Behaviour Modification Gone Awry

In my public health ethics class today, we briefly discussed the anti-bullying wristband campaigh aimed at modifying behaviours of bullies. Ironically, the campaign failed because kids who wore the wristband got beat up more. Even more ironically, they were bullied because the bullies thought the wristbands were cool and wanted them for themselves.

Which brings to mind a much beloved scene from the X-Files, a final conversation between Mulder and the shape-shifting monkey-man loser Eddie van Blundht in an orange cap that says "Superstar!" on it, at a prison facility:

"What's with the hat?"
"My therapist gave it to me. She says it's supposed to bolster my self-esteem."
"Does it?"
"Not really. The other inmates just beat me up and take it. Which would be ok, except every week she brings me a new hat!"

But seriously now. Kids, bullying is no laughing matter.