15 January 2008: Breaking Point

[Lig]

Wow. Judging from the look on Jeremy's face in the last panel I'd say the big tough bully is either A.In Shock. Or B. About to cry. I mean I don't think anybody's ever actually hit him before.

[Tom Flapwell]

Sage, are you saying that a bully beat you into brain damage?

[Sage]

No, I'm saying that because I couldn't stick up for myself I got more and more seperated until I couldn't handle being in normal conversation... etc.

[Hanging Tree]

... school for retards. Social failures mostly. kids who can't speak like normal people (I.E. social failure), kids who are 17 year-olds in diapers. Kids who basically aren't going anywhere.

You know the type. We have plenty of flavors if you want to hear about them.

If you don't mind I would like to hear this story. You seem to be a fully functioning person, so I would like to know how you ended up in a place for the mentally problemed.

[Sage]

I dunno if I should post my story in this topic, would get it off track. My questions still stand.

[Hanging Tree]

You don't need to post your whole story. I was just curious as to why you ended up there, but you posted why while I was making that post. Its a sucky situation for you, but hopefully it will help you be able to function in a normal conversation.

[Sage]

I've been here 4 years, and it's just gotten worse. The only good thing about being here is that everybody's too stupid to know they're stupid, so the thought of bullying doesn't come across their mind. I can walk up to someone, say they they're morons because they can't understand the game of [insert any sport, board game, or anything] and they wouldn't get it. They would probably just laugh and start either blabbing my ear off with useless stuff, talking to themselves, or whatever. So, at least I don't get bullied....

...instead I get stuck with people who make me feel like crap.

[Hanging Tree]

Have you brought up your concerns with administration and tried to get back into normal school? If you have demonstrated that you can perform in a normal situation they have no real advantage to keeping you there. Its not beneficial to you and I don't think school systems generally get more money for students in alternative schools, so there no real advantage for them to keep you there.

[Sage]

I think it's too late for that. Also, I can't perform in a "normal" situation that you speak of or whatever... It's not beneficial at all, but if I go back i'll have to start at freshman year probably, and I'm in senior year... so...

[Hanging Tree]

I hate to sound cruel, but if you can't perform in a normal situation then it sounds like you are in the best place because they are trained to help you with your problems.

[Sage]

It's not helpng me in the social aspect, and it's -definately- hurting me mentally. I haven't had any education since I came here... and I'm not getting any better at talking to people...

I still think I would have been better off...

EDIT: What's done is done, I can't turn back time.

[Kazapsky]

Unless the bully got physical with you, you have no real justification to resorting to violence.

Unless you've been on the receiving end, you have no business talking about what's a justified response. If someone (or more likely, several someones) goes out of their way to degrade and humiliate you for months on end, sooner or later you WILL be pushed to the point where you'll lash out at the next person who pushes a button. At least if you were born on Earth.

Two simple facts hold true for both humans and animals:

1. Provoke them only if you're prepared to fend off an attack.

2. The bear decides the meaning of "provoke".

I don't know much about you as of yet, Hanging Tree, but every post I've seen from you on this thread so far boils down to three words: "Blame the victim". Do try to take into account that it takes far more than an act of will to fit in and not be a target.

[Kyubi Kusanagi]

When i got older I started using my brain and started turning the bullys tormenting back on them while being nothing but polite. To tell the truth it was fun. But i also can't tell you how many times i went into a blind rage due to the constant tormenting i recieved. No one ever got hurt, except me, and aparently even though i was the one laying on the ground afterward with a big bruise. I was the only one to get in trouble cause i threw the first punch.

[BladeRaptor]

The personal attack was un-called for, but the logic up to that point did make some sense. Attacks like those committed by bullies may not necessarily be physical, but nonetheless, they are still unprovoked attacks against innocent people.

My personal attitude toward violence is that it should only be used when 1) an injustice has been committed, AND 2) No other solution exists to correct it.

Now, being bullied is most certainly an injustice. But is there another way to stop bullying? That varies on a case by case basis, but I believe a case where physical retaliation would be the only solution is possible.

[Sage]

From my experience, there usually isn't another solution... telling others doesn't help... at least, most of the time it doesn't. People just don't want to bother stopping it, and when they do it still happens.