Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Titus Techera on May 10, 2012 at 1:49pm

I think it's easier to understand the major divide on this question if I ask myself: How about the good things bullies do? Not that there is much to excite the singing of praises, but you point out that they serve a good, a necessary purpose: Toughening kids up.

Men tend to believe you cannot prevent disasters, that there is always something both dangerous & unpredictable for which they prepare in a broad manner. It is sometimes said to be the purpose of a man's life to face disaster without backing down &, preferably, without being defeated. Bullies are the first step on the path of facing up to dangers & facing down enemies. At every step, it is implied that there is an ugly face of courage, endurance, the ability to stand pain & suffering without crumbling, & that this is a virtue.

I believe people are against those who fight bullies for the same reason they are against concealed carry guns & the same reason they deplore the violence & brutality in the culture: They think violence is invariably wrong.

Permalink Reply by Jack Bauer on May 10, 2012 at 2:06pm

Not too surprising.  "Zero tolerance" has been going that way for a long time.  To some, there is no such thing as justified violence -- in war, in self-defense shootings, or in the schoolyard.

 

Earlier this week, a Congressman introduced an amendment to deny Federal funding to any States with "Stand Your Ground" laws.

 

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0512/76045.html

 

Apparently, he was alarmed at the statistical rise in self-defense shootings in those States ... because, apparently, dead criminals bother his sensitive soul.  Personally, I think a rise in justified self-defense shootings is a good thing.  Better for criminals, instead of victims, to catch a bullet.

 

The "bully" thing is exactly the same thing on a smaller scale ... part of a larger debate about whether violence is ever justified.  The utopians seem to think there is no problem that can't be talked through, and no fight that shouldn't be run from.  They're wrong.

JB

Permalink Reply by Jacob Bauer on May 10, 2012 at 10:16pm

I don't think the bully thing is the same thing on a smaller scale. I think it's the same thing on a much larger scale. Telling an adult to not defend himself will get you short-term obedience with lots of resentment, at the very best. Punishing a child for defending himself will leave a mark on his mind that might well last a lifetime.

Permalink Reply by Ryan Michael Green on May 11, 2012 at 12:38am

Jacob Bauer wrote:
Punishing a child for defending himself will leave a mark on his mind that might well last a lifetime.
==========

 

Such a lifelong impact would be very suitable for a government wishing to subjugate its people and impose its will without that people speaking out.

Permalink Reply by Jacob Bauer on May 12, 2012 at 10:16am

Bingo.

Permalink Reply by Titus Techera on May 12, 2012 at 2:10pm

Well, if you want to avoid this, you need principles at least as wide-ranging & with at least as good a claim to being comprehensive. Whenever someone tries to impose a way of life on you, you cannot avoid the question, What life is worth living?

Permalink Reply by Paul_of_TX on May 10, 2012 at 2:08pm

I wouldn't doubt that hitting someone gets you a suspension. Hopefully the others were suspended as well. If all were suspended I wouldn't have a problem. If my son were being bullied I would inform the principal and tell him that when my child has had enough there could be an altercation. At that point the principal can do something about it or let it go. I would not tell my son not to fight back but I would also tell him that he needs to be prepared for the consequences of his actions which could include getting beat up and or getting in trouble with the school.

Permalink Reply by Ryan Michael Green on May 11, 2012 at 12:50am

Paul of TX wrote:
If my son were being bullied I would inform the principal and tell him that when my child has had enough there could be an altercation. At that point the principal can do something about it or let it go. I would not tell my son not to fight back...
==========

 

Did you notice the picture I included in the original post? If not, feel free to scroll back up and check it out. I'll wait.

 

Now then, if you honestly have children, male or female, go feed them to a mountain lion right now. It's a lot less cruel than the life you're setting them up for.

 

Females have a much better chance of not being raped - or raped and murdered, if that's the offender's intent - if they fight back. Males and all individuals in general, by being taught at a young age that it IS appropriate to take care of yourself, learn the importance of self-sufficiency.

 

Petty criminals want easy targets, and people who have been disarmed by their government as well as people who have been discouraged from fighting back both make very easy targets. The rainbow-and-butterfly liberals can imagine that violence in defense of one's self is just as evil as violence against innocent individuals, but until they can invent world peace, you're going to have violent people wanting to do violent things to your children, both now and when they're older. Give them a good foundation and teach them not only how to beat the ever living snot out of someone, but teach them RESPONSIBILITY, maturity, self-control, patience, kindness, and gentleness. There's a time and a place for everything - including self defense. If you're going to teach them to be opossums, you're just putting them on the bottom of the food chain and setting them up to be easy victims later.

 

It also doesn't hurt Big Brother's feelings to have a populace that doesn't have the intestinal fortitude to stand up for itself.

Permalink Reply by Titus Techera on May 11, 2012 at 5:37am

I'm not sure you've got the gist of the man's point.

I would not tell my son not to fight back but I would also tell him that he needs to be prepared for the consequences of his actions which could include getting beat up and or getting in trouble with the school.

Permalink Reply by Paul_of_TX on May 11, 2012 at 8:31am

Apparently Ryan thinks we should teach our children that as soon as someone looks at them crossways to punch them in their pretty mouth.

Maybe Ryan is the type of guy who lives in fear of his own shadow and attacks anyone who walks toward his front door. Ryan it only the mailman calm down.

Permalink Reply by Titus Techera on May 11, 2012 at 8:38am

Yeah, I did not see the need to be told to feed your kids to the mountain lion either...

Permalink Reply by Paul_of_TX on May 11, 2012 at 8:43am

A mountain lion is more of an assassin than a bully. Almost all mountain lions that have attacked me didn't spend months or years tormenting me and making my cry everyday.

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