4 ms·

i understand the rationale behind "fight back" and in many instances it is probably the right solution. but if 15 people are bullying you and sending you death

i understand the rationale behind "fight back" and in many instances it is probably the right solution. but if 15 people are bullying you and sending you death threats, punching one sounds like the dumbest god damned idea.

onli 13y ago
If you get death threats, it is a case for the police anyway, before any cyber bullying laws. And severe enough, like described in the article, for them to act.
- catshirt 13y ago
  i didn't downvote you but i admit i was probably too dismissive of your post. i see now you were suggesting that punching/suspension/arrest are all different methods for fighting back (some more suitable than others depending on the circumstances).
Wohui 13y ago
This needs more votes, simply for reminding people that bullying isn't some generic situation. The least bad case of bullying is when you have a single bully, who can be made to start treating you as a human being without going as far as a fight. The worst case is a group, who chronically hate you for whatever reason. Not every situation in life has a solution, if you have enough enemies.
- hga 13y ago
  It's really an "it depends" thing. If it applies, oderint dum metuant, "let them hate, so long as they fear". If making a stark object lesson out of one or more of the bullies will prompt all of them to find easier targets, it's an option. Or have your father make credible threats to their families: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7646566 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7646566 In other situations, some described in this discussion, that won't work. Although you have to factor in your own psychological health: Ah, yes, I forgot, I was subjected to one group "bullying" incident in college (assault, actually), and I replied with a credible threat of lethal force, was in fact one step from planting a Kabar knife in the gut of the closest adversary, as in that would have happened if he'd moved one step further and finished trying to place his hands on me. He and the group decided there were easier targets. And, sure, they hated me, but they never dared try anything again. And I would have never been able to respect myself if I hadn't stood up to them that night. (A few more details: there was some harassment later that night, busting my door knob by hurdling a shopping cart? into it repeatedly, turning off my power, pretty much pathetic stuff like that. But absolutely none after, except for shunning. And the dorm floor graduate counselor/baby sitter? probably talked to them, perhaps pointing out the consequences of assaulting people. I know he did to me, but it was just to confirm that I wasn't the sort of person to threaten or use lethal force without proper justification.)

onli 13y ago

If you get death threats, it is a case for the police anyway, before any cyber bullying laws. And severe enough, like described in the article, for them to act.

catshirt 13y ago
i didn't downvote you but i admit i was probably too dismissive of your post. i see now you were suggesting that punching/suspension/arrest are all different methods for fighting back (some more suitable than others depending on the circumstances).

Wohui 13y ago

This needs more votes, simply for reminding people that bullying isn't some generic situation. The least bad case of bullying is when you have a single bully, who can be made to start treating you as a human being without going as far as a fight. The worst case is a group, who chronically hate you for whatever reason. Not every situation in life has a solution, if you have enough enemies.

hga 13y ago
It's really an "it depends" thing. If it applies, oderint dum metuant, "let them hate, so long as they fear". If making a stark object lesson out of one or more of the bullies will prompt all of them to find easier targets, it's an option. Or have your father make credible threats to their families: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7646566 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7646566 In other situations, some described in this discussion, that won't work. Although you have to factor in your own psychological health: Ah, yes, I forgot, I was subjected to one group "bullying" incident in college (assault, actually), and I replied with a credible threat of lethal force, was in fact one step from planting a Kabar knife in the gut of the closest adversary, as in that would have happened if he'd moved one step further and finished trying to place his hands on me. He and the group decided there were easier targets. And, sure, they hated me, but they never dared try anything again. And I would have never been able to respect myself if I hadn't stood up to them that night. (A few more details: there was some harassment later that night, busting my door knob by hurdling a shopping cart? into it repeatedly, turning off my power, pretty much pathetic stuff like that. But absolutely none after, except for shunning. And the dorm floor graduate counselor/baby sitter? probably talked to them, perhaps pointing out the consequences of assaulting people. I know he did to me, but it was just to confirm that I wasn't the sort of person to threaten or use lethal force without proper justification.)