Off Topic Board

Watching that choked me up. I have hated bullies since I was a kid. I only got bullied a few times as a kid, but I fought back and it stopped. I have also fought bullies on others behalf, throughout my life. Hate is a strong word, but I literally hate anyone who picks on and/or tortures someone who is weaker and unable to defend themselves against the onslaught.

I wanted to separate the beginning of your post to respond directly to it. It doesn't matter if bullying has been around for forever, in my personal opinion (which I will not go very deeply into since talking about religion is not welcomed here) religion is a form of intellectual bullying and doesn't help stop it one bit, in fact it actually supports bullying through discriminating against groups of people for one thing or another. For this reason, among others, I am atheist and proud.

Change, in this particular case dealing with stopping bullying, does not ever and *cannot* ever come from sitting by and accepting it as a reality. Change can however come from awareness and actually getting up and doing something about it. I myself have to an extent been bullied and regretfully, I have bullied some others in some circumstances involving group or "mob" mentality. It shouldn't matter what religion somebody is, what they look like, how they talk, etc. and as we grow up, some people learn this and some people don't. But just because people haven't stopped it in the past, again does not mean it can't be stopped or at the very least minimized, but that can and will only come through action and awareness of the consequences of bullying.

For this reason, I speak out against discrimination, bullying, etc. and do so because I know that's the only thing that can ever cause change and because I know it's the right thing to do. If you want to keep sitting idly by and not trying to implement change, that's fine, that's your right. But don't say and act like that because it has been around forever means it is ok, because people like me will rightfully criticize you for this. You may have the freedom of choice and freedom of speech, but no one is free from criticism.

Also lastly, please give up the delusion that the lack of a "moral upbringing" has anything to do with gang violence and that somehow it is related to bullying in schools where at least in theory, many or most of the kids are given at least a somewhat "moral" (depending on your definition) upbringing.

Now let us please move away to the real problem here and leave religion out of this discussion.

I watched this last night. While it was very heartening to see the kids that made it through ok, my heart broke for the parents of the 11 year old kid that killed himself. Nobody should ever have to go through that kind of pain. I honestly got very choked up over this.

I don't blame you. I always pull for the underdog, so I was hoping to see how these kids have done since their ordeal. And for the most part they are doing well and are happy now, which is encouraging. But the part about the 11 year old who took his own life really was emotional. Even under the best of circumstances it is sad, but in your condition I wouldn't recommend watching anything that is that upsetting.

and seeing how ruthless kids can be, i am not thoroughly excited about the thought of my boy going into kindergarten next year. i do eventually want to get him into some martial arts or self defense classes.

My oldest son has boxed and done some limitd MMA. My youngest hasn't, but the only one who has ever bullied him is his older brother, and I have stepped in on that a time or two, but my oldest would never allow anyone else to pick on his little brother. As for what I have told my kids...if they ever start a fight or I find out they are picking on someone, I will personally make it the worst day of their lives. By the same token, I have told them, that outside of some good natured BS that friends give each other back and forth, if someone is picking on you, and they lay a hand on you, do not hesitate, do not worry about consequences. Hit them hard, fast, contiuously, and without mercy. They have lived by those rules and it has worked well for them.

My oldest son was only picked on once back in middle school. A known bully had been picking on some of his friends and then turned his attention to my son in the gym locker room. He hit my son and my son beat him to a pulp. He got suspended from school for that, but as I argued with the principal over it, I told him that I would not punish my son one bit and that he could consider it a vacation day. After that nobody ever picked on my son again.

Sweet, thanks.