Have you ever come across a bully who uses the excuse of "being bullied" as a reason for their behavior?

Ha! Yeah! You call it for what it is! Manipulation! I will never EVER use the scars I have for reasons to bully someone else or to be cruel towards someone else! The people I was an actual slave to (domestic servitude), literally had this mentality, and as a result they don't understand why people avoid them like the plague. We live in a broken, imperfect world that has a lot of b.s. and evil in it, so why become part of the problem when you could be a solution through acts of kindness? Grow up. Hating people that've done nothing to you is crazy work.

That can happen. The affects of bullying can affect us long afterwards

It seems like they only say that when they're cornered or come up against someone tougher. The rest of the time, they act like untouchable tough guys and girls who think they don't owe anyone an explanation.

That sounds very much like a real flag.

Yes. Although they are usually weak and insecure once you see past the swollen testies and inflated ego/s.