Comments on: Why We Pick on the Weak http://lestersmith.com/2009/09/05/why-we-pick-on-the-weak-2/ A convergence of poetry, game design, and Web tech. Sat, 07 Jan 2012 08:02:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Lester http://lestersmith.com/2009/09/05/why-we-pick-on-the-weak-2/comment-page-1/#comment-1479 Lester Tue, 09 Nov 2010 04:33:34 +0000 http://lestersmith.com/2009/09/05/why-we-pick-on-the-weak-2/#comment-1479 Hi, Vishal. Your comment doesn't include enough info for a reasoned response. Do you mean "guardian"? If so, you ought to explain the situation to a counselor at school or church and ask for advice, or talk to someone at your local police department or courthouse. Hi, Vishal. Your comment doesn’t include enough info for a reasoned response. Do you mean “guardian”? If so, you ought to explain the situation to a counselor at school or church and ask for advice, or talk to someone at your local police department or courthouse.

]]> By: vishal http://lestersmith.com/2009/09/05/why-we-pick-on-the-weak-2/comment-page-1/#comment-1477 vishal Tue, 09 Nov 2010 02:45:41 +0000 http://lestersmith.com/2009/09/05/why-we-pick-on-the-weak-2/#comment-1477 Hi, Bully gurdian is picking on me. What should i do? They are kicking me out from their house, telling me and forcing me to live at places i do not want. Hi, Bully gurdian is picking on me.
What should i do? They are kicking me out from their house, telling me and forcing me to live at places i do not want.

]]> By: Lester http://lestersmith.com/2009/09/05/why-we-pick-on-the-weak-2/comment-page-1/#comment-1335 Lester Wed, 28 Apr 2010 04:05:51 +0000 http://lestersmith.com/2009/09/05/why-we-pick-on-the-weak-2/#comment-1335 Thanks for the clarification, Ken. However, characterizing some people as wolves and others as deer still seems too easy an answer. That's the typical "us vs. them" picture. Maybe it's that I'm trying to address a different question: Why does a group of people bully some members within that very group? This isn't a wolves and deer topic, but rather a wolves culling their own pack or deer culling their own herd. I mention the school yard because that seems to be where this instinctive ostracizing of the weak and different first shows up, but it continues into adult situations like office politics. Frankly, I've grown distrustful and weary of characterizing some people as heroes and some as villains. That's all well and good in fantasy fiction, but it doesn't offer any progress to our civilization. And I do believe humans have progressed from warlike tribes to something more globally familial. If we're going to survive, that civilizing process must continue. Wrestling questions like this, I suspect, is how we'll get there. Thanks for the clarification, Ken.

However, characterizing some people as wolves and others as deer still seems too easy an answer. That’s the typical “us vs. them” picture.

Maybe it’s that I’m trying to address a different question: Why does a group of people bully some members within that very group? This isn’t a wolves and deer topic, but rather a wolves culling their own pack or deer culling their own herd. I mention the school yard because that seems to be where this instinctive ostracizing of the weak and different first shows up, but it continues into adult situations like office politics.

Frankly, I’ve grown distrustful and weary of characterizing some people as heroes and some as villains. That’s all well and good in fantasy fiction, but it doesn’t offer any progress to our civilization. And I do believe humans have progressed from warlike tribes to something more globally familial. If we’re going to survive, that civilizing process must continue. Wrestling questions like this, I suspect, is how we’ll get there.

]]> By: Ken St. Andre http://lestersmith.com/2009/09/05/why-we-pick-on-the-weak-2/comment-page-1/#comment-1330 Ken St. Andre Tue, 27 Apr 2010 21:57:29 +0000 http://lestersmith.com/2009/09/05/why-we-pick-on-the-weak-2/#comment-1330 Hmm, Les, since the body of your blog focussed so much on "bullying in educational environments", I guess I overlooked the question of implicit guilt in the We in the title. I maintain that the answer is basically the same. Any aggressive action is founded on the idea of getting advantage with minimal expenditure of energy. Wolf packs cull the weak out of herds of deer because they can kill them more easily with less risk of damage to themselves. It's the same in human society. Human wolves pick on the weak because the cost benefit ratio is better that way. On the other hand, there are some who practice aggression in order to get revenge. That's what happens when the "weak" pick on the "strong". Is revenge aggression fundamentally different from other forms of social aggression. Maybe the whole question of aggression comes down to human nature. We love to fight, and we continue to find new ways to do it. Hmm, Les, since the body of your blog focussed so much on “bullying in educational environments”, I guess I overlooked the question of implicit guilt in the We in the title. I maintain that the answer is basically the same. Any aggressive action is founded on the idea of getting advantage with minimal expenditure of energy. Wolf packs cull the weak out of herds of deer because they can kill them more easily with less risk of damage to themselves. It’s the same in human society. Human wolves pick on the weak because the cost benefit ratio is better that way. On the other hand, there are some who practice aggression in order to get revenge. That’s what happens when the “weak” pick on the “strong”. Is revenge aggression fundamentally different from other forms of social aggression.

Maybe the whole question of aggression comes down to human nature. We love to fight, and we continue to find new ways to do it.

]]> By: Lester http://lestersmith.com/2009/09/05/why-we-pick-on-the-weak-2/comment-page-1/#comment-581 Lester Mon, 07 Sep 2009 04:13:28 +0000 http://lestersmith.com/2009/09/05/why-we-pick-on-the-weak-2/#comment-581 Thanks for the comment, Ken. But that's really not an answer, is it? For one thing, using the word "bullies" sidesteps the issue raised in the title, "Why WE pick on the weak." I hope it's clear in my essay that this is a whole-culture phenomenon, not just limited to bullies. Secondly, the question remains: Why does anyone pick on anyone? Focusing your answer just on choosing one target of two possibilities sidesteps that question as well. Ciao, Les Thanks for the comment, Ken. But that’s really not an answer, is it? For one thing, using the word “bullies” sidesteps the issue raised in the title, “Why WE pick on the weak.” I hope it’s clear in my essay that this is a whole-culture phenomenon, not just limited to bullies. Secondly, the question remains: Why does anyone pick on anyone? Focusing your answer just on choosing one target of two possibilities sidesteps that question as well.

Ciao,

Les

]]> By: Ken St. Andre http://lestersmith.com/2009/09/05/why-we-pick-on-the-weak-2/comment-page-1/#comment-578 Ken St. Andre Sat, 05 Sep 2009 18:59:13 +0000 http://lestersmith.com/2009/09/05/why-we-pick-on-the-weak-2/#comment-578 Why do bullies pick on the weak? Because the strong can fight back, that's why! Why do bullies pick on the weak? Because the strong can fight back, that’s why!

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