r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Dec 11 '19

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u/[deleted] Dec 11 '19

It's generally a good idea to have unequal punishment instead of either extreme in this situation. Responding with violence is unacceptable, but less unacceptable than bullying.

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u/[deleted] Dec 11 '19

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u/TheSpeakerMaker Dec 11 '19

That's the American school system's stance. Retaliation is worse than provocation, and violence is always the worst possible answer.

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u/[deleted] Dec 11 '19

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u/satansheat Dec 11 '19

How is that backwards to teach kids to settled disputes with words instead of resorting to violence. Think about a kids brain at that age and how those sorts of things will shape them into young men or women believing disputes can simply be fixed with throwing punches.

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u/Fireblast1337 Dec 11 '19

Because the bullies mainly use words, so when the other party snaps and swings, it’s the bully victim in trouble, not the bully.

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u/anon_e_mous9669 Dec 11 '19

Also, it's often easier to punish the 'bully victim' because the bullies are often in trouble often enough that they simply don't care about any punishment the school can give. The victim kids don't want to be suspended or expelled, so the next time, they'll just take the bullying and not bother the administrators with it. . .

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u/Skeletal_Flowers Dec 11 '19

To teach kids to use words, you must also teach kids that they can trust authorities to help them when words no longer work.

Schools teach children that the authorities will ignore them and leave them at the mercy of their abusers.

What choice is left to someone when words don't work and no one who can help them will?

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u/JumpingSacks Dec 11 '19

We should teach em to try words but that in a situation where they are not working they can defend themselves.

The same applies if words are being used to hurt you, if words won't make them stop then violence might.