By Jerry Riley

In the past few days there has been a lot of discussion, on TV, in the newspapers and on the Internet, of allegations of harassment. Some of it may be off base. I assure you, this column may not be an exception.
A lot of what I’ve been reading seems not to be about legal sexual harassment, but no matter. I would think that the first step in accusing or trying to prevent, or stop, harassment, sexual or not, must be that who ever feels harassed must tell the person who is harassing them to STOP. I know that seems pretty simple and there is the chance that by asking someone to stop, you could incite then to do more.
What is harassment to one person may not be to another. Once you tell them and if they continue to bother you then you have a perfect right to go to whatever authority is applicable. That might be the criminal justice system or it might be a school administrator. I just read an article that some types of sexual harassment may start in grade school. I understand that  today’s kids are smarter than I am. Well, I think they think they are – and what a revoltin‘ development this is!
Maybe they are unaware of what they are doing, or how much trouble them can get themselves into but how can anyone accuse someone of harassing them, if the person isn’t aware you feel harassed?
Prevention of harassment, bulling, intimidation, or whatever you want to call it, may just be a matter of communication and education.

Jerry Riley is an occasional commentator for the News Bulletin. He is a retired telecommunications supervisor.