re: Bullying

You hear too often about kids committing suicide from bullying. I wonder if this happened at the same rate in the 1950s and you just didnt hear about it because no internet?

Im assuming it didnt happen; at least, not at current rates.

So, why?

Schools added "zero tolerance" policies. In reality, these policies are similar to the policies of current  leftist prosecutors, wherein they are more apt to come down harshly on someone for trying to do the right thing in a bad situation, than they are to go after actual bad actors.

Public school policies toward bullying are similar. The schools dont  aggressively punish bad actors. They do punish everyone together if you fight back against a bully per the "zero tolerance" policies.

The result?

In the past, bullies were like wolves in a forest. Nobody liked it, but they are there, and your choice is fight or flight.

Now, they are still wolves in a forest, but if you fight, the forest ranger will come down on you and you'll be in just as much (or more) trouble than the wolf. In schools, there was a kind  of Wild West code of Justice, and if you could hit the bully back, everyone knew they deserved it.

Now the system turns a blind eye until you are pushed to your limit and fight back, and then the same system comes down agaisnt you with prejudice for your pursuit of Justice.

I imagine this is what the kids are finding unbearable.