In one context (school), I was somewhat of a bully. I was bigger than the rest of my class, and I often attempted to assert my dominance, usually by making jokes at people's expense. In another context (competitive sports outside of school), I was typically the primary outsider who was bullied in just that manner.
I don't know where (or if) to draw a causal line, but I do know that memories of both sides of that equation seem to involve deep-seated insecurities and feelings of inadequacy.
I remember somebody who hassled me often at high school met me by chance in the pub in later years. I told them what a wanker they were to me at school and this made them agitated. When they asked. What they could do to make amends they didn’t like my verbal response. So suddenly they got aggressive and the aggro started right there. Some never change when they’re mask slips.
In one context (school), I was somewhat of a bully. I was bigger than the rest of my class, and I often attempted to assert my dominance, usually by making jokes at people's expense. In another context (competitive sports outside of school), I was typically the primary outsider who was bullied in just that manner.
I don't know where (or if) to draw a causal line, but I do know that memories of both sides of that equation seem to involve deep-seated insecurities and feelings of inadequacy.