School bullying - Christian response?

[knuckles]

I would tell the kid to beat the hell out of them. That's what I did one time when a kid kept shoving me and was starting to hit me. I first warned him if he does it again, I'll hit him. Warnings never worked, beating them back does. Last thing I know is it didn't took too long before making him cry. That's was funny. Even funnier is when the almost the whole school saw it and from then on, he was the laughingstock.

One funny statement I recall a kid said to him, I heard you go sucking on boys' cock, is that true? or Did mommy gave you a lollipop? LOL.. so much he had to undergo with those kids for losing the fight to me.

Edited November 10, 2009 by knuckles

[TaraMaiden]

And if you think that gains you any respect or congratulations from anyone, think again.

The bottom line is, you are no better than he was.

 

To delight and celebrate in the humiliation of another human being, puts you in the same category - and in the same mind frame - as the same sadistic and mindless army guards who enjoy putting their prisoners through humiliation and degradation.

 

To find pleasure in the continued mockery of another fellow human being, makes you less human than he is.

 

You should be ashamed of yourself.

 

And before you fire off a broadside at me, I made a long-lasting and ever-present friend of a person who bullied me mercilessly at school, and even landed me in hospital.

Because when one day, I saw her in trouble and stopped to help her, it transformed our relationship in an instant.

 

Kindness works much better than hatred and revenge, always.

If not for them, then certainly on you.

you should try it some time.

 

Or else wear the reputation of a bully. Just like him.

[knuckles]

Good for you. Just like you, I got my own story too. The point in my story is I taught that boy a lesson, don't mess with the wrong person and do expect to get strike if you hit first.

As for you, I don't know how were you able to be that forgiving. But it's alright that's you. I would only be forgiving if that person acknowledges he/she was wrong and apologizes for it.

 

That boy never admitted he was wrong anyways. Thus there was no point in making peace with him plus even after beating him, he would walked pass me with a frown on his face. One thing for sure, he was scared of me, never got nasty nor said any insults at me anymore.

Edited November 10, 2009 by knuckles

[TaraMaiden]

You don't get it.

The thread title seeks a Christian response.

 

There is nothing remotely 'Christian' about your approach.

 

Unless of course, you're George Bush - Pious and God-fearing, but still gung-ho war-crazy.....And what a muddled mind he had.....

 

Your responses have no justification, neither do you have anything to be proud of.

 

As for my ability to be that forgiving - It's a choice.

Just as you 'choose' "only be forgiving if that person acknowledges he/she was wrong and apologizes for it."

 

I call this self-limiting and blinkered.

But that, as you say, is alright, it's me.

But as 'me' I carry no resentment, animosity or intolerance.

It takes work.

But it's preferable to anger an wanting to wreak revenge by beating the $h1t out of someone.

Edited November 10, 2009 by TaraMaiden

[Ross PK]

I would tell the kid to beat the hell out of them. That's what I did one time when a kid kept shoving me and was starting to hit me. I first warned him if he does it again, I'll hit him. Warnings never worked, beating them back does. Last thing I know is it didn't took too long before making him cry. That's was funny. Even funnier is when the almost the whole school saw it and from then on, he was the laughingstock.

One funny statement I recall a kid said to him, I heard you go sucking on boys' cock, is that true? or Did mommy gave you a lollipop? LOL.. so much he had to undergo with those kids for losing the fight to me.

 

I totally agree mate. Don't listen to other people telling you you're just as bad as him. He deserved it, you didn't, there's a big difference between a bully picking on innocent people and a bully being given what he deserves. And what you did would've gained you respect with most people.

 

I wouldn't bother with arguing about it with people on here though, because you'll never be able to make them see sense.

Edited November 10, 2009 by Ross PK

[TaraMaiden]

I'll remember that the next time you complain about the attitudes of others towards you Ross....

 

Everyone on this board has always been very respectful and compassionate in responding to your threads. Nobody, as far as I know has ever told you where you can shove your grieviances..... so why go on such an attack against those who have never harmed or vilified you?

 

 

Do you really feel such animosity towards those who see to show kindness above violence?

[knuckles]

I totally agree mate. Don't listen to other people telling you you're just as bad as him. He deserved it, you didn't, there's a big difference between a bully picking on innocent people and a bully being given what he deserves. And what you did would've gained you respect with most people.

 

I wouldn't bother with arguing about it with people on here though, because you'll never be able to make them see sense.

Yes, I was a tomboy alright. Hopefully the the kid (now a grown man) isn't doing that to his girlfriend/wife.

[TaraMaiden]

Well, you have no way of knowing, but this much I am pretty certain of:

 

A person who has a sad and humiliating experience carries that with them for far longer than a person who has known kindness and compassion in times of trouble.

 

Who knows? With a different response from you, who's to say what benefits you might have sown?

 

But it's possible that the hurt you put him through has also not gone away, and has affected his life in a negative way.

 

But hey, what do you care, right? You got your revenge....

Bit late to show retroactive compassion now, for either him or his acquaintances, isn't it?

[Ross PK]

I'll remember that the next time you complain about the attitudes of others towards you Ross....

 

Everyone on this board has always been very respectful and compassionate in responding to your threads. Nobody, as far as I know has ever told you where you can shove your grieviances..... so why go on such an attack against those who have never harmed or vilified you?

 

 

Do you really feel such animosity towards those who see to show kindness above violence?

 

If there is a person where, giving someone what they deserve isn't for them, then that's their right and I don't have anything against them.

 

So I'd appreciate it if you stop trying to make out that I'm attacking and hating innocent people on here.

[knuckles]

I don't regret beating the kid. He clearly deserved it after not listening to my warning when it was first given. I can careless about the gender of the person when it comes to defending yourself. It would work same for me, if I start hitting you then I should be strike back.

[RA1]

Yesterday my brother told me that my eight-year-old nephew is being bullied at school. He gets hit and his clothes are torn by a gang of kids who he would like to hang out with because he thinks they're 'cool'.

 

My brother wants to teach him a few moves to hit back but my mum, who is a strict Christian, is horrified at the idea and believes that this will make my nephew worse than the bullies. She thinks he should 'turn the other cheek' and walk away and tell a teacher but, as we all know, teachers never do anything about it.

 

I would be interested to hear from the Christians here as to what approach he should take. Should he just walk away or stand up to bullies, even if it means hitting back?

Your nephew's parents need to go down to the school and make a big fuss about this. The bullies need to be cautioned and their parents involved. The bullies need to be told by the school, by your nephew's parents, by their own parents, how unacceptable their behavior is. If they won't come into line, they need to be expelled. Hopefully, they will reform their behavior. Hopefully, they are not bad kids but just need some guidance. Christianity doesn't have anything useful to say about how to handle this situation as far as I am aware.

[carhill]

I found, going to a strict Christian (Catholic) school where bullies existed, the best and often only way to handle them was to kick them in the nuts or extract their teeth with my fist. TBH, no other method worked and I tried all of them. They really didn't care about nor respect our religion or authority figures in general. If I could avoid them, I did that; otherwise I used my full size and strength to neutralize the threat

[RA1]

I found, going to a strict Christian (Catholic) school where bullies existed, the best and often only way to handle them was to kick them in the nuts or extract their teeth with my fist. TBH, no other method worked and I tried all of them. They really didn't care about nor respect our religion or authority figures in general. If I could avoid them, I did that; otherwise I used my full size and strength to neutralize the threat

Yep, I can relate to that. I went to a Methodist school where there was a great deal of physical violence, some of it sanctioned by the school. It the OP's nephew is at an unsuitable school, then his parents need to move him ASAP.

[carhill]

The worst of the bullies did get expelled, but not before wreaking havoc on the student population. I saw more bullying in primary school than in high school (yep, had the whole nine yards) but there were jerks in high school too. I played football and was mostly able to avoid them.

 

I can't imagine a school overtly or covertly condoning that kind of violence and intimidation. That's awful

[Quinch]

Thanks for the replies everyone

 

I did ask for a Christian viewpoint because my mum's Christian and, as I say, very opposed to responding with violence under any circumstances. I just wondered whether that was a typical Christian position.

 

Personally, I agree that teachers often do nothing. But you have to draw a line that carries consequences when it is crossed. Otherwise, nobody will respect you. I was bullied at school and did sometimes get angry and fight back. Can't say I'm proud of it now though. Funnily enough, all the bullying stopped around the same time that I became the tallest kid in the school.

 

All bullies are cowards and I think it's better to just throw a few insults back in good humour. The main thing is not to lose your temper because that's what they want you to do. If you run and cry then you've let them win. If you also know a few moves then that helps too

[Ross PK]

All bullies are cowards and I think it's better to just throw a few insults back in good humour. The main thing is not to lose your temper because that's what they want you to do.

 

Well, it depends how you lose your temper, if you just end up looking like you're throwing a tantrum, the'll just laugh at you. If you get pissed off and hit them back, or insult them, then that's certainly not what they wanted you to do, and they'll either have to do the same back, knowing things will probably escalate, or back down and look really stupid/owned.

Edited November 22, 2009 by Ross PK

[RA1]

This isn't an issue for a child to sort out on his own. His parents need to solve it with the school, the parents of the bullies, and maybe the police.

[Quinch]

Bullying starts at school but, for some people, can continue into college, work and beyond. Children have to learn how to deal with it school before it becomes a lifelong issue. And they're going to have to learn for themselves because mummy and daddy aren't always going to be there.

[dunstable]

This debate seems to have boiled down into two points of view (1) the bullied child should bash the bullies or (2) the parents/school/police should sort it out. The problem with (1) is who can guarantee the child with right on his side was endowed by genes with the physique or psychology to beat up the bullies? We've surely got past the survival of the fittest (with all that means in terms of brutality) and into a more modern environent of ethics and morality?

[dunstable]

My son was brain damaged by a childhood illness when he was 2 years old. It made him him look different and speak differently. He has received more than his fair share of bullying. His mental impairments prevent him fighting back on a psychological level and his physical impairments prevent him from bashing the other children because his fighting capacity is minimal. I see all these emails from guys who say children have to learn to beat off bullies by themselves -- I am so sickened in my stomach because that is not an option for many children such as my own. We judge society by how it looks after its most vulnerable members. My impression of society at present is pretty low and that impression is reinforced by some of the crassly stupid posts I have read on this thread.

Edited November 27, 2009 by dunstable

[Moose]

There is nothing against a Christian boy defending himself. "The best way to no get hit, is no be there" - karate kid

 

I would suggest judo or jujitsu. Using the energy of said opponent only inflicts harm to the attacker delivering the, "blow".

 

I think of David and Goliath. Here is Goliath mocking God day and night and the king's army is frightened by him. BUT David knew that if God is with us, who can be against us?

 

"Who is this philistine mocking our God?" Knowing that Goliath didn't stand a snow balls chance against our living God, David used his sling and chose 5 smooth rocks, ultimately, with one shot Goliath fell...

 

If the boy is being bullied BECAUSE he's a Christian, the boy will prevail!

[RA1]

There is nothing against a Christian boy defending himself. "The best way to no get hit, is no be there" - karate kid

We all know we can't be out of harm all the time. Quoting another person is always a sure sign of a losing argument but in your case you are quoting karate kid who is a fictional, not a real, person.

I would suggest judo or jujitsu. Using the energy of said opponent only inflicts harm to the attacker delivering the, "blow".

What if your god decided to brain damage the child (as in the case f my own son) so that the child did not become a judo or jujitsu expert?

I think of David and Goliath. Here is Goliath mocking God day and night and the king's army is frightened by him. BUT David knew that if God is with us, who can be against us?

 

"Who is this philistine mocking our God?" Knowing that Goliath didn't stand a snow balls chance against our living God, David used his sling and chose 5 smooth rocks, ultimately, with one shot Goliath fell...

 

If the boy is being bullied BECAUSE he's a Christian, the boy will prevail!

What if the boy is bullied just because he is different due to his brain damage?

[Moose]

We all know we can't be out of harm all the time. Quoting another person is always a sure sign of a losing argument but in your case you are quoting karate kid who is a fictional, not a real, person.

There is a lot of truth in that quote, that you can not deny.

What if your god decided to brain damage the child (as in the case f my own son) so that the child did not become a judo or jujitsu expert?

All things happen according to His will, (my God). How do you know that your son's condition won't be used to help others? Aside from that, if this poor soul does suffer such a tragedy it would raise a whole nuther' can o worms...

What if the boy is bullied just because he is different due to his brain damage?

What comes around, goes around. Eventually guilt would riddle the bully's soul should God allow him to live long enough....just my .02..

[RA1]

If the boy is being bullied BECAUSE he's a Christian, the boy will prevail!

OK, let's apply classical logic to this. You are saying if one is X, one will prevail. And you define X=christian. That';s not a logical proof just an assertion. Your statement makes just as much (or as little) sense if you write X=Muslim or X-atheist.

Edited November 28, 2009 by RA1

[RA1]

There is a lot of truth in that quote, that you can not deny..

The quote of a fictional character? I won't believe it merely because a fictional character said it. If you think there is truth in it then explain it in your own words rather than quoting karate kid.