The right way to stop a bully

[DanaC]

Originally Posted by monster

but Dana, did you go on to be a person who used uncontrolled violence to resolve every problem? Did you learn that lesson from your experience? No.

Note so far the demographics of the naysayers. Young, childless, women. No disrespect intended, but maybe it's the parenting switch that turns this one on, not just our experiences with bullies aand psychology classes? I'm generally a "violence is not the answer" type person. I'm anti death penalty. But sometimes violence is the answer. If he'd've hit the kid with the camera, then I would agree with you. But he didn't, he just stopped the kid that was hitting him. Then he left. He didn't kick him into a gelatinous pulp. He defended himself and then walked away. And I bet that kid will never punch him or another kid in the face again. And I don't believe the big kid will go around smashing kids to the ground to get everything he wants. I could be wrong on that. But I'll bet not.

Oh please. Because I am not a parent? It was my parent who taught me this attitude. On a personal level I can see being delighted that your child has hit back and stopped the bullying. But I know for a certainty that my Mum would find that video unpleasant if she heard that the lad had been hurt. And she is a parent.

It really pisses me off when people play that card. In a discussion on how to deal with the terrible twos, or teenaged tantrums? Sure, I know nothing. But whether or not violence is the riight response in any given situation is a different matter altogether. And the idea that being a parent is in itself a reason to view that clip differently just doesn't gel with what i know of friends and family who are parents.

Not every parent seeing that clip would share your view. And not every non-parent would share mine. Just because that's how it happens to break down in a conversation between a dozen people, doesn't mean any such thing. If it's the parenting that switches this on, then surely everyone not a 'nay sayer' must be a parent right?

Jesus H Fucking Christ. How dare you just lump us all together as the childless ones and therefore not privy to the great fucking transformation and therefore what? Wrong? Ignorant? Just don't get it because we haven't been 'switched on' yet?

Fuck. Now I really am insulted.