Featured Bullying

Is the adult version - having people pay thousands under threat - bullying or just plain old corruption and illegal use of power?

 

It's extortion.

 

Thanks - I should have known the proper word! :flower:

 

Not sure this the time for a diatribe against the government, but suit yourself. There are cultural elements, in this case, at play far beyond "people running to the government" too much.

Even if people are weak, though not saying Martin is, we have, as Christians, a responsibility to protect the weak. Calling for people to just be tougher, suck it up, is actually part of the problem. Not everyone is strong enough, even if they are 300 pound lineman in the NFL.

Someone willing to make these types of threats, is probably not going to stop with a simple punch to the nose.

 

I mentor a college student and he told me a few months back that he realized he doesn't know what it means to be a man without being a foolish over-grown teenager or a ultra-macho jerk. Not many good role models in the popular media, and worse, not that many good role models in the community. He said the problems are even worse with his friends. Most of them are wrapped up in video games and don't want to take responsibility and grow up.

Society in the U.S. is afraid of physical violence, and since violence is, more often than not, perpetrated by men has sought to find ways to socially emasculate men instead of dealing with the real issues of character. Since "right" and "wrong" are not politically correct anymore, it is just about impossible to build character in our society without institutions such as the church, scouting programs (for boys and girls), team sports, etc. And many of those tradition places of character growth have been compromised by bad theology, political correctness run amok, or a desire to win at all costs instead of dealing with both winning and losing, respectively.

 

What was described in the initial reports was not "bullying" as we know it; it was more "hazing" and "extortion."

Hey, the military has a "tradition" of new promotees paying for promotion parties. I was in the midst of a transition between bases when notified that I'd been promoted; and that all promotees on base were being asked to chip in a certain amount for the promotion party. I declined, as I was reporting into a new base at the time, and had already conducted a celebration with those in my unit.

Obviously, the Dolphins "veteran" members have instilled a fraternity-like culture in their group, that makes it "okay" to take advantage of "freshmen."

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The conversation about "toughen up" above? Y'all need to consider the correct wording: It's not "toughen up"; it's "stand up" against what's wrong, and "stand up" for what's right. Doesn't have anything to do with "toughen up"; has everything to do with character and conviction.

 

Bleeding-heart liberals with a socialist agenda have previously been mistaken by Audubon Society members for ostriches. It's a common error.

 

I'm not sure if you're trying to be dense about this topic or you just can't help it and are dense about everything.

A leadership council member was threatening to hurt Martin's family and defecate in his mouth, something other then just being tough is needed. And yes, a culture where stealing money, threatening family members with bodily harm all in the name of being tougher is part of problem. That you don't get that says way more about you then it will ever say about me.

Could you explain to me from scripture where Jesus demands toughness? See, I'm trying to be more like Jesus, not John Wayne. Maybe you've had them confused.

 

Prepare to toughen up, because these aren't quotes from John Wayne.

Ephesians 6, NASB
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore , take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;
16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ​

Proverbs 25
26 Like a trampled spring and a polluted well
Is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked. ​

Numbers 31
3 Moses spoke to the people, saying, "Arm men from among you for the war, that they may go against Midian to execute the LORD'S vengeance on Midian.​

Daniel 6
10 Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously.​

Acts 4
19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge;
20 for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard."​

Daniel 3
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter.
17 "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire ; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.
18 "But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up." ​

That enough? Or do you want more. Grow a spine. And don't dare to claim, "Well, that's not what He's talking about," because you'll be dead wrong.

 

Not sure the spiritual toughness that is mentioned here is what we were talking about. But I'm glad your concordance is working

 

Seems to me I said "don't dare" say something like this. :laugh: Oh, well. I can see it. I'm sure others can, too.

 

Typos, they get you every time, don't they?

Physical toughness and spiritual toughness are not the same thing. You think they are the same? The fruit of the spirit doesn't include toughness.

I have never sued anyone in my life and the government has never put bread on my table, so there's that. I also don't think Martin has sued anyone, though, I bet it's coming.

 

Easy there, my spine is just fine.

 

You don't tell me what to do (how's that for standing up)

You're wrong, physical toughness is not the same as spiritual toughness.

 

Excellent!! I knew you had it in you all along!!

What would you call Jesus' clearing of the temple? Sampson's destruction of the Philistinian house? Was that perhaps a combination of spiritual and physical toughness?

What about Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego's standing up to Nebuchadnezzar? It doesn't take physical toughness to know you're going to be thrown into a fiery furnace?

I think you need to broaden your definition of biblical toughness.

 

Bullies only have as much power as their victims allow them to have.