is bullying a necessary evil?

[Dragonmike]

Yes, because the appropriate response to a bit of bullying is to half kill someone. How you can call it "self defence" I have no idea; but I'd expect no better from you.

Nobody talked about half-killing anyone.

[Bungle]

Nobody talked about half-killing anyone.

Oh really.....

and chocked the **** out of him till he was on the ground and purple in the face,

The correct course of action is not to teach children that violence is the way to sort out life's problems, but to report it to the relevant authorities, in this case teachers. If they then handle the situation badly that's a problem that needs to be addressed.

[Dragonmike]

<p>
Oh really..... The correct course of action is not to teach children that violence is the way to sort out life's problems, but to report it to the relevant authorities, in this case teachers. If they then handle the situation badly that's a problem that needs to be addressed.</p>

I'm sure the guy turned up alright.

A problem that needs to be addressed... You're funny. As it's been shown many times around in the world around us and summed up in this thread, the problem is not being addressed.
So picture this, Bungle: you're being bullied, you go to people for help and they tell you "this needs to be addressed". Nothing happens. You get even more bullied for what you just did. What do you do now. WHAT DO YOU DO NOW, BUNGLE?

You answered like a politician. Answers that are totally disconnected from reality are useless, Bungle, try harder please.

I do not advocate violence. But I wish I had hit back a few more during the year or two I was bullied at school.

[Gnius]

Oh really..... The correct course of action is not to teach children that violence is the way to sort out life's problems, ...

"Anyone who clings to the historically untrue - and thoroughly immoral - doctrine that 'violence never settles anything' I would advise to conjure up the ghosts of Napoleon Bonaparte and of the Duke of Wellington, and let them debate it. The ghost of Hitler could referee, and the jury might well be the Dodo, the Great Auk, and the Passenger Pigeon. Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than has any other factor, and the contrary opinion is wishful thinking at its worst. Breeds that forget this basic truth have always paid for it with their lives and freedoms."
-- R.A.H.

...immortal words

[Sparafucil]

"Anyone who clings to the historically untrue - and thoroughly immoral - doctrine that 'violence never settles anything' I would advise to conjure up the ghosts of Napoleon Bonaparte and of the Duke of Wellington, and let them debate it. The ghost of Hitler could referee, and the jury might well be the Dodo, the Great Auk, and the Passenger Pigeon. Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than has any other factor, and the contrary opinion is wishful thinking at its worst. Breeds that forget this basic truth have always paid for it with their lives and freedoms."
-- R.A.H.

...immortal words

Heinlein might not be the best authority to quote on this topic.

And actually, the pendulum is swinging in the other direction now, and there is a growing consensus among psychologists that violence is not something that is inherent human nature.

[Gordo]

If disagreeing withsomeone, shooting them kills their agrument dead!

Bungle, you'd have a bunch of people running round screaming 'someone do something' with no-one actually doing anything and the bully, or aggressor, continuing their merry way.