Well I feel if people single someone out and treat them badly, then yes that person is a victim of bad treatment and the people who did it are the perpetrators of it....

HOw exactly do you mean take responsibility for how they respond? growing up I tried the whole 'ignore them', 'go tell a teacher and have them help(yeah right)' and try not to let it get to me and my attempts at 'assertiveness' where laughed at and not taken seriously in the least....well beings I am not a robot and have emotions I could not supress my upset every single time and I am quite certain that hell contributed to my anxiety and depression issues....how do I take responsibility for that? It was nothing I had any control over.

Of course people have a right to defend themselves, though it is quite possible for people to lack that ability...should someone just have to put up with crap because of that or should they have help?