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Comment by klipt | Hacker News Reader

There's the issue of correlation vs causation here. There is no controlled experiment where children are randomly assigned to control or test group and those in the test group are bullied (that would be unethical).

It's plausible there are many root factors that contribute both to negative life outcomes, and also increase the chance of being bullied. E.g. being disabled, or autistic, or even just ugly. That would cause the correlation mentioned, even if the school bullying itself didn't worsen outcomes.

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This is the obvious issue.

It's reasonable to assume that kids whom are bullied have socially undesirable qualities vis-a-vis kids who are not bullied. Kids with socially undesirable qualities are obviously more likely to become adults with socially undesirable qualities.

There's no reason to think those people wouldn't perform worse when they are literally selected for negative qualities.

what are socially undesirable qualities?

You are very far out of touch.

LGBQT was considered socially unacceptable a decade ago, I would think someone like that who was in a tolerant society probably would have better outcomes than an intolerant one.

Yes, socially undesirable qualities like being smaller than other children because they were pushed forward a year for being bright. Or because they wear a discount brand of clothing. Or because they were called a mocking name that rhymed and therefore stuck for years. Or because of jealously. Or because their father had to fire another child's father from their job.

In my experience bullying comes after humiliating public experience. Say something stupid in front of the whole school and made everyone laugh? Good, now you are first candidate for bullying

Yep. I got my share of bruises and ruined clothing for being praised in front of the class for top marks. To this day, I'm very uncomfortable in the spotlight.

I guarantee you have something else going on.

Many of the jocks where I went to school also got the best marks.

Bruh, I know all about the reasons. None of it is the responsibility of a child.

When my health improved and I caught up in physical size and strength, I handed out some lessons.

You do realize that it's the bullies who have "socially undesirable qualities", right?

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