Man or Bear in the Woods Question - STOP SENDING ME THE FATTEST, GROSSEST, LIBERAL FEMINISTS.

The translation loses a bit. First, they aren't just kids. They were young servants. So late teens to early 20s. Bethel being a major worship center, means they were probably priestly servants. Second, the "go up there baldy" was an implied threat. Remember, Elijah had just gone up to the LORD and now the gang of youths are calling for Elisha to join him.

Personally, I blame the King Jimmy translators who didn't know their Hebrew and really botched that verse. That lead to centuries of English Christian commentaries missing a lot of the subtext to that bit.