Bullies vs. Dictators

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BULLIES VS. DICTATORS Kasey Simas ENG 121: English Composition I Instructor Lee Kinkade October 22, 2012 BULLIES VS. DICTATORS Have you ever felt powerless to stop the harassment of another? Dictators and bullies thrive off of stripping others of their freedom. Bullies may seem less treacherous, though there are many similarities between the two. There is a fine line between bullies and dictators. While the scope of their victims may vary, their characteristics are similar in that they both use manipulation and intimidation and compel their victims to do their will. A dictator is defined as a ruler with total power over a country, typically one who has obtained power by force (“Dictator,” 2012). Dictators are usually associated with politics as they are political figures. They take rule by instilling fear in their people and making themselves the only where to turn to be saved. They create a danger or risk that helps keep the society paranoid. By doing this they exploit the instinct for most people to search for safety from a strong leader, turning them to the dictator (Niiler, 2011). A bully is defined as a blustering, quarrelsome, overbearing person who habitually badgers and intimidates smaller or weaker people (“Bully,” 2012). Bullying also can be different in boys than in girls. A boy is more likely to use physical threats or violence whereas girls more likely target other girls verbally. Regardless of the methods the intent is the same, to gain power and control over their victims and it is always intentional. They have advanced social competencies, allowing them to manipulate others easily (Sutton, 1999). The biggest discernible difference between the two is how many people they can gain control over. A dictators grasp reaches out to however many people they rules over and they are always looking to expand their territory either by force or simple
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