Writer's Block: When push comes to shove

[dorchadas]

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The absolute best thing that could be done would be for adults to stop treating something children do as a natural and inevitable part of childhood when the same behavior as adults would end with jail time and battery charges.

Comments

[skettimon.livejournal.com]

But it is a natural and inevitable part of childhood-to a degree. There will always be the alpha male (or alpha female in some cases), who want to express their dominance to the weaker male/female. I know it sounds rather primitive, but I mean really-even with all the technology today, it really seems as if the human race has become more primitive than ever before.

Even though it is a tired thing to say, and even though it does sound as if people are making excuses, children really don't know any better.

[q99.livejournal.com]

That just means they have to be taught not to do it, not that it should be left alone.

[dorchadas]

Exactly. Children don't know not to shit everywhere after they're born, or how to dress themselves, or any number of other things we should teach them. This is just one more thing.

[nytesenvy.livejournal.com]

before the age of 11 or 12, children are classifiable as sociopaths because they don't have any moral relativity. you can teach them to mimic like a parrot all you want, but they don't understand the consequences of their actions until much later.

however, i do agree it's a parenting issue.

[nytesenvy.livejournal.com]

but that depends on how you define bullying. Is bullying teasing someone for being fat? (which has no criminal or civil recourse in the adult world) or is bullying beating someone behind the school yard? (which is battery in BOTH a civil and criminal sense no matter your age)

[dorchadas]

Merely (well, and repeatedly) being called fat, or a slut, or told no one likes them, and ostracized is enough for some teenagers to kill themselves.

It is hard to police, though. Banning calling people fat is obviously ludicrous, but for some people it causes enough harm that it's pretty obviously bullying. Beatings are easier to solve in a legal sense (if not a social one), but sticks and stones-style bullying isn't.

[nytesenvy.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry - but from a legal stand point I can't see naming bullying as causation for suicide. I can't. It's not proximate enough.

And, though I am loath to say it, plenty of people get bullied and never end their own life.

[dorchadas]

My second paragraph already pretty much answers your qualms. There's plenty of examples of crimes where the layman's definition of proof is met but the legal one isn't. Hence, "It is hard to police, though."

[nytesenvy.livejournal.com]

It's not just policing though - there isn't adequate civil recourse either through that route. criminal law is only half the picture, and by and large its the smaller half.

[dorchadas]

I'd personally phrase it as not being consistent. There are cases where civil suits went ahead, but it's nowhere near the total amount of incidents. As always.

[nytesenvy.livejournal.com]

Civil suits cost money. You have to pay to play.

[q99.livejournal.com]

-
The absolute best thing that could be done would be for adults to stop treating something children do as a natural and inevitable part of childhood when the same behavior as adults would end with jail time and battery charges.-

Seconded. Children *do* listen to and take their cues from adults.

[khandreia.livejournal.com]

This. Times 1 million.

That's all I have to say on that.