Verbal and emotional abuse should bear the same consequences as physical abuse

[shellak]

i do think many adults today need to take a good look at their public behavior. there is a bullying factor in politics today..people who disagree with government decisions yelling, threatening people, even committing violent acts. while bullying has always been around, there have been quite a few in the news lately. we, as adults and parents, need to remember we are role models, and if children see that it is okay to harass, spew hatred, etc., they will very frequently end up going down the wrong path. i don't care what political party you support - that behavior is just not acceptable.

 

[Beauty hunter]

Thanks for posting that. I don't understand why the adults in charge did not step in and take action before it got to this point.

In some cases, people minimize the fights thinking that it is an innocent quarrel based on a disagreement. There are those that have gotten away with bad behavior so long that it is exacerbated with time and often overlooked because no one expects a child/young adult to behave with such malice. These problems should not be overlooked, I often wonder what serial killers started out doing before they ended up where they were. This subject is not fun, but needs to be addressed. Bullying is predatory behavior.

 

[Beauty hunter]

That's what I thought Susan. But do we ALWAYS have to punish? Is there a better way to make something good come from all this bad? Can the students do community service? Talk to other teens about this? Read to seniors? I mean, there has to be a reason that they acted as they did and society needs to find a way for them to make amends without destroying their lives as well. I am certain that they must have had a huge wake-up call when this happened. I don't mean that there should be no consequences, but the suggestions I mentioned above would be better than just jail time or a record. Very very sad.

The punishment should fit the crime. In this case, it sounds like it is definitely going to court so it will have to be decided through the legal system. Actions without consequences doesn't exist.

 

[Franny]

Not disagreeing, but what options are there?



Which is why the video can show undeniable proof of their abusive behavior, and why a civil judgment with monetary penalty may be the only solution.

Agreed....hopefully the parents will wake up once their $$$$$ is an issue.

 

[Matt J]

In some cases, people minimize the fights thinking that it is an innocent quarrel based on a disagreement. There are those that have gotten away with bad behavior so long that it is exacerbated with time and often overlooked because no one expects a child/young adult to behave with such malice. These problems should not be overlooked, I often wonder what serial killers started out doing before they ended up where they were. This subject is not fun, but needs to be addressed. Bullying is predatory behavior.

Bullying anything smaller than them including animals.

 

[scooterbug44]

These things must go to the legal system because there aren't any punishments the school can implement that don't open them to liability OR parental override.

I think we all know that these (and other) perpetrators are not well disciplined kids w/ involved parents who side w/ the teachers. :roll:

 

[Gidget]

...reading to seniors, LOL. That is what Atticus Finch made his son Jem do after he angrily massacred Mrs. Dubose's camellias (she had recently made some nasty comments to Jem from her porch). I do believe it helped Jem ultimately develop some compassion for this brave old woman who was trying to get herself free of a morphine addiction...

Imagine a world where there are more people like Atticus and Scout and Boo Radley. I want to live there.

I totally remember that from TKAMB. I do believe it is an excellent community service. My son has been spending a lot of time with his grandmother who has severe Parkinson's. He has learned so much from her. He's helping her with a 2nd edition of her book - she has such a time with keyboard, etc.... but she has a brilliant mind.

Yes, I can certainly imagine such a place Susan. Could there be anyone finer than Atticus? And didn't Gregory Peck do a splendid job in the movie.

I adored Scout and I still say "What the Sam Hill are you doing?" when I see things that blow my mind (like the syrup).

G

 

[Gidget]

The punishment should fit the crime. In this case, it sounds like it is definitely going to court so it will have to be decided through the legal system. Actions without consequences doesn't exist.

By "punish" I mean, put away, serve time, outta site. And the punishment should not always "fit the crime". Does that mean that in turn, these people should be bullied? I think that they should be shown community support to find a way for them to become productive citizens, etc... and yet have the courts lean heavily toward LOTS of community involvement/sevice. I just find that the court system is often lacking in imagination and falls safely back on incarceration, or monetary fines.