scared the h*ll outta me

[BookstoreEscapee]

thats the thing. the assumption is that when we do have problems, it's probably going to be at the window rather than at the door.

how about just adding a panic button by the door?

[Amethyst Hunter]

When people reach that level of duress they WILL act on the situation. The majority of the people are the type that react by turning inward. In essence, they fall into depression and often attempt suicide.

I can also understand the anger behind the Columbiners' actions. But I also think they were some extremely messed-up kids (reports I remember reading had it that they were very much into some freaky Nazi stuff and violent videogames - beyond an acceptable level of just wanting to 'blow off steam', that is - correct me if I'm wrong on those accounts) and that the bullying was the trigger for their explosion.

I often tell people when the subject of bullying comes up (and it is without fail one of THE things that spikes my blood pressure) that I thought about Columbining my peers long before those shooters were out of baby trenchcoat Gap fashions. I was bullied regularly all throughout middle and high school, and unfortunately I am one of them that turns inward, which probably led to more bullying since they saw that their attacks were drawing blood (figuratively speaking, although a couple of times I came damn near close to drawing it literally, either through my own doing or others').

I often wonder what my life would have been like if I had had the guts to stand up for myself back then, authorities' anger be damned (I speak here of the wrath school officials and parents would have visited upon me as a result of being a 'troublemaker' instead of a good little quiet sheeple). Maybe I wouldn't be the meek little cowardly failure with severe depression/mental problems if I'd kicked a little ass in my time.

Then again, someone whose online journal I read on a regular basis once talked about their experiences of being bullied, and that person was able to articulate what I never could but knew deep inside - a good portion of *why* I never fought back: because if I started, I would never be able to stop. One of the things I remember most about high school was that I learned how to hate. And I got straight A's in that subject.

[ColonelInTheKitchen]

Our school bus ran over our dog.

Kurt Fucking Cox told me he thought it was my sister.

I wigged out. I didn't get violent but I yelled. Loudly.

As for the broken fingers, yes, you took the correct action and I hope it does go well in court, but if the man had actually gotten into the booth after you told him TWICE where he needed to go (correctly), then you may have ended up with more than your own fair share of broken body parts. It was simply one of those situations where you cannot control policy.

[zzapp the witch]

I was the bottom rung in school. The bookworm you poured Nair on, or whose hair you lit on fire. I was the ugly girl. (10th high school reunion was fun....hehehe, karma's a bitch!) When Columbine happened, I was at my parents' watching news coverage. My mom thought they were psycho, I said they were getting revenge. Why revenge? she asked. Because its what I wanted to do, you just wait, it'll come out that they were bullied. Sure enough.


And OP, are you allowed to be armed in there? Mace? Pepper spray? Gun? Cause that would be nice.

[JustADude]

I can also understand the anger behind the Columbiners' actions. But I also think they were some extremely messed-up kids (reports I remember reading had it that they were very much into some freaky Nazi stuff and violent videogames - beyond an acceptable level of just wanting to 'blow off steam', that is - correct me if I'm wrong on those accounts) and that the bullying was the trigger for their explosion.

All those actions are, indeed, signs of an unstable personality, but you have to ask yourself "Which came first, the abuse or the insanity?" when you look at them. Really, the fact that there's such "good" evidence that they were fucked up like that just goes to prove my point. There were plenty of signs of trouble brewing, and plenty of chances to stop the chain of events, but nobody bothered to read or act on them since that would mean having to spoil the fun of their "precious" athletes.

[Mark Healey]

I too, have stories of being bullied, somewhere between the worst and not that bad posted here. I blame the schools and the lazy teachers. They would tell you to tell a teacher and they would do nothing or give the kid some token admonition and you would get worse later on. Even if they saw it, they would do nothing unless you went to them.

Now days it wouldn't be too expensive to have 100% camera coverage of schools. The could then find out who the bullies are and get rid of them.

[Rubystars]

That was a Friday. By Monday I had brooded over it to the point that, when Joslyn started in on my again, I shoved her across the aisle, blocked her in, and threatened her with a sharpened pencil, saying that if she EVER came near me again, or tried to get me in trouble, I'd shove it in her eye. I didn't know the phrase "gouge your eyes out" yet. Yes it was extreme, but she'd been making me miserable since Kindergarten, and it worked.

I'm sorry that happened to you to where you weren't believed, along with the other abuse. Sometimes when it comes to bullies, playing the nice guy just makes you seem like a victim, and you have to stand up and be "extreme". For some, that really is all they can understand. I don't think you did wrong by showing her she couldn't push you around anymore. I think she needed the crap scared out of her.

[Casino Jockey]

back on topic..
this morning i went to the big bosses office where i was given a commendation for my good work in this instance

[cinema guy]

Excellent!

[XCashier]

back on topic..
this morning i went to the big bosses office where i was given a commendation for my good work in this instance

Good to see the bosses understand and appreciate a good employee. And I hope the crook has to serve some serious time!

[Broomjockey]

back on topic..
this morning i went to the big bosses office where i was given a commendation for my good work in this instance

YAY!

That will help a LOT in any instance of Mr. Stupid trying a lawsuit for pain and suffering or any junk like that. I don't think a lawsuit would actually ever make it past a laughing lawyer, but stupider things have happened.

[JustADude]

back on topic..

This morning i went to the big bosses office where i was given a commendation for my good work in this instance

As you well deserved! Congrats! Any word on what they're doing about security, though?

[WorkAtBBuy]

back on topic..
this morning i went to the big bosses office where i was given a commendation for my good work in this instance

Let me just say....

That was quick action on your part and probably saved your life and limb. Good call!

As for the bullying...ugh. Don't get me started. I'd have to go into a long boring socio-economic diatribe about it. But, yeah, bullying sucks.

[TealJellyfish]

Thats awesome to hear. I am glad your ok and your bosses realised your greatness

[myswtghst]

Yay Casino Jockey! Glad they were using their heads and recognized how awesome you did!

And to the off topic, bullying is something I'm grateful I never was really plagued with, but it came down to two things in my case. The first being that I honestly did not care, and my apathy seemed to take the fun out of it for the bullies who used their words. The second would be the fact that I got into my first fist fight when I was 6yo and hung out with boys most of my youth. Most people were well aware that if they hit me, I'd be taking a swing right back at them, and I'd had plenty of practice.