Kid gets suspended after standing up to bully

[roger]

In any case, firing any weapons outside of a shooting range or hunting area is strictly illegal, except in cases of self-defense.

Ack. You said 'states' and my mind immediately read USA. You are obviously discussing Australia. I of course withdraw my comment.

 

[Nihilianth]

Ack. You said 'states' and my mind immediately read USA. You are obviously discussing Australia. I of course withdraw my comment.

haha, it's all good!

I will admit, I was equally confused when you brought up the issue of firearms that are legal if they were built before 1968. Or whatever year. Then I realized you were talking about the USA. Which is why I sort of mentioned it in that one post that you just quoted.

 

[qarnos]

Thanks for the link, Qarnos.

No problems

There is now also an interview with Ritchard Gale (the bully), and claims Casey hit/pushed him first. I guess we'll never know for sure, but I find Ritchard to be less credible than Casey.

 

[Rasmus]

No problems

There is now also an interview with Ritchard Gale (the bully), and claims Casey hit/pushed him first. I guess we'll never know for sure, but I find Ritchard to be less credible than Casey.

Can't watch this while at work, but a few points nonetheless:

From the video, I find it hard to believe that there was much going on prior to what we've seen. Even if there had been a punch or a hit, wouldn't the first hit in Casey's face have been enough? Casey did obviously not fight back after that, did he?

Did anyone say who filmed the video now? Casey's sister said he brought it home that very day right after school.

 

[Nihilianth]

Can't watch this while at work, but a few points nonetheless:

From the video, I find it hard to believe that there was much going on prior to what we've seen. Even if there had been a punch or a hit, wouldn't the first hit in Casey's face have been enough? Casey did obviously not fight back after that, did he?

Did anyone say who filmed the video now? Casey's sister said he brought it home that very day right after school.

1 thing though. They are just kids. Adults don't act rationally as all that. How can you expect teenagers and pre-teens to do so? Not saying that is any excuse to be punching another person in the face.

I still maintain, however, that Casey definitely was in the right for defending himself after getting punched in the face.

 

[Crocoshark]

No problems

There is now also an interview with Ritchard Gale (the bully), and claims Casey hit/pushed him first. I guess we'll never know for sure, but I find Ritchard to be less credible than Casey.

Now this is what I was waiting for, hearing from the other side of the story. I don't think the kids stories are mutually exclusive so don't feel the need to believe one over the other. (though the narrator said hit, Ritchard just said shoved and "taunted" (get to class you idiot)) Casey said their confrontations had been going on for a couple weeks so that pushing/taunting was probably just another link in a chain of back-and-forth reactions to what the other kid did.

My view; they're both kids. They've both been bullied, as the vid said. Both kids likely had their own over-reactions to what the other kid did in the course of their confrontation (both outside and within what we know), Ritchard punching Casey being the most notable over-reaction. As Nihilianth said, kids (and adults) do stupid and irrational stuff.

 

[Nihilianth]

Now this is what I was waiting for, hearing from the other side of the story. I don't think the kids stories are mutually exclusive so don't feel the need to believe one over the other. (though the narrator said hit, Ritchard just said shoved and "taunted" (get to class you idiot)) Casey said their confrontations had been going on for a couple weeks so that pushing/taunting was probably just another link in a chain of back-and-forth reactions to what the other kid did.

My view; they're both kids. They've both been bullied, as the vid said. Both kids likely had their own over-reactions to what the other kid did in the course of their confrontation (both outside and within what we know), Ritchard punching Casey being the most notable over-reaction. As Nihilianth said, kids (and adults) do stupid and irrational stuff.

It was a bit one-sided though. Whereas, Ritchard had a bunch of "friends," (who, admittedly, were probably nothing but bad influences using peer pressure,) Casey had none.

I heard a comment from someone about that interview with ritchard. Someone had mentioned "Oh, he must be lying, because he's not as articulate as Casey! How can you trust someone like that?"

Too bad that Ritchard is only 12, and Casey 15. A pretty huge gap. Twelve is even more of an awkward age than 15.And you are not as intellectually developed.

 

[qayak]

1 thing though. They are just kids. Adults don't act rationally as all that. How can you expect teenagers and pre-teens to do so? Not saying that is any excuse to be punching another person in the face.

I still maintain, however, that Casey definitely was in the right for defending himself after getting punched in the face.

Absolutely, and now that the bully has been stopped from attacking Casey, there can be a discussion. I don't want to see either of these two kids injured in the future but should one of them start bulling another person, I am all for whatever violence they suffer.

It is also time to revisit the whole bullying thing and come up with some realistic solutions that work.

 

[TragicMonkey]

It is also time to revisit the whole bullying thing and come up with some realistic solutions that work.

I suggest extremely harsh punishments for all the bystanders and witnesses to bullying who don't take action to intervene. Punishing bullies doesn't work, punishing victims is unfair, and those in authority aren't capable of stopping it or being present at all times. So punish all the other children for not intervening, or at least tattling, on every occasion of bullying. Bullying succeeds because the rabble doesn't take collective action. If it were in their interests to get involved, the rabble could exercise a restraining influence on bullies. I suggest motivating the rabble by means of punishing inaction. Revocation of desired privileges, suspensions, corporal punishments, expulsions, etc. The initial wave of terror will have to be very harsh in order to make examples of people, to force the herd into line.

What? If kids are going to behave like beasts they might as well be treated like them. If I ran things, they'd each be fitted with electroshock collars. That would stop their nonsense.

 

[Sabretooth]

I don't know if this has been said...I apologize in advance if it has...

IMO, Casey had every right and reason to do what he did. He was defending himself to incapacitate the aggressor. A shove to the ground may mean nothing if Ritchie gets back up and comes back at Casey. Casey did what instinct says to do…which is to end the engagement and get his ass out of there.

What if Casey does nothing at all? Just takes the hits and goes to report it to the adults? School may be different now-a-days, but in my experience, that just opens Casey up to a lot more long term hell. He would be labeled a “snitch” and would open himself up as the easy kid to pick on. Smaller kids (such as Ritchie) take it as a challenge to go after bigger fish…as if it proves toughness. Casey, had he not defended himself, would have dozens of little monsters going at him to show how awesome they are.

Did Casey go overboard? That’s a judgment call and would require a bit more knowledge than what we see on the video. How long had Ritchie been taunting Casey? Were there any insults thrown around? Does anything change the ultimate outcome?

Also, had I been Casey, I would have done the same exact thing. It seemed that Ritchie had a few friends with him, while Casey was alone. If Casey had just maybe pushed Ritchie (uninjured) to the ground, now we have an irritated Ritchie and friends that could have a pack-mentality to pile on Casey…which makes for a serious escalation and limited escape routes for Casey. By taking out one little rat completely and walking away, Casey defended himself and ended the altercation in one fell swoop (pun intended ).

I don't believe a defender should ever have to pay a price when someone else instigated an altercation.

 

[Nihilianth]

I suggest extremely harsh punishments for all the bystanders and witnesses to bullying who don't take action to intervene. Punishing bullies doesn't work, punishing victims is unfair, and those in authority aren't capable of stopping it or being present at all times. So punish all the other children for not intervening, or at least tattling, on every occasion of bullying. Bullying succeeds because the rabble doesn't take collective action. If it were in their interests to get involved, the rabble could exercise a restraining influence on bullies. I suggest motivating the rabble by means of punishing inaction. Revocation of desired privileges, suspensions, corporal punishments, expulsions, etc. The initial wave of terror will have to be very harsh in order to make examples of people, to force the herd into line.

What? If kids are going to behave like beasts they might as well be treated like them. If I ran things, they'd each be fitted with electroshock collars. That would stop their nonsense.

No, I don't think there is any solution to ending bullying. We can minimize it, and the best way to do so is with the use of security equipment. But alas, schools are either unwilling, or unable to invest of such things as cameras in most/all hallways, lunch room monitors whose jobs it is to also become hall monitors, etc.

The problem: Money. The solution: Increase the government's education budget! Apparently, our government thinks it's just "O-K" to take away from schools who need it most, because they are performing not-soi-well. Well, obviously it isn't just "O-K" to take MORE money away from poor schools and school districts! I have no idea why the culture in this country is to just think that schools can take care of themselves using only local tax money, but it is perfectly fine to spend a million dollars on a bomb that we drop in the middle of the desert on top of a tent.

 

[George 152]

An Australian current affairs show (ironically named, A Current Affair), did an interview with Casey Heynes, which aired tonight. Now on youtube:

Saw it.
Good on the kid.
I'll make a small bet that the bullies stay clear of him from now on.
But where were the teachers who are -supposed- to be supervising the playground ?
And the father didn't sound to bright

 

[mike3]

I also wonder at the complete lack of intervention before the slam. Kids were all about it until the idiot kid got smashed. I was a tiny guy that grew 10 inches my senior year in high school. Expecting the big kid to exercise more restraint than the little kid is silly. Someone should teach the little bully that his behavior is inappropriate. And someone did. It's not like he gave him a funny look. He repeatedly punched him in the face.

Bullies should be "taught" this regardless of how "big" they are.

 

[TragicMonkey]

I was being deadly serious.

No, I don't think there is any solution to ending bullying. We can minimize it, and the best way to do so is with the use of security equipment. But alas, schools are either unwilling, or unable to invest of such things as cameras in most/all hallways, lunch room monitors whose jobs it is to also become hall monitors, etc.

You'd think schools would invest in tons of cameras in order to help protect them in sexual assault lawsuits.

The problem: Money. The solution: Increase the government's education budget! Apparently, our government thinks it's just "O-K" to take away from schools who need it most, because they are performing not-soi-well. Well, obviously it isn't just "O-K" to take MORE money away from poor schools and school districts! I have no idea why the culture in this country is to just think that schools can take care of themselves using only local tax money, but it is perfectly fine to spend a million dollars on a bomb that we drop in the middle of the desert on top of a tent.

You're right, we should be dropping those bombs on our underperforming schools. That would encourage the little bastards to spend less time bullying each other and more time studying!

 

[mike3]

I
So what training did that kid have? 'Cos I gotta say, he didn't look to me like the type who's spent a lot of time hitting the gym and studying martial arts.

I'm curious: Do you have to be really "big" physically to be good with martial arts?

I
Bovine excrement. What it would be is hilarious.

So you like using killing, right? Do you think we should kill more than we do now? And how would the law look on it? Are you a legal expert so that this judgment is grounded in solid facts?

 

[Nihilianth]

I was being deadly serious.

Oh.

You'd think schools would invest in tons of cameras in order to help protect them in sexual assault lawsuits.

Well, that too!

You're right, we should be dropping those bombs on our underperforming schools. That would encourage the little bastards to spend less time bullying each other and more time studying!

 

[TragicMonkey]

I wasn't entirely serious about that one. Bombs would be too destructive of the property. Instead, poison each student regularly and only supply the antidote to those who keep their grades up. This will result in improved test scores, whether from the students being properly motivated or just from the worst students dropping dead. Either way, a win.

 

[preptic]

There is now also an interview with Ritchard Gale (the bully), and claims Casey hit/pushed him first. I guess we'll never know for sure, but I find Ritchard to be less credible than Casey.

Casey was just standing there in the video, so that doesn't sound very likely. We didn't see what happened immediately before the video was recorded, of course, but Gale's description doesn't match what you see in the actual video.

 

[qarnos]

I don't think the kids stories are mutually exclusive so don't feel the need to believe one over the other. (though the narrator said hit, Ritchard just said shoved and "taunted" (get to class you idiot))

There is also the possibility that Ritchard's "friends" told him Casey had been saying things about him in order to provoke him into attacking Casey. Given that Ritchard claims he had been bullied in primary (elementary) school, his desire to make friends at the new school may have left him in a very suggestible state.

 

[mike3]

I wasn't entirely serious about that one. Bombs would be too destructive of the property. Instead, poison each student regularly and only supply the antidote to those who keep their grades up. This will result in improved test scores, whether from the students being properly motivated or just from the worst students dropping dead. Either way, a win.

Is that a joke or is that serious? As if that's serious, then that sounds really barbaric, and yet we call ourselves "civilized"... I'd rather be in the "uncivilized" world if that's what you call civilization... There are countries where they do better in school than in America and they don't do that. I sure hope that's a joke. Even if it is a joke, though, it is disturbing since it makes me wonder how much we really value human life...