He once made classmates wash his clothes and cook his Maggi. Today, he’s the worried father asking for schools with no bullying.
The irony wasn’t lost on one man who recognised his old school bully in a parenting post, and it triggered a flood of memories and reactions online.
A familiar face, a haunting memory
The Malaysian man shared his experience on Threads, recounting a recent moment that left him shaken:
“Last week, I came across a post about parents looking for suitable SBP / MRSM schools for their children, focusing on ones without bullying issues,” he wrote.
“I also took the time to read through the comments. Suddenly, I clicked on the profile picture of the person who posted. It was a picture of her family with her husband.”
In my mind, I thought, ‘Your husband was the biggest bully back in school. He made others wash his clothes, had others deliver his food, he’d take money from people, and even made others cook his Maggi noodles.’”
“I still have trauma about it till today.”
While he didn’t name names, the post struck a collective nerve. Many others chimed in with their own painful school experiences and unresolved emotions.
“Children now bear the burden”
The replies quickly took on a deeper, more emotional tone. Several netizens pointed out the irony of a former bully now wanting to protect his child from the very thing he once inflicted on others.
“Although it’s satisfying to read, it’s sad that his child is now a victim of his father’s sins 😭”
Another comment highlighted how former bullies often go on to portray a reformed or even religious image online.
“Haha, I agree with this. As a matter of fact, some of the ‘Pencetus Ummah (PU)’ who were bullies back in school even had their own gang. It’s surprising to see them in an Islamic reality TV program. They’ve probably repented.”
From bullies to “victims”?
The conversation also touched on instances where bullies tried to flip the narrative. One user recalled a case where a former bully painted himself as the victim.
“Once, a bully shared on his FB about being a victim of bullying, and his best friend, who was a popular student, supported him in the comments. The bullied students saw this and felt it was unfair… all of his victims commented on his post, sharing how he bullied them back in school. It all came out.”
Not everyone got closure
But not every story ended in an apology. For some, the hurt was never acknowledged or resolved. The emotional wounds remained.
“I was punched in the face in fourth grade, and now he’s a drug addict.”
“I didn’t get to meet him, but he passed away from cancer at a young age.”
“I don’t want to see the faces of those bullies from school. Not even hear their voices. I won’t forgive them, let alone pray for them. Go away.”
View on Threads
