Who's to blame for killing with shame?

An editorial-feature by Tia Brownmiller

When your grandparents, and even your parents went to school, bullying was defined as using superior strength to force the victim to do what the bully wants the victim to do. In 2014, bullying has left the physical, and moved into the mind. Cyberbullying is the most prominent form of bullying, and scars the mind and mental well-being of the victim. Bullying leads to extreme scenarios, even death. Stories hit the newsstands constantly dealing with teens committing suicide because of bullying. But whose fault is it really when suicide becomes the response to online tyrants? Many say that the bully should be to blame and should be considered a murderer even though the death was not directly caused by this person. However, there are opponents of this idea, who say that suicide is suicide, and is the final thought of no one but the person committing the cataclysmic act. What side do you take on this touchy, but paramount subject?

No matter the method, the person who is committing suicide holds the final decision to end his or her life. No matter the surrounding influence, the victim solely possesses the ability to pull the terminating trigger. This being said, it is not technically the bully directly ending the victim’s life. While many argue that it is the bully that causes the death, is this person the one forcing a superfluous amount of pills down one’s throat? Clearly, the answer to this question is no, so this is an argument given by those who say that the death of a bullying victim is that of the victim itself. There also arises the condition that the suicide victim might be using the bullying as a cover blame for the suicide, when they really have other issues prompting the deliberate life ending process. However, this is only one side to the tale.

On the opposing side of the ring are those who say that the bully is the one to blame. The legal definition of a murderer is one who ends the life of another human being, and if the bully is the one who forces a murder, what does that make him or her? Of course, the bully is technically not the one pulling the trigger, but is this person the one forcing someone to pull the trigger? Here is where it becomes problematic. Likely, the bully will be considered homicidal, not necessarily murderous. Some people believe that that is inequitable. This topic, while debatable, is very touchy for most. However, I’m curious. Who do you think is responsible for bullying-related suicide?