The Cool Kids
Every so often I find myself captivated by someone that entertains me by being a complete dick to strangers.
Careers and fame are built around this quirk in human psychology.
Look to the opposite side of a polarizing issue and you'll find yourself attracted to someone that uses "justified hate" to bring down one of your opponents.
I might even find myself wanting to appeal to the bullies for approval - to fulfill my own need for acceptance.
Bullies love to build teams around themselves - you don't want yourself, or your kids, on those teams.
I'm grateful that I can see it...
...and not act on it.
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Protect yourself, and your kids, from people that don't like themselves enough to be kind to strangers.
Be particularly wary of bullies in positions of power - when I think about the most dangerous priests, teachers and coaches that I've known - the bullying was a red flag visible to all.
The secret lives behind the self-loathing, reflected in wanting to bring down strangers, were tougher to see.
We have a choice with who we follow, what we read and what we share.