The internet has sided with a woman after her school bully attempted to add her as a friend on Facebook.
Shared on Tuesday on the popular discussion site Mumsnet, the story has sparked conversation online. User planetme explained the story: "At school, there was a girl in the year above with a reputation for being really 'hard.' She didn't even know me but when I was about 13 she beat me up in front of loads of people walking home from school.
"I just remember her pulling me about by my hair and just slapping and punching me over and over again, including in my face while all her mates were laughing and encouraging it."
With over 300 responses, the story has shocked internet users. The user continued and wrote: "I think the worst part was I was with my so-called friends, they walked away really fast and let it happen. I think they were scared they'd end up getting hit as well.
"I never told my parents or the school. I wish I had. I was too ashamed, I blamed myself."
The woman explained that the school bully had recently sent her a friend request on Facebook. Confused by the request, she explained: "Part of me actually wants to accept her. So I can send a message asking if she remembers what she did to me—or let her find out from my page that I now have a lovely family, own a very successful, profitable business, drive a Porsche and have a damn good life. Both are pointless so I'll do neither, I am best just to block her."
Mumsnet users rallied around the poster. One commenter said: "God that's weird. So tempting to accept and ask her if she remembers beating you up. But you are right, don't," while another user advised: "Just block her, it'll say more than words will. She's probably being nosy and you don't have to go there."
The National Center for Educational Statistics found that one out of every five students reported being bullied. While a higher percentage of male than female students report being physically bullied, female students more often report being the subject of rumors and being excluded from activities on purpose.
A study into the long-term effects of bullying by Johannes Foss Sigurdson, et al found that those who suffer bullying in childhood are often at higher risk of chronic depression, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, and difficulty establishing trusting friendships and relationships.
Another commenter on the Mumsnet forum shared a similar experience with the poster: "I've had a couple of people reach out to me from school over the years. None of them were nice to me in school, one sent an apology message, I ignored and blocked. Figured they weren't worth my time or headspace."
One user was very straightforward about a suggested course of action and said: "I'd send her the message, tell her to f*** off and then block."
In February, the internet slammed a man for inviting his fiancée's high school bullies to their wedding.
