Handling Teasing(set: $wtvr to false)
(set: $wtvr2 to false)
It’s free-dress day every Friday this term at Jordan’s school as part of a ‘Be yourself’ program at the school. Jordan is wearing a new shirt with a favourite video game character on it.
One of his classmates, Marcus, approaches Jordan during lunch. He laughs at Jordan's shirt.
"Nice shirt, Jordan. What are you, five years old?"
What should Jordan do?
(link: "Look bored, say “Whatever” and turn away" )[(set: $wtvr to true)(goto: "whatever1")]
(link: "Get upset and say “Shut up! This game is actually really cool and you just don’t understand it!”" )[(set: $wtvr to false)(goto: "get upset")]
Unable to get the response he wanted out of Jordan, Marcus gives up on the bullying for now and walks away.
[[Next Friday...]]Marcus only laughs more at Jordan's reaction and continues to make fun of him.
Eventually, lunch time ends and Marcus stops to head to class, but Jordan cannot stop thinking about the incident, and he struggles to concentrate in class. Marcus continues to make fun of him over the next week.
[[Next Friday...]](if: $wtvr2 is true)[Jordan doesn't give Marcus the repsonse he wants, and Marcus gives up. Marcus and his friends get bored and walk away.]
(if: $wtvr2 is false)[Jordan engages with Marcus and shows that he is frustrated and embarassed. This encourages Marcus and soon his friends join in. People in the hallway who witness this start to laugh as well.]
(if: $wtvr is true and $wtvr2 is true)[[Teasing stops]]
(if: $wtvr is false and $wtvr2 is true)[[Teasing stops (Eventually)]]
(if: $wtvr is false and $wtvr2 is false)[[Teasing Gets Worse]]
(text-color: green) [Good ending!]
Marcus realises that he's not going to get a reaction out of Jordan and decides that attempting to tease Jordan is boring and not worth his time. Other kids see that Jordan doesn't care, and respect that he wasn't rattled, and don't bother teasing him either.
The teasing stops completely and Jordan feels confident and comfortable in school, and especially when wearing shirts with video game characters on them.
[[End]](text-color: yellow) [Neutral ending]
Although Jordan reacted the first time, he learned from the mistake and changed his strategy the next time Marcus confronted him. This worked and the bullying has stopped completely.
Jordan is relieved and he begins to feels confident and comfortable in school, and especially when wearing shirts with video game characters on them.
He learns that it is never too late to try a different response when dealing with teasing.
[[End]](text-color: red) [Bad ending]
Marcus learns that he has found a button to press that is successful at getting the big response he wants out of Jordan. The teasing continues and escalates.
Jordan feels powerless and upset and gains a reputation as someone who "can't take a joke". Being at school every day is embarassing and frustrating, and Jordan doesn't feel comfortable expressing himself on free-dress Fridays.
[[End]]The next Friday, Jordan decides to wear a video game shirt again.
(if: $wtvr is true)[Although Marcus made fun of him last week, Jordan was able to deter him and feels confident to wear it.]
(if: $wtvr is false)[Jordan has managed to avoid direct teasing from Marcus over the week, but it comes to a head between classes.]
Marcus sees Jordan in the hallway and says: “Hey Jordan, still wearing baby clothes?”
He has friends with him this time and they're watching to see how the interaction plays out.
How does Jordan react?
(link: "Jordan looks bored, says “Yep” and keeps walking" )[(set: $wtvr2 to true)(goto: "Marcus tries again")]
[[Jordan gets upset, walks away.|Marcus tries again]]
For bullies, getting a big reaction is the entire point of teasing somebody. If you don't give them that reaction, then they will not want to tease you anymore.
This isn’t about “letting bullies win”, it’s about taking away their power. You control the situation by controlling your reaction.
[[Play again?|Opening]]