The most terrifying part is that it's effective. Aggression is an effective means to compete for awards that conventional anti-bullying programs don't offer, hence most of them fail.
It reminded me of a moment from Let the Right One In:
It was a subtle touch that pierced deeply. When I was growing up, it was hard to tell friend from foe.Eli frowned.
"What happened to your cheek?"
"Phhh... I... fell."
Oskar kept going toward the playground. Eli followed. He walked past the jungle gym, sat down in a swing. Eli sat in the swing next to it. They swung back and forth in silence for a while.
"Someone did that to you didn't they?"
Oskar kept swinging.
"Yes."
"Who?"
"Some... friends."
"Friends?"
Anyway, long time, no see, everyone! I meant to come back here a long time ago, but I didn't expect it to be nearly five years.