Originally Posted by The_Dunedan

I wonder what the city fathers of Carthage would say to that?


As for bullies: I was bullied constantly until I was in HS. You know what stopped it? Violence. Instant, ruthless, unconventional and utterly irresistible violence. "Intervention" and other such nonsense works on people who want it to work. They do not work, will not work, CANNOT work, on a person who uses violence and intimidation as their primary form of amusement and social interaction. Bullies aren't begging to be understood, they aren't looking for a hug, and they don't need "a good talkin' to." They derive pleasure from the pain and suffering they inflict upon their targets, and regard anything less as a nice break from class, after which they return to their habitual pleasures, usually with a extra ration of shit on tap for whomever "snitched" on them.

"Throwing someone down with a careful choice of words" does not work. Period. It just gets your ass kicked harder. Throwing them down the stairs, on the other hand, has considerable effects.