Thanks for asking; I actually was bullied once, so yes. Importantly, as I've told this story as a parable to my son growing up, had Martin's father told a similar one to him, all this could have been avoided and he'd be more of a man today than he is because it incorporates some of the same elements.. so thanks for asking :up:
never been bulliied before because it was known I would not backdown and because of some of the friends I hung with. So imagine how amazed I was when someone starting jostling me and trying to take my food in the HS cafeteria line. I told him to cut it out but he didn't. At that point I didn't want to create an enemy or make a scene so I let it go for about 5 days. And that only emboldened him. Now like Martin, I had enforcers, including someone with a reputation I could have had intervene, but I didn't; like Martin, I could have gone to the lunchroom supervisor or the principal but I didn't. Like Martin (supposedly) I let the intimidation go for awhile in hope that the bully would grow tired. Obviously unlike Martin's dad ... my father told me what I told my son: that you avoid trouble and ignore bullies if at all reasonable until you instinctively know it's gone too far and then you do what you need to in order to make sure that bully regrets picking on you, and if possible in front of an audience to serve notice. Unlike Martin on the 5th or 6th day, which showed restraint, after pushing me, sweeping my food off the counter, I stuck a fork deep in that bully's hand in front of the whole cafeteria. I'll never forget that look of surprise he had. He was sent to the hospital, I was given a few weeks detention (they tried to do more but my father stepped in with counter threats), and you better believe I was never bullied again. I know this may not resonate with someone who thinks it's alright to sashay through life turning the other cheek under their pink tutu, but that's the way to handle a bully when all else fails. Thanks for asking. Hope it's not too late to impart a principle to live by to you although it's obviously too late for Martin.
