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| Bully Excuses |  I was only teasing.
This is the typical excuse that most bullies will give when they are defended of verbal abuse. As a rule, teasing happens between friends. Verbal abuse occurs to weaker students who are unable to stick up for themselves. If you know that the two students who are drawn in the episode are not friends, you can be convinced that it was not just teasing. Besides, teasing becomes bullying when it happens often and over a period of time.
I didn't want to hurt him.
Bullies almost always try to understate their actions. Usually, their intention is to emotionally harm or physically cause pain to their victims. Acting like they didn't want to do it or trying to console the victim once they have been caught are tricks that bullies like to use.
He hit me first.
This could occur between two students of the same size and social stature. But, between the captain of the football team and the student who is barely noticed on campus, it's doubtful. It's almost unlikely that a smaller, weaker student will push or try to threaten someone who is bigger.
He stumbled and fell by himself.
Lots of students stumble and fall every day at school. But, if you a student complain that another student stumbled them or pushed them down, then it's almost certainly have happened. A question that teachers can ask themselves is this: How many times a week are students reporting that this behavior is taking place? If the behavior is being reported more than a few times a week, the alleged bully is probably guilty.
It was not me, someone pushed me into him.
As a rule, bullies blame others in what have happened. Bullies at the initial level love to push their form-mates when they are in line. As elementary pupils are in line a lot, this happens pretty often. This kind of excuse is the first excuse that bullies will use if they are accused of pushing another student. Put the bully at the front or the back of the line and keep a close eye on them.
She thought I was talking about her, but I wasn't.
Relational bullying among girls is a huge problem. The most common methods with what girls generally bully each other are manipulating friendships and spreading rumors. This is somewhat of a humorous excuse because if the supposed bully denies saying anything, it will be pretty easy to get ten or more girls who will confess that the bully did say something.
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