As children, it was easy to identify the bully as they would be the one beating up smaller kids or taking away their snacks or money. Nowadays the bully may hide behind a computer screen and do vile thing through the cyber wall of anonymity. Bullies still come in all shades, shapes and sizes but identifying them isn’t as easy anymore.

The general inclination

is stay away from such people but what if you are that individual? What if your

actions or behaviours border on bullying or is outright offensive and harassing?

What if you are a bully unintentionally masking your behaviour as being

assertive?

Comb through the

checklist below see if you meet the criteria:

1. You get

aggressive and step into other people’s personal space.

2. Your tone or

language is threatening, ending a lot with “or else”.

3. When you do

not get your way, you make things difficult for others.

4. Even when

others tell you ‘no’, you do the act anyways.

5. You hold

people’s secrets over their heads.

6. You misuse

your position to take advantage of people whenever you feel they need to be

‘punished’.

7. You spread

nasty rumours about those individuals you do not like.

8. You are

always trying to manipulate a situation or someone.