2 ms·

Appeasement only works if they're acting in good faith. If they're actually intending to bully, trying to appease them is just handing over more power.

• muzani 7y ago
  Friendliness is not necessarily appeasement. Many bullies bully as a way of taking control. They tend to pick easy targets that won't have consequences. Normally it's backed with some moral shield, which is why bullies tend to pick on anti-vax, vegans, animal haters, people who say dumb things on social media, people who store passwords in plaintext, tyrants, people with messy code. A bully will pick on an unpopular manager, but not a well-liked one. But they'll only do this if they believe they'd be backed. The trick is to be nice as a way to show that you don't fear them. Don't give them your lunch, but sharing a slice of fruit is fair. It's also very difficult for them to bully someone who is well-liked. Appeasement might reinforce that you are an easy, no-consequences target. Forced niceness is just as bad. But something like thanking them for correcting you, or for finishing a task, that's fine.