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Kids Fighting Back

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One more time God does not expect you to stand up there and get punched to death. I'll tell you what' you stand there and get beat to death with a pipe. I am not, help yourself go right ahead.

Lewis, you probably know that I defended the right to strike back at nausea until I was blue in the face, but I've taken inventory of all the times we're told not to do this. The scripture that directly tells us not to is just too overwhelming to dismiss. For me, anyway, I cannot ignore them anymore.


If I'm serious about seeking His Will for me, I cannot set aside all the times I am told (and modeled by Christ) not to meet force with force. This is very hard and needs to be reconciled in each of our hearts.
 
Okay here we go, you guy's are telling me that my kids and grand children are to stand there and be killed, am I right ? You guy's are also saying that if my wife was being raped I should just let the guy finish and or pray for him while he is doing it am I right. You guy's are also telling me that I should not protect my wife and children am I right ? You are also telling me that my children should let somebody kill them am I right ? When Jesus said turn the other cheek He was talking about that situation. What do you think He would have said if your wife was being raped. Do you think Jesus would have said don't worry about it, she will be okay. Even when you take your marriage vows you are sworn to protect your wife. And if you are going to stand up there and let somebody hurt her, there are no words for you.
 
Okay here we go, you guy's are telling me that my kids and grand children are to stand there and be killed, am I right ? You guy's are also saying that if my wife was being raped I should just let the guy finish and or pray for him while he is doing it am I right. You guy's are also telling me that I should not protect my wife and children am I right ? You are also telling me that my children should let somebody kill them am I right ? When Jesus said turn the other cheek He was talking about that situation. What do you think He would have said if your wife was being raped. Do you think Jesus would have said don't worry about it, she will be okay. Even when you take your marriage vows you are sworn to protect your wife. And if you are going to stand up there and let somebody hurt her, there are no words for you.

Do you believe that your hair is numbered and not a hair on your head will fall without the approval of the living God?

Your reply reveals who you believe because you consider God to be a dummy puppet to watch your kids getting killed and watch your wife getting raped.

Remember, He will only answer and help you if you 'fully' trust in Him NOT 50% in your self defense and 50% in Him.
 
Do you believe that your hair is numbered and not a hair on your head will fall without the approval of the living God?

Your reply reveals who you believe because you consider God to be a dummy puppet to watch your kids getting killed and watch your wife getting raped.

Remember, He will only answer and help you if you 'fully' trust in Him NOT 50% in your self defense and 50% in Him.
Well I gave you my take on this, and I don't think that I have to go any further.
 
Well I gave you my take on this, and I don't think that I have to go any further.

Just to add, He will not put us, nor our kids in that situation if we truly trust in Him. Unfortunately, most people trust on guns rather than God.
 
Just to add, He will not put us, nor our kids in that situation if we truly trust in Him. Unfortunately, most people trust on guns rather than God.
Man are you wrong many Holy Ghost filled Christians get killed. And man I mean a lot, sometimes God will pull you out and sometimes He will not. That is just like God does not heal all sick Christians I don't care how close you are to Him.
 
This thread is gradually taking the taste of the other thread that was imprisoned:chin'...our house...protected by...God...and...gun'

I think we are talking 'bout Kids Fighting Back, not Wives getting raped etc.

1 We want our kids to fight back. What if he retaliates and kills the bully?
2 How morally right is it to tell kids to fight back?
'Yes, I hit him back - my parents told me to.' how would people look at me...a parent.
3 Do we even know that walking away is less dangerous than doing a revengeful punch? If you walk away, the bully wins - bullying stops (tell me the bully does it again and again...the following week), if you fight back...the war has started, the bully is fiercer - blows become intense.

Walking away is not being stupid, walking away is morally winning the fight.
 
Man are you wrong many Holy Ghost filled Christians get killed. And man I mean a lot, sometimes God will pull you out and sometimes He will not. That is just like God does not heal all sick Christians I don't care how close you are to Him.

If God doesn't pull His child out and He allowed him/her to die, then it is His Will that he/she should go and be with Him forever. God allowed most of His disciples to die a horrible death - Not one fought back.

My uncle suddenly died around the age of 60 and his close relatives prayed sincerely and asked God for the reason why He took him as they were in middle of building a school and now the heavy responsibility is upon his wife. Then God revealed that, if he had lived, he would have experienced a prolonged disease and died a horrible death.

I have seen most of the Christians who have some form of sickness usually have a secret sin and the sickness is because of that sin. I have heard several testimonies that teaches me this and also in-line with scriptures.

(Prov 3:7-8) Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.

Prov 3:7-8 is very true and many Christians simply ignore it because they read it with their rational brain rather than using the Holy Spirit.
 
This thread is gradually taking the taste of the other thread that was imprisoned:chin'...our house...protected by...God...and...gun'

I think we are talking 'bout Kids Fighting Back, not Wives getting raped etc.

1 We want our kids to fight back. What if he retaliates and kills the bully?
2 How morally right is it to tell kids to fight back?
'Yes, I hit him back - my parents told me to.' how would people look at me...a parent.
3 Do we even know that walking away is less dangerous than doing a revengeful punch? If you walk away, the bully wins - bullying stops (tell me the bully does it again and again...the following week), if you fight back...the war has started, the bully is fiercer - blows become intense.

Walking away is not being stupid, walking away is morally winning the fight.
I said the rape and protecting wife thing to get a point across, it is reall all the same. I will not let my kids stand there and take a beat down. He or she is to fight back. My son is not to stand by and let someone rape or slap his sister.
 
3 Do we even know that walking away is less dangerous than doing a revengeful punch? If you walk away, the bully wins - bullying stops (tell me the bully does it again and again...the following week), if you fight back...the war has started, the bully is fiercer - blows become intense.
Not in my experience. When I was bullied, the more I gave into the bully, the worse it got. It wasn't until I stood up to the bully that things stopped. I never threw a punch...I used words effectively. But with the girl bullying, I never was hit.

I was hit by a boy in my class. To this day I honestly don't know why. He sat behind me in class and one day he started to ram the top of his desk over the top of the back of my seat, slamming it into my back. Did it several times and I told him to stop each time. The teacher was watching and didn't do a thing. Anyway, he slammed my back one more time and I turned around and shouted, "What the heck is your problem" so he busted in my nose, broke my glasses and blood splattered every where. The teacher simply told me to go to the bathroom and get myself cleaned up then to go and tell the principal. Didn't say a word to the kid who just bloodied my nose and broke my glasses for no reason whatsoever. I still, 38 years later, cannot fathom what was going on in Mr. McWhorter's mind. I really can't.

Anyway, the kid was called down to the principal's office and was talked to...but didn't face any kind of detention or anything.

However, he did have to face my brother. I don't exactly know what my brother did to him, but the next day I received a most sincere apology, as he was shaking in his boots and could barely stand for fear. (My brother had advanced to the purple belt in karate by then.) The guy never, ever treated me badly again.

When I went to the class, there was an empty desk in the back of the room. I sat down in it, and when Mr. McWhorter looked at me, I just said, "I'm not sitting there anymore." Mr. McWhorter just shrugged and started class. Everyone was really kind of in shock...no one could figure out why a teacher allowed a really large boy to slug a really small girl in the nose, bloodying her nose and breaking her glasses...and not say a word about it.
 
I never threw a punch...I used words effectively.
:biglol
That's a more dangerous misile to use!
I remember the verse that say: 'Death and life are in the power of the tongue...'
Women + tongues and Men + fists
I was hit by a boy in my class. To this day I honestly don't know why. He sat behind me in class and one day he started to ram the top of his desk over the top of the back of my seat, slamming it into my back. Did it several times and I told him to stop each time. The teacher was watching and didn't do a thing. Anyway, he slammed my back one more time and I turned around and shouted, "What the heck is your problem" so he busted in my nose, broke my glasses and blood splattered every where. The teacher simply told me to go to the bathroom and get myself cleaned up then to go and tell the principal. Didn't say a word to the kid who just bloodied my nose and broke my glasses for no reason whatsoever. I still, 38 years later, cannot fathom what was going on in Mr. McWhorter's mind. I really can't.
He didn't do well. Maybe he was having a bad day or was avoiding something...nonetheless, such a person is not qualified to be called a teacher. It is a mark of wickedness.
However, he did have to face my brother. I don't exactly know what my brother did to him, but the next day I received a most sincere apology, as he was shaking in his boots and could barely stand for fear. (My brother had advanced to the purple belt in karate by then.) The guy never, ever treated me badly again.
:lol
He had revealed unto him the mystery and power of taekwando. :lol
 

Lewis, you probably know that I defended the right to strike back at nausea until I was blue in the face, but I've taken inventory of all the times we're told not to do this. The scripture that directly tells us not to is just too overwhelming to dismiss. For me, anyway, I cannot ignore them anymore.


If I'm serious about seeking His Will for me, I cannot set aside all the times I am told (and modeled by Christ) not to meet force with force. This is very hard and needs to be reconciled in each of our hearts.

I'm in the same boat here. What the Bible says about this speaks volumes and really goes against the grain. It seems logical that there be some resistance to this PoV though.

Lewis, you have yet to provide scriptural support for your position. If this is what God clearly says, then it shouldn't be too difficult to find.
 
Well first I would have to go to the Old Testament and Jesus said He did not come to take anything away from it. I am not going to let you punch me to death because I will go Old Testament on you. And if you try to hurt and kill my kids and wife, I want them to go Old Testament on you too. If some of us Christians take the passive road fine, God bless you. Now for certain things I will take the passive road. But I will not let you beat me and my family and friends up. If you are a passive Christian that's your business.



Below is a very interesting article that I found.

You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also; and if anyone would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well; and if any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. (attributed to Jesus in Matthew 5:38-41, Revised Standard Version)

Many who have committed their lives to working for change and justice in the world simply dismiss Jesus' teachings about nonviolence as impractical idealism. And with good reason. "Turn the other cheek" suggests the passive, Christian doormat quality that has made so many Christians cowardly and complicit in the face of injustice. "Resist not evil" seems to break the back of all opposition to evil and counsel submission. "Going the second mile" has become a platitude meaning nothing more than "extend yourself." Rather than fostering structural change, such attitudes encourage collaboration with the oppressor.

Jesus never behaved in such ways. Whatever the source of the misunderstanding, it is neither Jesus nor his teaching, which, when given a fair hearing in its original social context, is arguably one of the most revolutionary political statements ever uttered.

When the court translators working in the hire of King James chose to translate antistenai as "Resist not evil," they were doing something more than rendering Greek into English. They were translating nonviolent resistance into docility. The Greek word means more than simply to "stand against" or "resist." It means to resist violently, to revolt or rebel, to engage in an insurrection. Jesus did not tell his oppressed hearers not to resist evil. His entire ministry is at odds with such a preposterous idea. He is, rather, warning against responding to evil in kind by letting the oppressor set the terms of our opposition.

A proper translation of Jesus' teaching would then be, "Do not retaliate against violence with violence." Jesus was no less committed to opposing evil than the anti-Roman resistance fighters like Barabbas. The only difference was over the means to be used.

There are three general responses to evil: (1) violent opposition, (2) passivity, and (3) the third way of militant nonviolence articulated by Jesus. Human evolution has conditioned us for only the first two of these responses: fight or flight.

Fight had been the cry of Galileans who had abortively rebelled against Rome only two decades before Jesus spoke. Jesus and many of his hearers would have seen some of the two thousand of their countrymen crucified by the Romans along the roadsides. They would have known some of the inhabitants of Sepphoris (a mere three miles north of Nazareth) who had been sold into slavery for aiding the insurrectionists' assault on the arsenal there. Some also would live to experience the horrors of the war against Rome in 66-70 C.E., one of the ghastliest in history. If the option of fighting had no appeal to them, their only alternative was flight: passivity, submission, or, at best, a passive-aggressive recalcitrance in obeying commands. For them no third way existed.

Now we are in a better position to see why King James' servants translated antistenai as "resist not." The king would not want people concluding they had any recourse against his or any other sovereign's unjust policies. Jesus commands us, according to these king's men, to resist not. Jesus appears to say say that submission to monarchial absolutism is the will of God. Most modern translations have meekly followed the King James path.

Neither of the invidious alternatives of flight or fight is what Jesus is proposing. Jesus abhors both passivity and violence as responses to evil. His is a third alternative not even touched by these options. The Scholars Version translates Antistenai brilliantly: "Don't react violently against someone who is evil."

Jesus clarifies his meaning by three brief examples. "If anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." Why the right cheek? How does one strike another on the right cheek anyway? Try it. A blow by the right fist in that right-handed world would land on the left cheek of the opponent. To strike the right cheek with the fist would require using the left hand, but in that society the left hand was used only for unclean tasks. As the Dead Sea Scrolls specify, even to gesture with the left hand at Qumran carried the penalty of ten days penance. The only way one could strike the right cheek with the right hand would be with the back of the hand.

What we are dealing with here is unmistakably an insult, not a fistfight. The intention is not to injure but to humiliate, to put someone in his or her place. One normally did not strike a peer in this way, and if one did the fine was exorbitant (four zuz was the fine for a blow to a peer with a fist, 400 zuz for backhanding him; but to an underling, no penalty whatever). A backhand slap was the normal way of admonishing inferiors. Masters backhanded slaves; husbands, wives; parents, children; men, women; Romans, Jews.

We have here a set of unequal relations, in each of which retaliation would be suicidal. The only normal response would be cowering submission. It is important to ask who Jesus' audience is. In every case, Jesus' listeners are not those who strike, initiate lawsuits, or impose forced labor. Rather, Jesus is speaking to their victims, people who have been subjected to these very indignities. They have been forced to stifle their inner outrage at the dehumanizing treatment meted out to them by the hierarchical system of caste and class, race and gender, age and status, and by the guardians of imperial occupation.

Why then does Jesus counsel these already humiliated people to turn the other cheek? Because this action robs the oppressor of power to humiliate them. The person who turns the other cheek is saying, in effect, "Try again. Your first blow failed to achieve its intended effect. I deny you the power to humiliate me. I am a human being just like you. Your status (gender, race, age, wealth) does not alter that. You cannot demean me." Such a response would create enormous difficulties for the striker. Purely logistically, how can he now hit the other cheek? He cannot backhand it with his right hand. If he hits with a fist, he makes himself an equal, acknowledging the other as a peer. But the whole point of the back of the hand is to reinforce the caste system and its institutionalized inequality.
http://www.godlikeproductions.com/forum1/message665517/pg1
 
I question wheather many of you truely suffered at the hands of bullying because it's not like that at all.

I've been severely bullied for a good portion of my life I can tell you many things that I did or tried to do to reduce the amount of pain I recived. standing up for yourself only invites more pain or is completely futile. you mistakenly belive that it's as simple as 1 kid picking on another kid... it isn't. it's several and a large demographic of kids will target that one when they see the oppertunity open up.

Usually it would be three or five vs me, Fighting back is and was futile for several reasons.
Firstly their is many more of them and even one of them could beat me senseless.
When three of them just jump you completely catching you off guard they then beat you stupid then throw you into a shallow muddy pond/bin. you can't defend yourself against that.

Usually they don't start with physical attacks that's almost... too easy. They will hurt you otherways like spit on you, slash your bag open with a knife/fill it full of bannana peels, stab you with sewing needles walk past you, kick doors open into your face unexpectedly, urinate on your clothes when you do PE, Other things like that. If you "escalate" it by fighting back physically it's your testimony against theirs and the teacher will only consider the physical assault aspect they don't care about motivations. In addition Numerous members of a group, One of you. 4 Testimonies vs your 1. and if you make a habit of it you also have a history of begin a "trouble-maker"

snarking back at them would actually be an excellent idea and if I could have done it it would have stopped alot of pain before it started but simply enough. you need to have self confidence to speak up for yourself, And when your life is the above torment plus catching blame for things you didn't do. You have none.
 
I think this is the best article that I have ever found on this subject, so much so that I am posting it again. As a matter of fact it is the best one that i have ever found on this subject.



Below is a very interesting article that I found.

You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also; and if anyone would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well; and if any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. (attributed to Jesus in Matthew 5:38-41, Revised Standard Version)

Many who have committed their lives to working for change and justice in the world simply dismiss Jesus' teachings about nonviolence as impractical idealism. And with good reason. "Turn the other cheek" suggests the passive, Christian doormat quality that has made so many Christians cowardly and complicit in the face of injustice. "Resist not evil" seems to break the back of all opposition to evil and counsel submission. "Going the second mile" has become a platitude meaning nothing more than "extend yourself." Rather than fostering structural change, such attitudes encourage collaboration with the oppressor.

Jesus never behaved in such ways. Whatever the source of the misunderstanding, it is neither Jesus nor his teaching, which, when given a fair hearing in its original social context, is arguably one of the most revolutionary political statements ever uttered.

When the court translators working in the hire of King James chose to translate antistenai as "Resist not evil," they were doing something more than rendering Greek into English. They were translating nonviolent resistance into docility. The Greek word means more than simply to "stand against" or "resist." It means to resist violently, to revolt or rebel, to engage in an insurrection. Jesus did not tell his oppressed hearers not to resist evil. His entire ministry is at odds with such a preposterous idea. He is, rather, warning against responding to evil in kind by letting the oppressor set the terms of our opposition.

A proper translation of Jesus' teaching would then be, "Do not retaliate against violence with violence." Jesus was no less committed to opposing evil than the anti-Roman resistance fighters like Barabbas. The only difference was over the means to be used.

There are three general responses to evil: (1) violent opposition, (2) passivity, and (3) the third way of militant nonviolence articulated by Jesus. Human evolution has conditioned us for only the first two of these responses: fight or flight.

Fight had been the cry of Galileans who had abortively rebelled against Rome only two decades before Jesus spoke. Jesus and many of his hearers would have seen some of the two thousand of their countrymen crucified by the Romans along the roadsides. They would have known some of the inhabitants of Sepphoris (a mere three miles north of Nazareth) who had been sold into slavery for aiding the insurrectionists' assault on the arsenal there. Some also would live to experience the horrors of the war against Rome in 66-70 C.E., one of the ghastliest in history. If the option of fighting had no appeal to them, their only alternative was flight: passivity, submission, or, at best, a passive-aggressive recalcitrance in obeying commands. For them no third way existed.

Now we are in a better position to see why King James' servants translated antistenai as "resist not." The king would not want people concluding they had any recourse against his or any other sovereign's unjust policies. Jesus commands us, according to these king's men, to resist not. Jesus appears to say say that submission to monarchial absolutism is the will of God. Most modern translations have meekly followed the King James path.

Neither of the invidious alternatives of flight or fight is what Jesus is proposing. Jesus abhors both passivity and violence as responses to evil. His is a third alternative not even touched by these options. The Scholars Version translates Antistenai brilliantly: "Don't react violently against someone who is evil."

Jesus clarifies his meaning by three brief examples. "If anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." Why the right cheek? How does one strike another on the right cheek anyway? Try it. A blow by the right fist in that right-handed world would land on the left cheek of the opponent. To strike the right cheek with the fist would require using the left hand, but in that society the left hand was used only for unclean tasks. As the Dead Sea Scrolls specify, even to gesture with the left hand at Qumran carried the penalty of ten days penance. The only way one could strike the right cheek with the right hand would be with the back of the hand.

What we are dealing with here is unmistakably an insult, not a fistfight. The intention is not to injure but to humiliate, to put someone in his or her place. One normally did not strike a peer in this way, and if one did the fine was exorbitant (four zuz was the fine for a blow to a peer with a fist, 400 zuz for backhanding him; but to an underling, no penalty whatever). A backhand slap was the normal way of admonishing inferiors. Masters backhanded slaves; husbands, wives; parents, children; men, women; Romans, Jews.

We have here a set of unequal relations, in each of which retaliation would be suicidal. The only normal response would be cowering submission. It is important to ask who Jesus' audience is. In every case, Jesus' listeners are not those who strike, initiate lawsuits, or impose forced labor. Rather, Jesus is speaking to their victims, people who have been subjected to these very indignities. They have been forced to stifle their inner outrage at the dehumanizing treatment meted out to them by the hierarchical system of caste and class, race and gender, age and status, and by the guardians of imperial occupation.

Why then does Jesus counsel these already humiliated people to turn the other cheek? Because this action robs the oppressor of power to humiliate them. The person who turns the other cheek is saying, in effect, "Try again. Your first blow failed to achieve its intended effect. I deny you the power to humiliate me. I am a human being just like you. Your status (gender, race, age, wealth) does not alter that. You cannot demean me." Such a response would create enormous difficulties for the striker. Purely logistically, how can he now hit the other cheek? He cannot backhand it with his right hand. If he hits with a fist, he makes himself an equal, acknowledging the other as a peer. But the whole point of the back of the hand is to reinforce the caste system and its institutionalized inequality.
http://www.godlikeproductions.com/fo...sage665517/pg1
 
<SUP>19</SUP> Or know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have from God? and ye are not your own; <SUP>20</SUP> for ye were bought with a price: glorify God therefore in your body. (1Co 6:19-20 ASV)
Not only are we to take care of our bodies and the life contained. We have an obligation to preserve the body and life of other people. Psalm 82:4 even cites an obligation to protect those who are in danger:
Psalm 82:4 Rescue the weak and needy; Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.
Consider also Proverbs 24:11, which indicates we have a duty to preserve the lives of those who are harming themselves:
Proverbs 24:11 Deliver those who are drawn toward death, And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter.
Ezekiel 33 is a well-known passage:
Ezekiel 33 "... <SUP>6</SUP> 'But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and a sword comes and takes a person from them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require from the watchman's hand.'

Luke 22:35-39 And He said to them, "When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?" So they said, "Nothing." <SUP>36</SUP> Then He said to them, "But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. <SUP>37</SUP> "For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: 'And He was numbered with the transgressors.' For the things concerning Me have an end." <SUP>38</SUP> So they said, "Lord, look, here are two swords." And He said to them, "It is enough." <SUP>39</SUP> Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him.

Luke 22:49-53 <SUP>49</SUP> When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?" <SUP>50</SUP> And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. <SUP>51</SUP> But Jesus answered and said, "Permit even this." And He touched his ear and healed him. <SUP>52</SUP> Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, "Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs? <SUP>53</SUP> "When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness."
Matthew 26:51-56 <SUP>51</SUP> And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. <SUP>52</SUP> But Jesus said to him, "Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. <SUP>53</SUP> "Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? <SUP>54</SUP> "How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?" <SUP>55</SUP> In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, "Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. <SUP>56</SUP> "But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled."
John 18:10-11 <SUP>10</SUP> Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. <SUP>11</SUP> So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?"

Psalm 144:1 Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:
Psalm 18:34 He teaches my hands to make war, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze
 
I question wheather many of you truely suffered at the hands of bullying because it's not like that at all.

I've been severely bullied for a good portion of my life I can tell you many things that I did or tried to do to reduce the amount of pain I recived. standing up for yourself only invites more pain or is completely futile. you mistakenly belive that it's as simple as 1 kid picking on another kid... it isn't. it's several and a large demographic of kids will target that one when they see the oppertunity open up.

Usually it would be three or five vs me, Fighting back is and was futile for several reasons.
Firstly their is many more of them and even one of them could beat me senseless.
When three of them just jump you completely catching you off guard they then beat you stupid then throw you into a shallow muddy pond/bin. you can't defend yourself against that.

Usually they don't start with physical attacks that's almost... too easy. They will hurt you otherways like spit on you, slash your bag open with a knife/fill it full of bannana peels, stab you with sewing needles walk past you, kick doors open into your face unexpectedly, urinate on your clothes when you do PE, Other things like that. If you "escalate" it by fighting back physically it's your testimony against theirs and the teacher will only consider the physical assault aspect they don't care about motivations. In addition Numerous members of a group, One of you. 4 Testimonies vs your 1. and if you make a habit of it you also have a history of begin a "trouble-maker"

snarking back at them would actually be an excellent idea and if I could have done it it would have stopped alot of pain before it started but simply enough. you need to have self confidence to speak up for yourself, And when your life is the above torment plus catching blame for things you didn't do. You have none.

My family moved a lot when I was little. In 7 years we kids went to 5 different schools. My older sisters were pretty and popular and didn't have too much trouble adjusting. My brother was tiny for a guy...the proverbial 98 pound weakling, only I doubt he tipped the scales at 80. Even today as a grown man, he is only 5' 4 and weighs maybe 120. I was the classic nerd, bad, horrible eyesight for which I had to wear the type of glasses that distort the look of the eyes, pimply complexion, limp hair. I started puberty when I was just 9 years old. Life for a 3rd grader with pimples and boobs....

Oh yeah, my brother and I were on the receiving end of bullying quite often. And this was in the era where no one expected adults to intervene. Bullying was written off as "Kids being kids and dang ain't them little critters cruel sometimes."

For my brother, being the guy, the bullying was mostly physical. He would just get beat up a lot. Somehow he survived without getting bones broken, but he would come home with bruises and black eyes. Once he went almost a month with his eyesight messed up because of being hit in the eye. He had to do these exercises to get them back into alignment.

Then Bruce Lee became a star and my brother decided to learn martial arts. He became quite good at it. One thing about learning the maritial arts, which Jason and Brian will confirm is that one learns also how to diffuse situations if possible and when to not use one's skills. My brother became better at finessing the bullies. But, one also learns the skills to fight, even if one is much smaller than a group of opponents. Once, when finessing didn't work and a physical confrontation was inevitable, my brother took on several guys, either 3 or 4, I honestly can't remember, all football players who were much larger than him. He wiped the ground with them and the whole thing was over quite quickly. That was the last physical fight he was in, with the exception of the time he was mugged. (Or rather, there was an attempt at mugging him...they didn't get away with anything.) But, for him at school (we had stopped moving by then and remained at the same school until John dropped out and I graduated), no more fighting. The fight with the football goons sent a message, mess with this guy and you'll be eating dirt.

For me, well, girl bullying is a different story. Girls didn't physically fight much back then. Girls tend to just shred the bullied girl's self-esteem and undermine any attempt to make friends. I didn't have a friend until I was in 5th grade. Then we moved and I didn't have another friend until 7th grade. It wasn't that there was no physical contact, just not "fighting". I've been tripped, "accidentally bumped" down stairs, had doors slammed on me, had my books "accidentally" knocked out of my hands I don't know how many times....stuff like that.

All my school reports stated that I was "quiet, keeps to herself". The truth was, I spent most of my early school years in fear, abject fear, of what was going to happen to me once class let out.

Finally, I just got sick and tired of being afraid all the time and I started facing up to the bullies. What happened was that I had moved to yet another school and made a friend who drew me into her circle of friends. For the first time, I began to enjoy school...just a bit. Then, one of the worst of my bullies from the school I went to in 6th grade moved to my new school as well. The only thing was, she was cousins with some kids there and already knew quite a few kids. When she saw that I was going to school there as well, she immediately began to get the kids there to start picking on me. One afternoon when I was sitting with my friends on a small set of bleachers, she came up with a group of girls who were beginning to bump into me in the halls, and whisper and laugh anytime I was around...She said something to the girls and then climbed up the back of the bleachers and pinched me, hard, on my butt. All the girls on the ground busted out laughing. Something in my just snapped and I quickly jumped up, turned around and put my foot down hard on her hand that was holding the poles of the bleacher. I said as loudly as I could, but not really yelling, "I'm not putting up with this kind of crap from you anymore, Pam. Leave. Me. Alone. Got it!" I then sort of kicked her hand away and she fell down to the ground landing on her butt (keep in mind, this was a small set of bleachers only, she wasn't hurt at all.) She was wholly humiliated though. Some of her friends started calling me every name in the book, but others just looked at her disdainfully and walked away. My friends told the others to shut up...and I started being bullied less and less. It didn't end completely, but I kept standing up to it and wound up being respected more and more.
 
For me, well, girl bullying is a different story. Girls didn't physically fight much back then. Girls tend to just shred the bullied girl's self-esteem and undermine any attempt to make friends. I didn't have a friend until I was in 5th grade. Then we moved and I didn't have another friend until 7th grade. It wasn't that there was no physical contact, just not "fighting". I've been tripped, "accidentally bumped" down stairs, had doors slammed on me, had my books "accidentally" knocked out of my hands I don't know how many times....stuff like that.
I am aware of this distinction at the time I didn't but it did occur to me I didn't want to think about it but looking back it is the case. I was targeted by both genders at various points the Begin spat on, Begin blamed for things you didn't do, Having your stuff stolen/urinated on those were actions taken by females. Males did most of the other things. physical beatings and such.

I can't nessercrily say whitch was worse while begin phyiscally hurt sucked it happened and then it was over usually. When a female tends to torment a person they go on and on at it abit like a hyena to grind you down.

Standing up for myself never elicited that kind of reaction maybe it was because the friends I had didn't stand up for me as I mentioned I wasn't really friends with most of them. And again if I'd been able to humilate them then it might have achived somthing but usually it just made things worse in my experience. Escalation of a situation always backfired giving them a further excuse to strike harder. Maybe not least because their own pride was on the line if I did stand up.
 
First,
My daughters school:

Any student that strikes another, gets in school suspension, 2nd incident expelled.
Does not matter who started it nor what the reason.
My daughters best friend punched an annoying girl, she knew it was wrong. But when another girl threatened and followed through with a punch she could only run or take the punch, if she struck back, bye bye school year. (she stood there and took with it out flinching. Hey, shes been kicked by a horse many times)

Bullying: One email took care of my daughter and a friends bully. So some schools do take bullying seriously.
Self defense is a basic right far too important to be left to silly school administrators. No one ,student ,teacher,parent ,gives up their right to self protection because of a 'school zone;.
 
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