Depends on your age. I was feared when I was a kid and it worked sublimely. I'm talking pre-14 years of age. At that age, kids' concept of popularity and reputation is still rather limited, especially from 4-12 or so. If you are seen as the bully, no one will mess with you easily (Mind you, I tended to bully those kids who were strong aswell, my direct rivals.) In time, I rather became a protector of those I considered nice (or weak) and a tormentor of those who I considered wrong.
After that, reputation, gossip and relationships are more well-defined and prevalent. It pays to be liked as you form friendships and indeed, being feared only makes you more and more shunned. It took me the rest of high-school to adjust to this (I had friends of course but our greap was really mid-level on the popular scale) but in university I learned that being recognized, if only for the class-clown or the guy with all the answers nets you most power.
The Doctor will see you now
Promoting Lesbianism --> 
