The sad case of Phoebe PrinceFollow

Ah, I interpreted it as sarcasm, my bad.

Generally speaking, retaliation in self-defense is permissible, but the force used must be equal to that used/threatened. That means you can throw a can back, but not beat the crap out of someone.

Going on the premise that varus is a raving lunatic and curb-stomping is not a rational response, do you think that giving someone who's been ragging on you mercilessly for half a schoolyear a fat lip would be acceptable?

I think I would certainly understand the motivation, but I would try not to gift my nemesis with the legal upper hand by making them into a victim.

Schools definately at least mostly responsible. I chatted with my sister about this yesterday, as she brought the story to my attention being that we're both from MA.

But while I believe the school primarily to blame, as a parent I probably wouldn't stand for my child being bullied to a degree the required more than two requests for action before I pulled them out of school and/or considered relocating. It's definately not the parents fault for trying to go through the proper channels and they're in no way to blame.

It's not like it was when most of us were that age. These days there's so much red tape regarding retaliation along with the concern of weapons and school shootings (etc.) that school yard brawls aren't even in the cards anymore. It used to be a public takedown of a bully would stray their focus from you pretty much permanently. These days, doing so could end in absurd media coverage, counter-suits, crying sheep, etc.

Yupperdoodledoo.

You hand your kids off to them for the day, they're responsible for what happens to them during that time.

I'm also going to agree (in spirit, in not degree) with Virus. The best way to rid yourself of a bully is to stand up for yourself. You don't necessarily have to leave anyone unconscious and bleeding (although it does kinda help).

Were I a parent, and someone were to do to my child what was done to that girl, I'd go all Molly Maguire on their asses.

Stand up for yourself, sure. I guess. But that's sooo much harder to do when you're 15 years old and in high school. Actually attacking the bully would be a bad idea, I think. I'm pretty sure that could only make things worse. If you humiliate or hurt them in any way, that's just going to make them hate you more and pick on you more.

Dukeing it out via fisticuffs just isn't the way girls roll.

True, women are WAY more vicious!

The obvious answer is to get the names and photos of her tormentors out onto the internet and then let nature take its course.

See? I'm a problem-solver.

I agree with you on both points. Unlike this girl (apparently), Katie did instigate a lot of the negative interaction.

And I'm sure someone somewhere is even now putting these girls' Facebook pictures out there.

I've seen high school field hockey matches that made Joe Pesci's death in Casino look like a Nerf fight.

Like Turner said, only if you're on the losing side. Just make sure you're not. I've been on both sides, losing and winning, in two cases of being bullied in school. The first time I had no chance in hell, the new girl at a rough school, no bully laws at the time, and I got jumped by 12 girls. Fortunately a teacher was nearby.

Second time it was one on one and very early on in high school where everyone was trying to figure out their place on the totem pole. One girl in particular started really pushing the boundaries in bullying some friends. We went toe to toe one morning before school started and she threw the fist punch. I finished it. She left myself and my friends alone from that day on.


There is a time and place for physical self defense. I dont condone it as an answer for everything. But certain times calls for it. The only rule to live by is to never throw the first punch, but to always throw the last.




As per the school, yes they're responsible. Some staff knew what was going on and through their negligence and silence, a girl suffered repeatedly and died as a result. The students are fully responsible and should be tried as they are. They should also be expelled.