To clarify - your statement is, "this [talking to one's harassers] should always be the first step". It is an extremely broad statement and I am curious how you defend it.

One man's harassment is another man's ribbing. It is important to clearly define boundaries between two parties before one party decides a boundary has been crossed (n.b. I haven't read the article yet but stand behind my statement in the general case).

I may not have used enough words, but you should not add yours either. Talking to someone should be the first step, not talking to their managers, parents, superiors, whatever.

If the situation is that bad, call the police, but that is an assault.

An example to back my "statement": https://www.gov.uk/how-to-resolve-neighbour-disputes/overvie... => 1.1.

It's also usually the logical thing adults do.