticks and stone may break my bones but words can never hurt me". It isnt true.Words can hurt us most of all.In my case the hurtful word was "skinny-bones," a name I was given in the 4th grade. I chuckle now when i think of it-no one would call me "skinny-bones" these days. But back then the name wounded me. It became the way i thought of myself.My father and mother,however, had the grace and wisdom to have a given me another name Justina which means in chinese " a good girl". Despite the taunts I received on the school yard,I knew I was loved at home.Perhaps you were one of those children whom would people called names: "Dummy,","Idiot", "Fatso", or some other cruel epithet.Perhaps people still call you names or use your given name with contempt.How do they call you?
3 people like this
18 responses
@korek222 (701)
• Poland
12 Jan 07
recently everyone call me by name but there was a time i had some back nicknames - i just screwed who calls me what and i never got mad on it - after a long time they just stopped cause they saw i just didnt care about it at all. So best soultion is to keep up with you real friends who will never call you any back nick names :)
1 person likes this
@ESKARENA1 (18261)
•
12 Jan 07
it is true what you say sticks and stones may break your bones but words can break your heart.
As a child, if something is said often enough we tend to believe it this is why we must be very careful when speaking to children and leave school yart taunts behind us for children truely know nothing of what they do
1 person likes this
@jbones32103 (717)
• United States
12 Jan 07
yes words can hurt you or make you stronger. I am always called a b*tch just for the simple fact of my opinions. I don't care what others say about me now because things will never change.
1 person likes this
@CatEyes (2448)
• United States
12 Jan 07
Words do so much more damage, inflect the deepest of all wounds. I have been the brunt of many jokes for many years with my husband and friends. I have colits, which when it flares up ends up making me skinny, and so I would get taunts all of the time, some of them being; anorexia girl, chicken legs, Holocaust girl (very rude), rake with a rack (even though I was skinny I could not seem to shrink the upper area to balance it) and the list goes one. No one blvd me when I sd I did not diet, nor do I have a eating problem, they did not care, they just took it as a inventation to be more cruel. I warned them "what goes around, comes around" Unfort. it has not come around yet for then, and I still feel very uncomfortable around them.
@grammabean (74)
• United States
13 Jan 07
It is very true that words can hurt you just as much as "sticks and stones." After all, we hear a lot about physical abuse and mental abuse. The beginning of both are in name-calling and "sticks and stones." So to just dismiss the name-calling because it doesn't hurt as much is very wrong.
And each of you that has gone through/is going through the mental anguish of name-calling, you have my utmost sympathy. Hang in there, because there is SOMEONE that is rooting for you ... ME!
Have a great day, and know that you are not alone in your agony!
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
12 Jan 07
I got glasses when I was 11 and was called four eyes. I hated it and I hated my glasses. I also gave a lot of bloody noses bck then they never called me that again thats for sure or not to my face any how . I still hate that term 4 eyes . Just gets to me but when I got older I just ingnored the people for at least I could see well
1 person likes this
@shomomo (850)
• Israel
12 Jan 07
Well, sense I'm extremely tall people can try to find a nickname related to that but that wouldn't hurt me because it's probably a good thing.
I am offended quickly by words but people don't call me names or offend me that often, I guess they're scared of offending a giant :)
@Pekachu (1112)
• United States
12 Jan 07
i was teased at school also ,i was skinny and very shy the bad part was i wasnt just called names at school my own mother was very abusive with her words and her fists so words are very hurtful they do alot of damage that cant be undone ever i can laugh about the names i was called in school but not the words that came out of my mothers mouth
1 person likes this
@Laesy777 (62)
• United States
11 Jan 07
Yes words can hurt you just as much. I was always called toothpick because I was slender or told I had an eating disorder. It made me feel so sad because I couldn't help how skinny I was, just like someone can't help being overweight. People still make comments to me which amazes me considering, we all now people are sensitive about weight issues. I try to ignore it now. Sometimes I think people think they are giving you a compliment because you are small. I just would never hurt anyones feelings intentionally so I'm surprised when it happens to me.
1 person likes this
@HighPriestess (739)
• Melbourne, Florida
12 Jan 07
I was teased for being too skinny. But other than that I did not have to endure too much heckling as a child. I do agree that words can be very damaging. Especially if you grow up being told you were unwanted, or that you would never amount to anything. Or maybe you were told you were stupid or ugly. These things are imprinted on our subconscious minds and have a lot to do with what we allow ourselves to achieve as adults.
@lisasfunny (4)
• United States
12 Jan 07
People call me by my name, Lisa. My husband has cute little names for me, but that's about it. Words can a lot of the times hurt most. When people call you names while you are growing up, that sticks with you for the rest of your life, in your case, for example, it did.
1 person likes this
@Celanith (2327)
• United States
12 Jan 07
I was called names in school all through school and I just ignored the ignorant and considered I was above them. I was called all kinds of names. I blew them off because I knew they were not true and that the kids doing it were only trying to make themselves look better to others. I did not care. I had friends outside school and knew how stupid they were calling names. I If they call me names now which is rare, I just tell them I feel sorry that they feel so inferior to me and walk away.
@1jamickakelly (33)
• United States
12 Jan 07
Yes, indeed I can relate to this discussion! People used to call me skinny a lot when i was young and say that i was flat-chested! Now, I am married and have kids. I don't hear those words anymore. Since I have put on some weight after my kids all i hear now is 'you greedy' or "you fat' or "you need to exercise". I am not even big! I do not get people. Words do hurt and people should think before they speak! Thanks for bringing this discussion up.
