One of the worst aspects of being in school is dealing with bullies. Students are simply there to get an education, but often, their thoughts are preoccupied with figuring out how to avoid tormentors between classes. And no matter how many times pupils fantasize about getting revenge on their cruel classmates, the reality is that few will ever get the chance.
However, some do get the opportunity to find out what their bullies are up to years after they’ve graduated. Reddit users have been sharing stories of encounters they had with their former bullies, so we've compiled a list of them below. Some are satisfying, others are heartbreaking, and some are surprisingly wholesome. But we hope they all inspire you to eventually forgive your own former bullies, as karma has probably punished them enough.
#41
I was one of the only non-italian kids at my elementary school. To make things worse, I have a name(Brooke) that's normally given to females (I'm male). A love for books, and classical training in violin/vocals with that? I was kicked daily by almost the entire class. (Reason? I wasn't Italian).
I hit highschool and my social circle exploded. I became known by virtually everyone in my age group in the entire city. (Population 73,000, with another 300 to 400k across the border in the USA). Soon after I started throwing Raves (First in the city), and producing live Techno on stage. (Also, a first in my city)
I ignored all the [jerks] that picked on me in elementary school, however they would frequently show up at events I organized or be present at bars/clubs I was drinking at.
Years later (When I was 25 or so), I was approached by the first of the group mainly responsible for the bullying. He apologized profusely, and asked for my forgiveness. I gave it.
Shortly after that point, a second and third member of that group did the same. The main offenders all made peace with me, and even though I really wanted to refuse it .. I accepted it each time.
Now years later I'm glad I accepted the apologies. It certainly will never make up for the [bad] 8 years I spent in elementary school, but I consider that time well spent. I wouldn't be the person I am today without that.
I hit highschool and my social circle exploded. I became known by virtually everyone in my age group in the entire city. (Population 73,000, with another 300 to 400k across the border in the USA). Soon after I started throwing Raves (First in the city), and producing live Techno on stage. (Also, a first in my city)
I ignored all the [jerks] that picked on me in elementary school, however they would frequently show up at events I organized or be present at bars/clubs I was drinking at.
Years later (When I was 25 or so), I was approached by the first of the group mainly responsible for the bullying. He apologized profusely, and asked for my forgiveness. I gave it.
Shortly after that point, a second and third member of that group did the same. The main offenders all made peace with me, and even though I really wanted to refuse it .. I accepted it each time.
Now years later I'm glad I accepted the apologies. It certainly will never make up for the [bad] 8 years I spent in elementary school, but I consider that time well spent. I wouldn't be the person I am today without that.
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4points
#42
Encountered a guy who used to beat me up in high school years after the fact. He said something to me that he recognized me, and I told him he used to beat me up in the bathroom. He *hugged* me (weird), and told me he was sorry with kind of a half laugh, then proceeded to tell me his life story. He had gotten thrown out of his dad's house and had to live under a bridge, til he 'found Jesus' and then tried to convert me. At the end of all of it I didn't hate this guy anymore, I felt really bad that he was so codependent, either on [illegal substances] or belief in a god. whatever gets people through the day I guess...
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4points
#43
There was a kid who used to bully me (and everyone else) when I was in preschool. We were about 18 years old when I saw him again. At 18, he was 6'9" and an excellent basketball player. I kept my distance and didn't let him know who I was. I overheard him threatening to beat up his girlfriend if she didn't STFU. I was satisfied that he was headed for a long, miserable life, and immediately forgot about him.
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3points
#44
Yes I have and it went rather well.
In the 5th grade there was this kid who was popular with all the cool guys and girls. He wore cool clothes and had all the newest stuff. He was well liked. This was my first year at the school, and as a result, was a total loner.
One day after school is out, I'm walking to my bus. I was walking completely absent mindedly when I walked into cool-kid and knocked him over. He gets up, embarassed, and pushes me as hard as he can to the ground. He then says, "Hey, look at this kid! Everyone point and laugh at this kid!!" Of course everyone in the immediate area points and laughs because of cool-kid's reputation. Humiliating.
Anyways, fast forward one year and a new neighborhood later and I'm at the bus stop waiting to go to school for my first day of middle school. Sure enough, the first person to round the corner and make his way to the bus stop is none other than cool-kid himself. I remember glaring at him and thinking, "I hate this guy" when he walks up to me and politely asks me my name. I let him know, and he says, "I'm cool-kid. Wan't a Dr.Pepper?"
The kid busts out a Dr.Pepper and we drink them togeather in the early morning waiting for the bus. Cool-kid turned out to be one of my closest friends through middle school and high school. I remember bringing the intital meeting up in conversation, and he honestly did not remember the incident. Sometimes, kids can just be cruel.
TL;DR: Kid bullied me one day. Chance meeting at bus stop a year later after I moved to a new neighborhood. Kid turned out to be an awesome guy that became one of my closest friends through school.
In the 5th grade there was this kid who was popular with all the cool guys and girls. He wore cool clothes and had all the newest stuff. He was well liked. This was my first year at the school, and as a result, was a total loner.
One day after school is out, I'm walking to my bus. I was walking completely absent mindedly when I walked into cool-kid and knocked him over. He gets up, embarassed, and pushes me as hard as he can to the ground. He then says, "Hey, look at this kid! Everyone point and laugh at this kid!!" Of course everyone in the immediate area points and laughs because of cool-kid's reputation. Humiliating.
Anyways, fast forward one year and a new neighborhood later and I'm at the bus stop waiting to go to school for my first day of middle school. Sure enough, the first person to round the corner and make his way to the bus stop is none other than cool-kid himself. I remember glaring at him and thinking, "I hate this guy" when he walks up to me and politely asks me my name. I let him know, and he says, "I'm cool-kid. Wan't a Dr.Pepper?"
The kid busts out a Dr.Pepper and we drink them togeather in the early morning waiting for the bus. Cool-kid turned out to be one of my closest friends through middle school and high school. I remember bringing the intital meeting up in conversation, and he honestly did not remember the incident. Sometimes, kids can just be cruel.
TL;DR: Kid bullied me one day. Chance meeting at bus stop a year later after I moved to a new neighborhood. Kid turned out to be an awesome guy that became one of my closest friends through school.
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3points
#45
There was this guy. He was 14, I was 11. We were in the same grade, 5th. He used to push me around. This was a small town and he was the son a rich guy. Ten years later, I was a 1st LT and I get a bunch of fresh meat. He was there. He tried to be friendly but I stopped him short I was the Platoon commander, he was just a lowly private. He died a hero two days later.
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3points
#46
In the 7th grade there was a kid that always picked on me to the point where where my parents felt it necessary to get the school officials involved. He ended up getting in-school suspension or something and stopped picking on me. We didn't see much of each other up until sophomore year of high school, and by the end of senior year we had actually become pretty good friends. He's got some mental problems of his own that I think affected his actions, and he's surprised whenever people bring up the fact that he used to pick on me because he doesn't even remember doing it.
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3points
#47
Yep. 4 years after high school I ran into an old bully at Kings Island, Dan Pike. He burped in my ear as I walked past him but I didn't pay it any attention. So he yelled out my name which did make me pause and look. He wanted me to gather all my friends and meet him and his friends for some kind of battle-royale. I laughed and went about my day.
Now when I see him working at the food court at the mall I go place an order then walk away without taking it or paying for it. Ah, life's little pleasures.
Now when I see him working at the food court at the mall I go place an order then walk away without taking it or paying for it. Ah, life's little pleasures.
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3points
#48
My incident took place nearly a decade ago, and there was only a a 5 year difference before first meeting said bully, and running into him again later.
I was in elementary school, and there was this bully who threw a rock at my head shortly after we got dropped off at the bus stop. I end up lying on the sidewalk in a growing pool of blood, which scared the bully so much that he runs home. A friend of mine gets help, I get stitched up, bully's parents hear about the situation, and said bully becomes nice to me in that groveling sort of way (think Biff from Back to the Future).
Fast forward a few years. I moved back after having lived in a different city for middle school. Now it's high school, and the bully is a [jerk] again. He had evolved into dealing [illegal substances] on the side, and actively joked about how funny it was that he made me bleed. Even so, he never really bothered me again.
I was in elementary school, and there was this bully who threw a rock at my head shortly after we got dropped off at the bus stop. I end up lying on the sidewalk in a growing pool of blood, which scared the bully so much that he runs home. A friend of mine gets help, I get stitched up, bully's parents hear about the situation, and said bully becomes nice to me in that groveling sort of way (think Biff from Back to the Future).
Fast forward a few years. I moved back after having lived in a different city for middle school. Now it's high school, and the bully is a [jerk] again. He had evolved into dealing [illegal substances] on the side, and actively joked about how funny it was that he made me bleed. Even so, he never really bothered me again.
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2points
#49
Yeah, a few of my ex-bullies are now my friends on Facebook. I have a hard time holding grudges about things that happened when we were 8. Most of them did the same thing I did after elementary school: Grew up, got a job, and raised a family.
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2points
#50
Knew a guy in middle school who got bullied mercilessly in the locker room. The stuff that nightmares are made of. Cut to thirty years later: Bully? Working as a guard in a max security prison, presumably with attendant stress and daily horror. Guy who got bullied? Just retired after highly successful career as a programmer with a BIG company, nice pension, etc. Happy home life, great kids. Starting second career. He's a great guy.
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2points
#51
There was this bully (he was a few years older) that used to ride the same bus as me in elementary school. Once, when I was in either pre-school or kindergarten, he tied my shoe strings together while I was sleeping. I was awoken by my brother because our stop was coming up. I got up, tripped over myself, busted my nose, and shuffled my way off of the bus (he tied the shoe strings so tight, I couldn't undo them) all the way down the driveway, crying from the pain and embarrassment.
A few years later, he got leukemia and [passed away].
A few years later, he got leukemia and [passed away].
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2points
#52
I had a few bullies, but I converted all but one into friends with patience and a fake confidence + nice guy routine. The one that got away, ended up fighting me and losing in 7th grade.
I guess I'm lucky.
I guess I'm lucky.
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1point
#53
I met a guy who was a complete [jerk] in school at a party. I talked to him about his time in school and he said he feels like a [jerk] for the way he treated people he also apologised to my friend as he came out while in school and the guy made his life hell. He said he actually has a great respect for him being so brave and coming out at school and that he has no problems with gay people. Was nice to see he has turned his life around ... he is still doing [trashy] jobs while I'm off to University which is funny.
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1point