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This Wouldn't Happen To My Son

by thunderbird
46 replies
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My son isn't a My Little Pony fan, but even if he were this wouldn't happen to him. The reason is that, with his early martial arts training, by the time he's in elementary school, he'll be able to decisively defend himself against most bullies, even those much bigger than him.
School Tells Boy Bullied Over My Little Pony Lunchbox to Leave It at Home
  • Profile picture of the author David Braybrooke
    And maybe the school in question should picked up for discrimination over lunch box choices. Ridiculous!
    Children learn prejudices from their parents, so on some level this is an adult problem. When children are young and innocent enough they don't care about stupid things like lunch box choices.
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  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    A 10 year old boy with a My Little Pony bag is begging to be picked on in any school.

    That's a bag for a 5 year old girl.
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    • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
      Originally Posted by yukon View Post

      A 10 year old boy with a My Little Pony bag is begging to be picked on in any school.

      That's a bag for a 5 year old girl.
      That's your definition of what it is. The bullies have their definition. That kid has his definition.

      Originally Posted by David Braybrooke View Post

      And maybe the school in question should picked up for discrimination over lunch box choices. Ridiculous!
      Children learn prejudices from their parents, so on some level this is an adult problem. When children are young and innocent enough they don't care about stupid things like lunch box choices.
      I'm not sure about that. As a child, I was quite aggressive and got into a number of fights (I guess I must have enjoyed it, though I find it hard to imagine now). One guy who I met when we were grown up insisted that I beat him up when I was in grade 1 and he was in grade 6. I once actually visited the home of a bully at another school and beat him up. My parents definitely did not condone or inspire such stupid behavior. Maybe other things over which they had little or no control might have.
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      • Profile picture of the author yukon
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        Originally Posted by thunderbird View Post

        That's your definition of what it is. The bullies have their definition. That kid has his definition.
        Really?

        I guess Hasbro got it wrong.



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        • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
          Originally Posted by yukon View Post

          Really?

          I guess Hasbro got it wrong.
          My Little Pony commercial - YouTube
          It's unusual that the boy is into it, to be sure, lol. That must be the way the boy is, irrespective of how his mother treats him. It must be the boy's choice and inclination.

          I found it interesting that my son, who doesn't even watch TV since we don't have one, identified this toy below as for girls, based on the colors. We didn't teach him that. He just knew. He likes Magformers, but definitely didn't want this set.
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          • Profile picture of the author Kay King
            I think most little boys and girls identify almost naturally what is "girl" and "boy" stuff - probably based on color as much as anything.

            Of course - for little boys, if it doesn't haven't wheels, what good is it?
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            • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
              Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

              I think most little boys and girls identify almost naturally what is "girl" and "boy" stuff - probably based on color as much as anything.

              Of course - for little boys, if it doesn't haven't wheels, what good is it?
              That's why my son likes this one, lol.
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              • Profile picture of the author kenmichaels
                Originally Posted by thunderbird View Post

                That's why my son likes this one, lol.
                My kid is in the hot wheel stage.
                Cars and tracks every where.

                He blew my mind the other day. He has two launchers.
                He took one apart and doubled up the rubber band ...
                When I inquired as to why, he said it was to slow.

                Its crazzzzy how fast they learn. ... and how quickly they can adapt
                a concept from one area and apply it to another.
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            • Profile picture of the author seasoned
              Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

              I think most little boys and girls identify almost naturally what is "girl" and "boy" stuff - probably based on color as much as anything.

              Of course - for little boys, if it doesn't haven't wheels, what good is it?
              I had lincoln logs, erector sets, fischer technik, etc.. Some didn't have wheels, and I was still ok with it.

              Steve
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              • Profile picture of the author MikeTucker
                Originally Posted by SteveJohnson View Post

                I'm all for what you're teaching your son; unfortunately, the schools aren't. Odds are, if he stood up to defend himself his punishment would be as bad or worse than the bully.
                If I had kids, I think I would rather pick them up from the
                Principal's office than the Nurses office?



                Originally Posted by kenmichaels View Post

                and it can all start with a simple little limerick ...
                Originally Posted by MikeAmbrosio View Post

                Her response was "Insults only come from those you love. From anyone else the words don't matter".



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          • Profile picture of the author yukon
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            Originally Posted by thunderbird View Post

            It's unusual that the boy is into it, to be sure, lol. That must be the way the boy is, irrespective of how his mother treats him. It must be the boy's choice and inclination.
            Kids are kids, they don't always know right from wrong, that's why they need a parent to show them right from wrong. Encouraging a child to do stupid things is irresponsible & only causes problems, example, If the lady in the OP link/video had a clue she wouldn't intentionally set her child up to get picked on from things like My Little Pony.

            I bet the lady in the OP link/video is a single mother & no father in the house.
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    Thunderbird,

    In "the karate kid" he muses to his sensei about how he should have had a great life because HE KNEW KARATE! The sensei said, in response, "Someone always knows more!"! JUST SAYING!!!!!

    NOW, as to that kid? Think what you will but this goes back like over 100 years, possibly back MUCH farther.

    What's next? Will he bring a barbie laptop to school? They HAVE made them, you know, and likely still do. I think they make better ones, but HERE'S ONE!

    Amazon.com : Barbie B-Book Laptop : Barbie Kids...Amazon.com : Barbie B-Book Laptop : Barbie Kids...
    And don't forget a nice dress!

    Amazon.com : Barbie Exclusive Wedding Dress...Amazon.com : Barbie Exclusive Wedding Dress...
    OH, what amazon must think of me NOW! Talk about polluting clickstreams!

    BTW if kids learn this "prejudice" from ANYONE, it is other kids, the public, and "teachers". MY parents, for example, never did any of this with me. If a boy were to dress like a "girly girl" and walk to school, he will have to contend with a lot before even getting to the sidewalk in front of the school.

    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      It's not prejudice - it's 9 yr old boy behavior.

      They abhor anything "girly" or "childish" - at 9, boys are very proud NOT to be "little kids" any more.

      Parents can help avoid problems like this by helping choose age appropriate things to take to school. Keep the My Little Pony bag for family gatherings and home use. The same kids bullying him probably sleep with an old teddy bear - but they'd never tell the other boys about it

      Of course it's not right to bully the child but the school was correct - he will be teased as long as he carries that lunch bag. Not a battle worth fighting - and not one the kid can win.
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      • Profile picture of the author MikeAmbrosio
        Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

        It's not prejudice - it's 9 yr old boy behavior.

        They abhor anything "girly" or "childish" - at 9, boys are very proud NOT to be "little kids" any more.

        Parents can help avoid problems like this by helping choose age appropriate things to take to school. Keep the My Little Pony bag for family gatherings and home use. The same kids bullying him probably sleep with an old teddy bear - but they'd never tell the other boys about it

        Of course it's not right to bully the child but the school was correct - he will be teased as long as he carries that lunch bag. Not a battle worth fighting - and not one the kid can win.
        I agree 100%.

        But you watch. The parents will sue the school over it. Not about the bully - about telling the kid to leave the lunchbox at home. LOL.
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      • Profile picture of the author David Braybrooke
        Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

        It's not prejudice - it's 9 yr old boy behavior.

        They abhor anything "girly" or "childish" - at 9, boys are very proud NOT to be "little kids" any more.

        Parents can help avoid problems like this by helping choose age appropriate things to take to school. Keep the My Little Pony bag for family gatherings and home use. The same kids bullying him probably sleep with an old teddy bear - but they'd never tell the other boys about it

        Of course it's not right to bully the child but the school was correct - he will be teased as long as he carries that lunch bag. Not a battle worth fighting - and not one the kid can win.
        Disagreed! The child should be allowed to have whatever lunch box he likes. If bullying or 'teasing' is happening it is up to the school to provide the correct discipline. They may think that 'banning' the lunch box is the proper action to take but it sets a stupid precedent about what is seen to be 'appropriate' choices for a particular gender.

        Originally Posted by lcombs View Post

        Yeah.... let's not punish the bullies.
        It was the kid's fault for bringing the wrong lunch box to school.
        And....
        If he did want to bring that lunchbox to school, he should have been taught to kick the bullies ass.
        So, it's the "Pony" boy's parents fault for not teaching to fight.
        There is no such thing as a 'wrong' lunch box choice my friend. It is the 'bullying' that is the issue here. Young boys can be taught to modify their aggressive behaviour, even if that is not a popular option for many. I can't believe some of the complete garbage I am reading in this thread!

        One point that I do agree with you is that the parents of the 'pony box boy' should have taught him about what the likely behaviour of other children might be. Instructing children to 'kick ass' or dish out other types of violent behaviour is completely unacceptable in my opinion. Young boys can be difficult enough as it is without extra encouragement by stupidly guided parents.
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        • Profile picture of the author MikeAmbrosio
          Originally Posted by David Braybrooke View Post

          Disagreed! The child should be allowed to have whatever lunch box he likes. If bullying or 'teasing' is happening it is up to the school to provide the correct discipline. They may think that 'banning' the lunch box is the proper action to take but it sets a stupid precedent about what is seen to be 'appropriate' choices for a particular gender.



          There is no such thing as a 'wrong' lunch box choice my friend. It is the 'bullying' that is the issue here. Young boys can be taught to modify their aggressive behaviour, even if that is not a popular option for many. I can't believe some of the complete garbage I am reading in this thread!

          One point that I do agree with you is that the parents of the 'pony box boy' should have taught him about what the likely behaviour of other children might be. Instructing children to 'kick ass' or dish out other types of violent behaviour is completely unacceptable in my opinion. Young boys can be difficult enough as it is without extra encouragement by stupidly guided parents.

          What you're talking about is not wrong. The bully/instigator should have been punished.

          But what Kay is talking about is reality.

          As much as we want to classify teachers/educators as a class above (or whatever) the fact is they are as human as the next person and have the same viewpoints and prejudices as anyone. So they see this little boy with what is traditionally a girls lunchbox and identify that as the issue. Because of how THEY were brought up.

          While it may not be right, you'll probably find that how they handled it is the prevalent course of action.
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          • Profile picture of the author David Braybrooke
            Originally Posted by MikeAmbrosio View Post

            As much as we want to classify teachers/educators as a class above (or whatever) the fact is they are as human as the next person and have the same viewpoints and prejudices as anyone. So they see this little boy with what is traditionally a girls lunchbox and identify that as the issue. Because of how THEY were brought up.

            While it may not be right, you'll probably find that how they handled it is the prevalent course of action.
            Then I would be thinking that it might be time to discipline the teachers too. Being 'human' has got nothing to do with forgetting about how to be tolerant. If we weren't so 'uptight' about a little boy taking a my little pony lunch box to school, then maybe we'd all have more time to be focussing on the really important issues in life. That's my opinion.

            If the situation had been one where a little girl had taken a robot lunch box or 'Cars' drink bottle etc, along to class, I daresay that the fallout would have been a lot less. Maybe I have lost a little perspective on this one but it is a young kid with a lunch box for God's sake! May the world last ...
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    • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
      Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

      Thunderbird,

      In "the karate kid" he muses to his sensei about how he should have had a great life because HE KNEW KARATE! The sensei said, in response, "Someone always knows more!"! JUST SAYING!!!!!
      Sure, but bullies pick easy targets. His martial arts classes also emphasize diplomacy first and foremost
      Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

      NOW, as to that kid? Think what you will but this goes back like over 100 years, possibly back MUCH farther.

      What's next? Will he bring a barbie laptop to school? They HAVE made them, you know, and likely still do. I think they make better ones, but HERE'S ONE!

      Amazon.com : Barbie B-Book Laptop : Barbie Kids Computers : Toys & Games

      And don't forget a nice dress!

      Amazon.com : Barbie Exclusive Wedding Dress Bouquet Girl Dress Up 4-6X J-Hook : Childrens Costume Accessories : Toys & Games

      OH, what amazon must think of me NOW! Talk about polluting clickstreams!
      So what if he does? Only a small minority of boys are like that and if they are, let them be. Live and let live -- what a great CONSERVATIVE value to instill in children.

      Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

      BTW if kids learn this "prejudice" from ANYONE, it is other kids, the public, and "teachers". MY parents, for example, never did any of this with me. If a boy were to dress like a "girly girl" and walk to school, he will have to contend with a lot before even getting to the sidewalk in front of the school.

      Steve
      I picked up bad stuff from lots of sources, but not from my parents, I can say that much.
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Wonder if anyone explained to the kid why it wasn't a good idea to carry it. We always assume if something was on TV that everybody knows what it is. This kid might have never ever seen the cartoon and not have known what My Little Pony was all about. He might just be a kid who'd really like a pony so he thought it was cute.

    This reminds me of the time a guy was bothering me in a bar. One of the areas tough guys, built like a brick sh*thouse, was a friend of mine - he did my hair. He leaned over the guy, smiled at him and said "you're gonna look pretty silly getting your *ss kicked by a hairdresser.

    Moral of story........you can do whatever the hell you want as long as you can defend yourself when you need to. Teach the kid to fight and to say FO to the bullies if he decides he likes something the other kids want to call him sissypants over.
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  • Profile picture of the author lcombs
    Yeah.... let's not punish the bullies.
    It was the kid's fault for bringing the wrong lunch box to school.
    And....
    If he did want to bring that lunchbox to school, he should have been taught to kick the bullies ass.
    So, it's the "Pony" boy's parents fault for not teaching to fight.
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    • Profile picture of the author HeySal
      Originally Posted by lcombs View Post

      Yeah.... let's not punish the bullies.
      It was the kid's fault for bringing the wrong lunch box to school.
      And....
      If he did want to bring that lunchbox to school, he should have been taught to kick the bullies ass.
      So, it's the "Pony" boy's parents fault for not teaching to fight.
      Might sound like tough love, Rick - but kids have to learn to defend themselves. I worked at a sexual assault crisis center. Know who the victims are? They're the ones the perps can point to and tell they'll be scared and submissive - muggings? Same thing. Bullying is just the early stages of real criminal behavior and you have to know how to defend yourself, and how to be confident enough to say "this is how I want it, so back off." That kind of confidence also leaks into other areas of life. You will find the most influential people are the ones with high levels of confidence. Not having to be afraid of being beaten up because you like a lunch box is a good start for a kid.
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      ...and the bullies probably have parents telling them "if you don't like a kid, kick his ass"...

      No wonder kids are so aggressive - when adults first thought is "fight".
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      • Profile picture of the author HeySal
        Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

        ...and the bullies probably have parents telling them "if you don't like a kid, kick his ass"...

        No wonder kids are so aggressive - when adults first thought is "fight".
        There's one finely huge bit of difference between "kick his ass if you don't like him" and self defense. Self-defense is not aggression - it's the defense against it. I know a few women who would be here today if someone had taught them defense. I'm on TB's side of the issue of training a kid to fight. You aren't training them to go out and just start flailing at people.
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      • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
        Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

        ...and the bullies probably have parents telling them "if you don't like a kid, kick his ass"...

        No wonder kids are so aggressive - when adults first thought is "fight".
        That would certainly be a stupid thing to say to a kid. There is a reason why most martial artists are so gentle. They're not taught crap like that.
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  • Profile picture of the author SteveJohnson
    Originally Posted by thunderbird View Post

    My son isn't a My Little Pony fan, but even if he were this wouldn't happen to him. The reason is that, with his early martial arts training, by the time he's in elementary school, he'll be able to decisively defend himself against most bullies, even those much bigger than him.
    School Tells Boy Bullied Over My Little Pony Lunchbox to Leave It at Home
    I'm all for what you're teaching your son; unfortunately, the schools aren't. Odds are, if he stood up to defend himself his punishment would be as bad or worse than the bully.

    Whoever dreamed up the "don't defend yourself" crap deserves to be taken behind the woodshed and not defend themselves.

    It's all a part of the indoctrination of "let the authorities handle it."
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    • Profile picture of the author MikeAmbrosio
      Originally Posted by SteveJohnson View Post

      I'm all for what you're teaching your son; unfortunately, the schools aren't. Odds are, if he stood up to defend himself his punishment would be as bad or worse than the bully.

      Whoever dreamed up the "don't defend yourself" crap deserves to be taken behind the woodshed and not defend themselves.

      It's all a part of the indoctrination of "let the authorities handle it."
      The same people who give the same trophies to ALL the kids, win or lose. So no one gets their feeling hurt and they all feel like winners...
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    • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
      Originally Posted by SteveJohnson View Post

      I'm all for what you're teaching your son; unfortunately, the schools aren't. Odds are, if he stood up to defend himself his punishment would be as bad or worse than the bully.

      Whoever dreamed up the "don't defend yourself" crap deserves to be taken behind the woodshed and not defend themselves.

      It's all a part of the indoctrination of "let the authorities handle it."
      I have come across news where a kid gets punished by school authorities for defending himself. He/she still wouldn't be as big a victim as an easy target for bullies would be, suffering years of torment. Leaving it to the authorities to handle something is often tantamount to waiting for the cows to come home. (That said, I'm not condoning vigilantism, lol.)

      Originally Posted by lcombs View Post

      Yeah.... let's not punish the bullies.
      It was the kid's fault for bringing the wrong lunch box to school.
      And....
      If he did want to bring that lunchbox to school, he should have been taught to kick the bullies ass.
      So, it's the "Pony" boy's parents fault for not teaching to fight.
      I agree where you're coming from with that. It is the reality that a kid has to deal with that dictates my decisions, not my ideals. It is not the way I wish it was but the way that it actually is. In my son's case he much enjoys the martial arts classes over pre-school, always happier before, during, and after class. I think the martial arts training will also help prepare him to better handle the subtle psychological abuse he'll have to deal with in adults, and already did in a government-run program that sounded nice on paper ("Strong Start").
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  • Profile picture of the author kenmichaels
    It is funny how much the world changes in just a few years.

    When I was in middle school a kid snapped a rubber band into my
    ear from behind, wowzer did that hurt ... I turned around called him a jerk
    when he raised the rubber band towards my face i punched him in the nose.

    The teacher witnessed the entire incident. I was suspended. NOT for
    punching the kid .... for calling him a jerk.
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    • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
      Originally Posted by kenmichaels View Post

      It is funny how much the world changes in just a few years.

      When I was in middle school a kid snapped a rubber band into my
      ear from behind, wowzer did that hurt ... I turned around called him a jerk
      when he raised the rubber band towards my face i punched him in the nose.

      The teacher witnessed the entire incident. I was suspended. NOT for
      punching the kid .... for calling him a jerk.
      A similar thing happened to me in middle school. I was playing basketball with some friends and this dude runs into our court and steals the ball. I called him an @$$hole. He punched me in the face. Blood everywhere. He got suspended for three days for punching me. I got five days for swearing.

      My dad made fun of me for years because I walked away because, "I didn't want to get blood on my sweater." His larger point was that I turned my back on the guy and he could have jumped me from behind. Lesson learned, dad.
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  • Profile picture of the author derekwong28
    I think even if you child can defend himself against physical violence, he cannot defend against nasty verbal name calling and insults. The effect of verbal violence can be just as deep on a child as physical violence. Another aspect is that it can lead to social isolation of the child in school.
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    • Profile picture of the author kenmichaels
      Originally Posted by derekwong28 View Post

      I think even if you child can defend himself against physical violence, he cannot defend against nasty verbal name calling and insults. The effect of verbal violence can be just as deep on a child as physical violence. Another aspect is that it can lead to social isolation of the child in school.
      Now that rests squarely on the parents shoulders.

      IMO the only way it would not, is if the child has a mental defect.

      Teaching your kid to be internally strong, self disciplined, self aware
      self sufficient and more ... That is the parents job.

      and it can all start with a simple little limerick ...

      Sticks and stones can break my bones
      ... but names can never hurt me.
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      • Profile picture of the author MikeAmbrosio
        Originally Posted by kenmichaels View Post

        Now that rests squarely on the parents shoulders.

        IMO the only way it would not, is if the child has a mental defect.

        Teaching your kid to be internally strong, self disciplined, self aware
        self sufficient and more ... That is the parents job.

        and it can all start with a simple little limerick ...

        Sticks and stones can break my bones
        ... but names can never hurt me.
        Very true.

        When I was in the middle school I had a tough time with a few kids. Mouthy, they were. I came home upset and my mother asked what was wrong. I told her what these kids said about me and "your mother". Her response was "Insults only come from those you love. From anyone else the words don't matter".

        When I fully grasped what that meant, it changed my outlook and how I dealt with them.

        People that are constantly hurt by words allow themselves to be. Sometimes it's just easier being a victim than to deal with it. Yes - there are cruel people in the world. But you still get to choose how things affect you and how you deal with them.

        And that's what I taught all my kids.
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      • Profile picture of the author yukon
        Banned
        Originally Posted by kenmichaels View Post

        Teaching your kid to be internally strong, self disciplined, self aware
        self sufficient and more ... That is the parents job.
        That will never happen when buying girl toys for a boy.

        The mother in the OP video has different plans.
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        • Profile picture of the author discrat
          I remember back in 82' when I was an 8th grader there was this bully who was relentless towards me for 2 straight years.

          His name was David Penegar ( Yes, his full name easily rolls of my tongue even after 31 years of last seeing him) He was just non stop with me.

          I remember at the Knoxville Worlds fair on a Sunday outing with my parents he saw me and came up with my parents right there calling me fag*ot and d1pshit and getting in my face.

          Yeah, right with my parents there. Totally humiliating ! They were dumbfounded and asked what was going on but I just shut down and refused to talk about it.

          And the number of headlocks he got me in to and the sucker punches to the gut and chest he inflicted were too many to count in that two years.

          It was not until I kicked the crap out of his friend Billy Miller in front of 15 guys in student Hall that he finally backed off.

          I always wondered what happened to him. I forgive him and probably would walk up to him now and shake his hand.

          But those two years were misery.

          Sometimes you have to fight back and put these bullies in their place.


          Robert
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        • Profile picture of the author seasoned
          Originally Posted by yukon View Post

          That will never happen when buying girl toys for a boy.

          The mother in the OP video has different plans.
          You're right there. WHAT, she wants to punish EVERYONE for this? There is a series, on disney, that has an episode where a teenager gets ridiculed because his father bought him a girls top! Unfortunately for him, it was easy to prove because they button from the other side. It goes to show you how pervasive such stuff is.

          The father says it shouldn't concern his teenage kid at all, so the kid insists that he buy a CLEARLY women's shirt. The father figures BIG DEAL, but changes his tune after being reminded of something. His son says "You DO know it's BOWLING NIGHT, right?".

          Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    What's next, bringing puppy brothers to school?



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    • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
      Originally Posted by yukon View Post

      What's next, bringing puppy brothers to school?



      "Puppy Brother" - AT&T Spring Value Promotion Commercial - YouTube
      Maybe the kid is odd. It may or may not be his mother's fault or that's just the way he is, who knows. With equal legitimacy one could also speculate that the parents of the bullies are doing something wrong, raising their kids to act as if they're in a repressive society, behaving like they're the Taliban. In a non-repressive society, individual differences are allowed for and kids should be taught that. After all we're not Communists.
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      Project HERE.

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  • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
    Kids can be quite cruel.

    A 10 year old boy with a my little pony lunchbox is asking for trouble and should be prepared for some ribbing - at the very least.

    I can relate to Joe Biden's' mother making him go back outside and fight so he could walk down the street with some dignity.

    Kids can be quite cruel and if you can afford it - it won't hurt to get the kid a season of martial arts.

    They'll learn how to defend themselves from bullies and maybe get a dash of discipline to boot.
    Signature

    "It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled. -- Mark Twain

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  • Profile picture of the author garyv
    The word "bully" seems to be over used lately. I'm not sure if I would call this bullying. In an environment where you're taught to conform, it's only natural for a 10 yr old boy to notice something so different and out of place. Had any of my guy friends in school carried a barbie lunchbox in to the school, they would have received a good ribbing from me - and I was no bully.

    It would be like wearing a "kick me" t-shirt and then blaming people for kicking - When the common sense action would be to not wear that t-shirt.

    Yes I believe in freedom of speech and all of that jazz - but there is such a thing as "cultural norms". You can do, speak, or wear what you want, but if it falls outside of cultural norms, then you have to at least be smart enough to recognize that and be prepared for it.
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    • Profile picture of the author HeySal
      Originally Posted by garyv View Post

      The word "bully" seems to be over used lately. I'm not sure if I would call this bullying. In an environment where you're taught to conform, it's only natural for a 10 yr old boy to notice something so different and out of place. Had any of my guy friends in school carried a barbie lunchbox in to the school, they would have received a good ribbing from me - and I was no bully.

      It would be like wearing a "kick me" t-shirt and then blaming people for kicking - When the common sense action would be to not wear that t-shirt.

      Yes I believe in freedom of speech and all of that jazz - but there is such a thing as "cultural norms". You can do, speak, or wear what you want, but if it falls outside of cultural norms, then you have to at least be smart enough to recognize that and be prepared for it.
      I just so highly agree with this. This whole nation and it's PC little "oww, if you say something I don't like I'll be offended and call the big bad authorities on you" bs has gotten to stink pretty badly. Teasing is a hella long way off from bullying. All of us were teased at one point or another when we were kids. Because of our new PC sensitivity, nobody can say boo to another person without it becoming a federal case. I feel real sorry for people who have been this sensitized. When the excrement hits the air conditioning they are totally unable to cope, even as adults, without running and getting daddy gov to "protect" them. It's just freaking all out nonsense. We need to save the word "bully" for those who actually launch an active campaign to ruin someone else's life.

      It's really time for everyone to cowboy up and put things back into perspective a little bit. So the kid got a little sissy teasing. Big damned deal. He did something sissy. Now if one of those kids continues on and follows him around, starts threatening him physically, stealing his lunch money, and calling attention to him every damned time he sees him in the hall - that's when action on the kids part or parents/authorities is warranted.
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      Sal
      When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
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      • Profile picture of the author seasoned
        Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

        Because of our new PC sensitivity, nobody can say boo to another person without it becoming a federal case.
        In my neck of the woods, when someone complained too much about a minor issue, people would say "Don't make a federal case out of it!". It was an EXPRESSION!!!!!! NOW, when you say a statement like above, I believe you mean FOR REAL! GIVE ME A BREAK!

        I feel real sorry for people who have been this sensitized. When the excrement hits the air conditioning they are totally unable to cope, even as adults, without running and getting daddy gov to "protect" them. It's just freaking all out nonsense. We need to save the word "bully" for those who actually launch an active campaign to ruin someone else's life.

        It's really time for everyone to cowboy up and put things back into perspective a little bit. So the kid got a little sissy teasing. Big damned deal. He did something sissy. Now if one of those kids continues on and follows him around, starts threatening him physically, stealing his lunch money, and calling attention to him every damned time he sees him in the hall - that's when action on the kids part or parents/authorities is warranted.
        SO FAR, I have been dead on with this stuff. What I figured would happen after 2008 has been artificially delayed. Well, they are talking about it on the financial shows now. BUFFET now agrees. *****DUH*****! ABOUT TIME! SOROS has a $1.3 BILLION USD bet that it will happen. If he is wrong, he could lose all $1.3BILLION. If he is right, he will be far richer. The FED announced things may start to change in april(IIRC), and the market took a dive today, right at that announcement.

        Anyway, if what many are predicting comes to pass, and it is all I can think will happen if we get to that point, we will be like GREECE when the same thing happened to THEM! Getting called names will be the LEAST of anyone's concerns.

        HECK, you know all those jobs we supposedly got? Well more variables have changed in the past 4 years than perhaps ANY other time in the entire history of the US. ONE affected variable is HOURS PER WEEK! A presidential advisor said nobody is watching THAT, but that the drop is now equivalent to about 1 MILLION lost jobs!

        Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author MikeTucker
    I do want to add one bit of perspective.

    When I was very young I was often left in the care of my two older
    (female) cousins. They didn't have GI Joe, Transformers, or even
    Hot Wheels.

    So when cartoons were off and I got myself grounded from Atari,
    I played My Little Ponies, Barbies, and Care Bears. And it was the
    only fun I was allowed to have, so I loved the Hell out of it.

    I think I even had a Care Bear Cousin at one point. A raccoon or
    a skunk or something.


    Not sure if that was what happened with this kid, who knows.
    But at least it isn't this:

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    ...A tachyon enters a bar.

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    • Profile picture of the author garyv
      Originally Posted by MikeTucker View Post

      So when cartoons were off and I got myself grounded from Atari,
      I played My Little Ponies, Barbies, and Care Bears. And it was the
      only fun I was allowed to have, so I loved the Hell out of it.
      I think most boys at some point in their life were forced to play w/ dolls or some other girly toys out of necessity and boredom - and probably liked it. However you wouldn't be caught dead advertising that fact on your lunchbox.
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by MikeTucker View Post

      I do want to add one bit of perspective.

      When I was very young I was often left in the care of my two older
      (female) cousins. They didn't have GI Joe, Transformers, or even
      Hot Wheels.

      So when cartoons were off and I got myself grounded from Atari,
      I played My Little Ponies, Barbies, and Care Bears. And it was the
      only fun I was allowed to have, so I loved the Hell out of it.

      I think I even had a Care Bear Cousin at one point. A raccoon or
      a skunk or something.


      Not sure if that was what happened with this kid, who knows.
      But at least it isn't this:

      BRONIES - ADULT MEN WHO LOVE MY LITTLE PONY - BBC NEWS - YouTube
      Outside of the laughing, and the guy with the sign, I didn't hear sound with ANY of the individuals.

      I think trekkies and some old people on halloween are weird, but THIS takes the cake!

      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    Personally, I'd rather see both parents and schools teaching empathy and tolerance over something like this, but that's not going to happen. Fact is, school children are often unkind and cruel to others who are different in any way ... most likely because their parents are cruel and unkind to others who are different.

    Maybe the kid is gay (and doesn't know it yet). He's in for a lifetime of intolerance. Maybe he's a sissy ... So what? People should be allowed to be who they are.

    The lesson these kids learned ... the pricks who picked on him because they didn't like his lunchbox were rewarded for their behavior and the kid who likes My Little Ponies, learns that he can't be himself. Nice lessons.
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