Child – So Dad. Why is James such a bully?
Parent – What do you think?
Child – It must make him feel good for some reason. Isn’t that why people do stuff?
Parent – Yeah. Or to feel less bad.
Child – Huh? What do you mean?
Parent – Well, do you remember when the Cubs were terrible?
Child – Like, your whole life?
Parent – Not now.
Child – Dad, don’t get defensive. You brought it up. They were terrible.
Parent – Even though they weren’t very good, I could feel better about them whenever they beat the Cardinals.
Child – I thought we were talking about James.
Parent – Well, if I feel better when the Cubs down the Cards for a day, maybe James feels better when he puts someone else down.
Child – Ha. I never thought of it that way. So on that day the Cubs don’t suck so bad?
Parent – No, I just don’t feel so bad about the fact that they suck.
Child – So, James doesn’t want to feel bad about himself? I doubt he’d admit that.
Parent – Yeah. I’m sure you’re right.
Child – Are you saying James has low self-esteem?
Parent – I’m guessing his self-esteem has to do with how he compares himself with others.
Child – So that’s why he’s always putting other people down?
Parent – Maybe. It’s kind of an, “I’m up because you are down” system.
Child – Well, I just ignore him.
Parent – I’ll bet he doesn’t like that.
Child – Nope.
