By Muhammad Faiz
“Stick and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”
The above quote perfectly tells the idea that many people think that words are harmless. That somehow people can say anything they want and hope it will be all right and that words are not dangerous to some people. The term in this context means that it might be dangerous in a way it will be insensitive, prejudiced, biased, judgmental and all in all it could also be triggering.
Based on a study in Malaysia, it was found that students being bullied indirectly and directly are at 93.5% and 68.2% respectively. On top of that, many students who admit that they have been or are still victims of bullying is at 79.4% and some of them are being bullied psychologically. The main factor that can harm people psychologically is through words and verbal behaviour from the perpetrator.
Firstly, verbal bullying is becoming a new favourite way of bullying since it does not leave any physical marks. The saddest part of this is that it does not just happen in primary or secondary school anymore as it is also happening in the university and at workplace. It could be tearing someone down or sexual harassment whether it is male or female. It is everywhere. The victim of bully could be having a bad day and they might be contemplating to commit suicide, however, they decided not to do it. What will happen if on that day, bullying is what is pushing the victim to really commit suicide?
Besides that, statistics show that one out of ten people will have a panic attack due to the usage of certain words. It could be from daily conversation, lectures or even from reading a book. In the United States, nowadays, one managed to jump across from blogs to fan-fictions and also to the lecture room. It is a statement that is usually at the beginning of one’s work. The purpose is that it used to alert the readers and viewers to the idea that it could potentially contains disturbing words. The disturbing words that can be found in the pieces could be something that can trigger panic attacks on someone who suffers with anxiety or in a middle of a rape recovery or maybe an ex-military who is suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). People who are suffering from these situations could be reading or just talking with some friends and it could happen to them at any time, at any given moments.
In order to prevent causing someone a bad day or simply to avoid saying the wrong words, we should practice these tips:
1. Be aware of the boundaries that the second party have.
2. Understand the state of the vulnerability that people have.
3. Avoid stepping into their personal bubble.
4. Be a great listener.
5. Try to learn their nonverbal behaviour and observe.
6. Learn to stop talking at the right time.
Each and every one of us is having a very different journey, some are filled with joyous experience but there are also some of them who are hiding behind a brave front so that people do not know what they are suffering from. The only way that we can help each other to survive in this situation is by being compassionate and kind with one another. Remember, words are sharper than a two-edged sword. ***