Schoolyard fights

Utsanomiko · Post by **Utsanomiko** » 2002-11-21 01:25pm

I never got into any fights. They're easy to get out of, and even easier to avoid the people who try to start them.

A Big Flying Fish · Post by **A Big Flying Fish** » 2002-11-21 04:17pm

Since I've been bullied at all ages, from when I first went to nursury to now (16), I've had more than my fair share of fights. Although, I've never actively gone looking for fights, I've always thought that if someone starts with you, you finish it one way or another (call, it having a very short temper). But I do find it strange how every bully I've come into fights with is always a scrawny git, and they always seem to want to prove something. Or, I get picked on by kids younger than me, and the second I do anything in retaliation, although its normally just walking towards them looking seriously pissed off, they always run straight in the opposite direction.
And anyone that suggests you should tell a teacher you're being bullied, IMO, is an idiot. After trying that for 3 years, and every single time being told to stop telling tales or to stop being an attention seeker, I can safely say its a load of bullshit. But when the teacher gets told by the bully that I hit them for not shutting the fuck up after 4-5 months of constant abuse, they're more than happy to come straight to me and give me a rollicking. Trust me, this is not the way to solve problems with bullies, as happened after at a school I went to 3 years ago, when a usual loud mouthed shithead kept on at me for 2 years straight (this was insults, hitting me and running away, stealing from me, etc.), he decided to take my pencil case for himself, straight infront of me and the teacher, so I punched his hand side on and broke his thumb, but dispite the teacher knowing what the kid had done to me for ages, still punished me, despite never telling the other kid to leave me alone.
Life is full of idiots.

Darth Yoshi · Post by **Darth Yoshi** » 2002-11-21 08:59pm

There's nothing like a good kick in the shin to neutralize an opponent. But I digress. If two people get into a fight, listen to both of them and figure out who started it, then make him scrub the blacktop.

Phil Skayhan · Post by **Phil Skayhan** » 2002-11-21 09:25pm

The two times I got into a fight in school (both freshman year), there was neither oppurtunity to run nor tell a teacher.

The first happened on the bus over me apparently sitting in his seat. Ended by the driver slamming on the brakes, causing us to slide up the aisle to where he could get his hands on us and end it.

For the second one, I was jumped by two classmates outside the locker room where there was never any supervision. Luckily, my friends were shortly there and broke it up. Never did bother to find out why.

I never considered either one of these a life-threatening situation and they weren't reported to the school. But these days, if there is a hint that a fellow student wants to "get" you, it's a smart idea to let someone know.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2002-11-25 01:18pm

I totally agree with THEHOOLIGANJEDI. When I was teaching, one of the things that I taught my students with regards to fighting was that teachers were not there one hundred percent of the time. Further, teachers almost never understood the circumstances surrounding the fight after the fact. I thus told my students to use their best judgement, and to try and avoid the fight, if possible, but if there was nothing they could do, then go after the guy!

Post by **Coyote** » 2002-11-25 01:48pm

Reactions change with the times, too, and these days it can be dangerous to defend yourself. I was the kid that always got picked on and harassed, once I was able to hit a kid that tormented me but I felt bad about it afterwards even though noone got punished. That was in elementary school...

In Junior High I was constantly picked on by one kid who was much more physically powerful than I. I 'retaliated' by writing bad grafitti about him (real stupid, I know) but I got caught and sent to the principal. Once in his office, something odd happened; I got indignant that I was the one in trouble despite three years of abuse from this clown (even in front of teachers, who ignored it because he was a popular kid and good on the football team).

So I went off on the principlal! I started howling indignation at him that I was the one getting hammered while the punk got off scot free. I challenged him, "Don't you even care why I did such a thing? Do you think I'm trying to start something!?" The bully got hauled in and we faced each other while the principal had me go off on him with my accusations. The kid started crying! Things cleared up after that, he even tried being friendly to me later but I was too wary to accept any overtures.

High School was different-- a huge collection of kids who didn't know me and one uber-jock was intent on getting in a fight with me for reasons I could not understand. Other kids were equally pushy and as usual, teachers did nothing (really, they can't, if they restrict a kid the parents comne down on them like a ton of bricks and threaten to sue).

I went to psych warfare. I wore cammo, or black, and brought gun magazines to school and talked about guns and war, became an expert on all the book knowledge of weapons, tactics, and so on. This was the mid-1980's, out west, so there were no such restrictions on that kind of behavior. A lot of people were scared of me and the bullying stopped. What the hell is that to teach a kid? I was self-aware enough to know better, but others feel that power and act on it (aka Columbine). If a kid did this today, he'd be punished, not the bullies that provoked him, and this would only fuel his anti-social feelings.

Society sucks.

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2002-11-25 01:58pm

I am reminded of Babylon 5. Don't start a fight, but finish it, or words to that effect.

I avoid fighting in schools. But if it comes to be necessary, I would take out my opponent in a particularly brutal looking way, if I'm not fighting for my life or anything. Not maim him or something, just make it look nasty. It may have gotten me punished, but it'll deter other losers from trying to take me on.

Though, I have come to the conclusion that teachers and school officials are usually no help and that even if it is clear self defense you will get in trouble. So if you have to take a punishment, might as well make it worth something.