Did you know that some victims seem to be “safe targets” for bullies? Have you ever noticed that abusers can harm some people without consequences? Are you one of them? Here are all the signs that you’re in danger, along with what you can do to escape the situation.

Have you ever noticed that some victims are easy targets for bullying? Do you suspect that you might fall into this category?

In this post, you will learn all the signs that you may be a safe target. You can also learn what you can do to overcome.

Once you learn these crucial details, you will no longer have any doubts, and you will be inspired to take steps to ensure your safety.

This post is all about the signs that you’re one of the safe targets and what to do about it so that you can finally begin living your life in peace.

Safe Targets

When the bullying reaches this point, that’s when things can get dangerous! People others deem safe to abuse are in danger because you never know when they will take the violence too far.

Targets have been murdered in situations like this. I’ve read about several of these killings in the news, and most of them have happened in school. Even worse, many of the killers have either been acquitted or received a slap on the wrist.

Why? Because they were minors. Therefore, at best, they may serve for as little as five years. It’s absolutely sickening.

What are the signs of safe targets?

Here are all the warning signs that you need to be aware of.

1. Ruined reputation and social isolation.

Loners are safe targets because they have no friends. If you have no friends, you have no support.

And when you have no support, there’s no risk of people backing you up against a bully. Therefore, bullies will know it’s safe to bully you.

And don’t think they won’t take full advantage! When no one likes you, you’re a sitting duck.

2. You have low self-esteem.

When you have low self-esteem, it shows. It’s evident in the way you walk, stand, or sit. And you have poor posture.

In other words, you slouch in your chair when you sit. You hunch when you stand. Your shoulders are rounded forward.

Instead of walking with purpose, you stroll like you have no direction. And you don’t swing your arms when you walk.

Your head is tilted downward, and you avoid eye contact.

This signals low self-esteem, and it attracts bullies. Why? Because someone with low self-esteem likely won’t fight back.

Safe Targets:

3. The bullying worsens.

When bullies think they can get away with bullying you, they’ll push their limits. And they’ll do it little by little.

For instance, they start with subtle insults. Then, they resort to calling you names. Pushes and shoves turn into punches and kicks.

With time, the bullies bully you more openly.

4. The bullying becomes a ritual.

When bullies discover that you’re a safe target to bully, there’s no incentive to stop. Then, the abuse becomes a habit they can’t seem to break.

5. Bullies bully you openly.

They don’t even try to hide it. Safe targets often suffer direct bullying. Why? Because if you’re safe, there’s no reason to hide it. In fact, bullies want other people to see them.

That way, they can show off.

“Look at me! I’m more powerful! Look at this loser, he’s weak!”

6. Bystanders ignore it and do nothing.

When bystanders ignore bullying and do nothing, they become just as bad as the bullies. There are many reasons bystanders don’t do anything about bullying.

Maybe they’re scared of becoming the next target.

It could be that they don’t like you and they think you deserve to be bullied. Also, the bullies could be their proxies.

In other words, your bullies are doing what they wish they had the balls to do.

Safe Targets:

7. Bystanders enjoy watching it.

When bullies bully you in front of an audience, you may hear laughing and giggling in the background. Most bystanders think it’s funny to watch someone get “schooled”.

However, it isn’t so funny to you. And they wouldn’t think so either, if they were the ones being bullied in public.

Bystanders may point and stare. Or they may giggle. But they do it because they’re getting their kicks at your expense.

And they’ll talk about it too.  Therefore, they will whisper and gossip about the bullying incident to everyone who will listen.

They will say things like, “Katie got her ass kicked in the bathroom yesterday! I mean, she got her shit rocked!”

Here are other statements bystanders who hate you might make after bullies publicly attack you.

• “I don’t feel sorry for the bitch! She got what she deserved, and I hope she gets more of it!”
• “April said she’s going to kick Carla’s ass, and I hope I’m around to see it go down!”

Several bystanders may come to you and tell you that your bully is gunning for you. Here’s what they may say to you.

• “You’ve got several people who are looking for you, and when they find you, they’re going to kick your butt.”
• “You’d better hope Sheila doesn’t run into you because she’s got a bone to pick with you.”

Make no mistake! When bystanders come and tell you these things, they’re not doing it out of concern. They’re doing it to instill fear.

Safe Targets:

8. Bystanders egg it on.

They egg it on by playing messenger. Many bystanders might run to you and bait you into saying something bad about your bullies.

If you take the bait, they will report everything you told them back to your bullies. Also, they may embellish or add to what you said, making it worse.

They may then come back to you with how your bullies responded to get you to divulge more. And they will do this several times over.

If nothing else, know this! They’re trying to get a fight started so they can watch. Then, they can go brag about it later.

9. Bystanders join in.

This is called the “Swarm Effect” or “Pile-On Effect.” When bystanders see bullies bullying you and getting away with it, they may want a piece of the action.

So, they hop on the bandwagon. When your bullies get in your face, many bystanders may join them in tormenting you.

When the bullies accuse you of something, they might tell them that they saw you do it or heard you say it. Or they may follow the bullies’ lead when they call you names and insult you. They may call you ugly names, too.

Again, these bystanders are no better than you, bullies. In fact, they’re worse. Why? Because they don’t have the guts to confront you unless your bullies do it first.

10. They hold you to double standards.

In simplest terms, you’re not supposed to do it. But it’s different when they do it.

Safe Targets:

11. Selective outrage.

Others may get pissed off at you for defending yourself. 

For example, your bullies approach you in the parking lot and try to provoke you. In fact, they’ve been giving you hell for a long time now, and you’re sick of it.

When one of your bullies hits you first, that’s the last straw. You immediately sock him in the nose, then commence to beating the mess out of him in front of everyone.

All of a sudden, everyone is outraged, not at the bully who started it, but at you for defending yourself. But where was their outrage when they were starting shit with you?

Also, people may retaliate if you defend yourself.

For instance, you may beat the crap out of one bully. Then they set you up to be attacked by a bigger bully.

They may lie to the bigger bully, telling them that you are trying to get with his girl. Or they may tell them that you said something bad about him.

Whatever they do, they do it because they hate you for sweeping the floor with their “hero.” Therefore, they’re going to pay you back by getting a bigger bully to attack you.

Safe Targets:

12. Authority allows it.

Authority figures like teachers and school staff will do nothing if a bully physically attacks you. They’ll ignore and keep going. Or, they may stand back and watch.

If they stand around and watch, they may enjoy seeing you get beaten. Whatever the situation, the bullies don’t face accountability. Therefore, you’re safe to bully.

13. Bullies get away with it.

The school or workplace refuses to hold the bullies accountable. Maybe they like them more than they do you. Or maybe they secretly can’t stomach the sight of you.

Therefore, they let the bullies off scot-free.

14. Everyone blames you for the abuse you suffer.

You’re the target. But if you speak out about the bullying, everyone else blames you for it. They may accuse you of provoking it. They may say things like:

“If you weren’t so annoying, Steve wouldn’t have hit you.” Or, “If you’d just keep your mouth shut, people wouldn’t want to kick your butt.”

But your behavior isn’t the issue. Theirs is. Only they won’t admit that.

Safe Targets:

15. They attach ulterior motives to any good you do.

Everyone will accuse you of doing good for your own selfish purposes. For instance, if you do a good deed, you only did it to score brownie points.

If you’re friendly, you’re sucking up. If you make a good grade, you’re trying to impress the teacher. And, if you did well on a work project, you’re trying to get on the boss’s good side.

In fact, they scrutinize anything positive.

16. They demonize you to newcomers.

Bullies will “warn” any new people about you. However, what they’re doing is part of their strategy.

They’re making a preemptive strike. They discourage the new people from associating with you before they have a chance to meet you. Therefore, they kill any chance of you making friends with them.

17. They downplay your talents or successes.

Talent improves your chances of success. And success is power. It gets you noticed. Therefore, if you have a talent, your bullies will minimize it.

And if you reach success in something, they’ll pee all over it. Or, they may attack it.

For instance, if you win a singing contest, the bullies may say that you slept with one of the judges.

What You Can Do

This may be difficult. However, the best thing to do is to leave the environment. Go somewhere you have no history. There, you’ll be among people who don’t see you as a whipping boy.

Then you can make a fresh start with a clean slate. You can put your best foot forward. And you can make friends.

In Conclusion

If you’re a safe target, your bullies have destroyed your reputation. And if your reputation has been damaged, bystanders won’t help you, and neither will authority figures.

If anything, they’ll likely side with the bullies. Then, everyone will bully you because they know they won’t get into trouble for it.

Why? Because other people get mad at you if you defend yourself. Therefore, it’s safe to bully you.

Again, the best recourse here is to find a way to leave the environment. It’s the only way to take your power back and live in peace.

This post was all about the signs of safe targets and WHAT you can do to take back your peace and your power.

Related post you’ll enjoy:

1. School Choice: Why it’s a Godsend for Bullied Kids!

2.  When Bystanders Become Bullies: 11 Behaviors of Bully-Supporters

3. Pack Mentality: All About Group Bullying

4. Facts About Selective Outrage: 13 Truths You Need to Know

5. How to Defend Yourself from Bullies: 5 Powerful Strategies