Refuse to stay silent - stand up to bullying

I will most probably write about this subject more in depth and at greater length one day (there is so much to tell and talk about) - but I just wanted to share a few words for now.  

I have just finished watching a recent 2012 documentary entitled "Bully" AKA The BULLY Project directed by Lee Hirsch.  This film centres around the subject of bullying in schools in the U.S.A. and follows the lives of several American teenagers, how bullying has affected them and their families, as well as talking about children who have committed and talked about suicide as a result of these horrible experiences.  This film really affected me and it made me think deeply back to my own childhood, my own days at school and about my own life.  Being silent when it comes to bullies and those who choose to belittle you, do you harm, make you feel small or low does nobody any good whatsoever!

  But once you finally stand up for yourself this may have a knock on effect and even make the situation worse for a period - all of a sudden, you are seen as the "bad guy" or even the bully.  And the bullies are now the "victims".  But we all know the truth!  You stand up for what is right, because these cowards need to know that you are not a punching bag, not a door mat and that they are no better nor bigger than you.

I am proud to say that I have always been one to welcome the new kid in class, that new person in the workplace, that girl/boy/man/woman who is perhaps a little different from others, speaks a different language or who is just full of life and not one of the sheep.  I have always befriended the "un cool" kid.  This was never really a conscious choice on my part, it is just the way it has always been and I would/will always stand up for anyone who I see upset, being done wrong, picked on or being left out.  

You are special, you are unique and talented.  You are SOMEBODY too.  Refuse to stay silent.  I was silent for far too long.  Do not give in to bullies - in all walks of life!  That's it for now. 

When I was a wannabee teen rock star

Me (in early 1994), as a 13 year old wannabee teen rock star Greig "Axl" Stott in Hong Kong​ being interviewed (with an American accent) in a short mocumentary I made with some of my old band mates and childhood friends.


ME: "Mick Wall, right.  He BLETHERS a lotta shit about us in Kerrang!​  You ever read it!?"

Paul MacDonald​ (interviewer): "No. I haven't..."

ME: "It's a really CRAP magazine.  Mick Wall, he's always talkin' bout Metallica​ being the best and Guns N' Roses being the real crap, y'know?" (in this instance, I dropped my right arm down to the ground, as if to illustrate how lowly Mick Wall ranked the band...)


There was no real script as such, I had an idea of what I wanted everyone to do, but I wanted it all to come across as natural, as if we were right there in the moment being interviewed, not knowing what questions were coming our way.  It was all improvised - I thought it worked and it was hilarious and amazing fun, we couldn't stop laughing watching it back over and over again.

This was all shot on my family's first ever HI-8 camcorder and I just loved carrying it around with me, capturing memories, sometimes to the annoyance of others, but it is what I just loved to do.

Me in Hong Kong as a 13 year old

The old VHS of this, I did have it and (touch wood) I pray that it is not lost forever and it turns up again one day (it's my own fault if I have lost it).  I do remember that I had it in my VHS/DVD combi in my parents' caravan, that was the last I remember of seeing it, just over 3 years ago.  I do wish we still had all the master tapes, but sadly we tended to record over the master tapes each time we used them again (I know, I know...), be it on a family trip or event etc...

Stanely Fort - family apartment blocks.  We lived on upper level, the smaller 3rd block from left

Though I have memorised the interviews, word for word!  I will maybe write down a wee transcript (while it is still etched in the brain), just so I have the memoirs at least.  The video featured the interviews, out takes and also us performing/miming a live version of the Guns N' Roses song "Don't Cry" in one of the play parks in our old stomping ground of Stanely Fort, Hong Kong - a military base where we lived on the south side of Hong Kong Island.

We even had some extras in the background, with two of our girl friends standing up beside a lamp post, lit up by the beam, as if they were ladies of the night.

Memories - perhaps the greatest gift that one person can give to another.

Thanks to all those involved on this particular evening including;

• Kevin Stott (would be dancing drummer, "Matt")
• Gary Keith (Guitar, "Slash")
• Scott Cameron (Guitar, "Gilby")
• Paul Laing (would be acoustic guitarist/bass, "Duff")
• Andrew Waddell (steady cameraman)
• Paul MacDonald (Interviewer)
• Ashley Stephen and Kelly Laing (our "bitches" and ladies of the night)

Will share many more memories real soon....


**By the way, Stanley Fort is also where they filmed scenes from the Jean Claude Van Damme classic Bloodsport (1987) and popular British TV drama Soldier Soldier Season 2 (1992) among others.

Military and training sequences were filmed for Bloodsport at Stanely Fort (1987).