Support for Grayson 2014-03-26

[Opus the Poet]

Can I just say that I find the school administrators highly odious?

[Fairportfan]

I'm on the kid's side all the way.

[NOTDilbert]

I wonder what the lunchbox manufacturers lawyers would have to say about the school system publicly defaming their product....

[shadowinthelight]

I think my avatar shows who's side I'm on.

[jayessell]

This just in...
Google for:
"Schools to sue the parents of bullies."

Sounds like Someone is about to have their Xbox and iphone pawned.

[yuffiek]

Good <Deity of choice>. It saddens the crap out of me that kids fixate on someone to be hated/outcast/bullied/whatever for such a trivial reason, and it's worse that the school more or less turns a blind eye on it.

Pity Taylor Hebert can't make a public appearance explaining why it's bad... then again, she is sort of a poor example since she got Munchkin-level superpowers from it.

[MerchManDan]

For what it's worth, a few days ago the school reversed the decision and will now allow Grayson to bring the bag to school. From the article:

"We sincerely regret that the issue of being told to leave the bookbag at home was perceived as blaming Grayson," it said in a statement.

Makes you wonder how they THOUGHT it would be perceived. Anyhow, no word on what - if anything - is being done about the actual bullies.

[warhorse_03826]

when did bullying jump to the level of "kill yourself"? I grew up in the 70's and 80's and we picked on each other but it never went to that level. we're raising a generation of barbarians, and then we act shocked when they act barbaric to each other.

[illiad]

Well I am from a strong Scottish family, (70's kid ) and a great believer in
"sticks and stones may hurts me, but words never will..."

Is it just stupid newspapers doing headlines for their readers who must enjoy 'righteous indignation' ??? If a text makes you feel bad, how weak are you?? just delete it - the person who sent it is someone to avoid!!

a mere 20 years ago, there was no sign of this - it was normal for kids to play 'rough' games, normal for them to walk to school in the snow, and guess what, NO asthma!! todays overprotected kids catch colds etc too easily, due to their body not building up resistance...

[TheSkulker]

It is sad that this type of atavistic behavior is still prevalent but it is almost criminal that the school administration condoned it by not taking decisive action against the bullies.

I was also very disappointed that both Paul's announcement and the Facebook page were totally devoid of the identification of the school. Allowing the school to hide behind anonymity is what allows this behavior to persist.

I finally found one report (http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/wo ... 40658.html) that identified the school as a North Carolina, Buncombe County School. With that revelation I am not too surprised about the school board's attitude. Buncombe County is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains in western NC and is the home of Asheville, NC. Asheville itself is a liberal and enlightened city but it is a tiny fraction of a very large county. Like many college towns in certain areas, once you leave the city for the countryside you are in redneck territory. My original thought that outing the school would lead to dismissal of the board is probably not realistic as the board probably does represent the local population. For progress to be made, their whole population's mindset needs to change.

[zachariah]

Maybe we ought to look at the meaning of the word Bully. 'A person who uses strength or power to harm or intimidate those who are weaker.' Pretty simple right. A bully is someone who forces you to give them your lunch money, do your homework, Hands out wedgies to everyone not in their group. They use size and strength to enforce their will on the weaker and smaller. Exactly when did the meaning change to mean any kids who says an unkind word to another? While the comment "go off and die" is harsh, it matches to what we let kids watch and the nature of video games these days. I do not condone this but I strongly feel we are applying labels to actions that they do not fit. The term has become demonized and is used to cover everything in perceived children's actions against another child.
20 years ago this was called teasing. 40 years ago it was kidding. A child usually just gave as god as they got back verbally. Today they cannot say anything. Just cower down, go home, and tell their parents. Then the parents go storming to the school and vent holy wrath upon them for something they usually have no idea about. If the school tells the other kids parents about it those parents come back and attack the school as their children are not the type to bully other kids.
What a mess. Do we help or hinder by saying we support Grayson? If Grayson had simply replied , 'You are full of it. Get out of my face and bother someone who cares!" This would be a non-issue. But then the other kids would probably filed complaints against Grayson for being Bully because he told them to leave him alone right?

[Ozymandias]

Two comments to say on this, and after reading the comic for years, this is the first time I've felt irked enough by a topic to register, so pardon the views of a first time poster.

1. WHY is there a multi-colored pic on the support page? Where, in that entire article, is the child affirming a membership in the LGBT community, or even any mention of sexual orientation?

If there is no mention of such, then WHY are we *assuming* that the child is other than herto in orientation simply because he's 9 and likes MLP? The argument is not if non-herto 'breeder' leanings are good, bad, whatever, but WHY the automatic clumping, categorizing or stereo-typing of such?

To truly be non-biased, then you absolutely MUST overlook all such trivial matters. Does it really matter what race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, or other factor someone is? We're all human, so let's not rush to blindly lump someone into a group to help our own pre-concieved notions of how the world works, eh? When you lump someone in a group then you are "just as bad" as anyone else who does so, even if you think you are doing so in a positive manner. We should celebrate differences as what makes each of us unique, even if those "differences" are what makes someone 'normal' compared to someone perhaps a bit more outlandish. "Differences" do not make anyone better, more entitled or more 'correct' than anyone else.

So, if there is no mention about Grayson's orientation, then shame on all of you who automatically rushed to lump the child into any group for your own personal satisfaction; your bias is showing.

Maybe we ought to look at the meaning of the word Bully. 'A person who uses strength or power to harm or intimidate those who are weaker.' Pretty simple right. A bully is someone who forces you to give them your lunch money, do your homework, Hands out wedgies to everyone not in their group. They use size and strength to enforce their will on the weaker and smaller. Exactly when did the meaning change to mean any kids who says an unkind word to another? While the comment "go off and die" is harsh, it matches to what we let kids watch and the nature of video games these days. I do not condone this but I strongly feel we are applying labels to actions that they do not fit. The term has become demonized and is used to cover everything in perceived children's actions against another child.
20 years ago this was called teasing. 40 years ago it was kidding. A child usually just gave as god as they got back verbally. Today they cannot say anything. Just cower down, go home, and tell their parents. Then the parents go storming to the school and vent holy wrath upon them for something they usually have no idea about. If the school tells the other kids parents about it those parents come back and attack the school as their children are not the type to bully other kids.
What a mess. Do we help or hinder by saying we support Grayson? If Grayson had simply replied , 'You are full of it. Get out of my face and bother someone who cares!" This would be a non-issue. But then the other kids would probably filed complaints against Grayson for being Bully because he told them to leave him alone right?

2. This, so much THIS. Since when has a 'bully' become anyone who says something that we disagree with? I was truly bullied growing up, insulted verbally, physically yanked around, pushed, chased, threatened, I even had to fight to defend myself. Guess what.. I got over it! I grew up and dealt with it. I didn't have my parents calling the school, the newspapers, lawyers or anything else. I was taught to stick up for myself, to be self-sufficient, and not expect some "higher authority" to handle life's problems for me.

If Grayson's parents had taught him the same, would this even be news? Kids are cruel, they do not have the innate moral lessons or boundaries that adults *should* have. I say "should" because I have seen more and more adult kids as the years go by. When I was growing up, if you got in trouble in school a 'paddling' you dreaded going home because you knew you would get worse there. My parents were *parents* and yes I was a little afraid of them growing up, but I respected their authority. What has happened where parents are more worried about being their child's friend than a parent? Kids can, and do, push boundaries all the time to see what they can get away with. Its up to all adults, especially parents, to represent good authority figures to help a child learn how to navigate this world and the idiots that don't have manners or morals in the world.

With all this being said, I applaud wanting to support a child in an unfortunate situation, but let's all grow a backbone a bit and not jump to lump people into groups to easier "deal" with them. By the way, trying to broadcast the school to shame them, really? Why do you think schools do minimal enforcement now? Lawsuits and parents blaming the schools for everything, when its the individual kids and those parents by default that are to blame for the situation.

Thanks for your time.

[Skywatcher68]

1. WHY is there a multi-colored pic on the support page?

This. Sali is cosplaying.

[Skywatcher68]

Maybe we ought to look at the meaning of the word Bully. 'A person who uses strength or power to harm or intimidate those who are weaker.' Pretty simple right. A bully is someone who forces you to give them your lunch money, do your homework, Hands out wedgies to everyone not in their group. They use size and strength to enforce their will on the weaker and smaller. Exactly when did the meaning change to mean any kids who says an unkind word to another? While the comment "go off and die" is harsh, it matches to what we let kids watch and the nature of video games these days. I do not condone this but I strongly feel we are applying labels to actions that they do not fit. The term has become demonized and is used to cover everything in perceived children's actions against another child.
20 years ago this was called teasing. 40 years ago it was kidding. A child usually just gave as god as they got back verbally. Today they cannot say anything. Just cower down, go home, and tell their parents. Then the parents go storming to the school and vent holy wrath upon them for something they usually have no idea about. If the school tells the other kids parents about it those parents come back and attack the school as their children are not the type to bully other kids.
What a mess. Do we help or hinder by saying we support Grayson? If Grayson had simply replied , 'You are full of it. Get out of my face and bother someone who cares!" This would be a non-issue. But then the other kids would probably filed complaints against Grayson for being Bully because he told them to leave him alone right?

From http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/ca ... 80541.html (bolding mine) :

"They're taking it a little too far, with punching me, pushing me down, calling me horrible names -- stuff that really shouldn't happen," Grayson Bruce of Buncombe County told News ABC 13.

[Wdot]

I loathe bullying. If this were a business and not a school it would be considered a hostile work environment. I realize back in the day bullying stopped at school, but with today's technology it never stops. If the school does nothing they are condoning it. This needs to be addressed and stopped in its tracks. School isn't an option. It is mandatory and as such it should be safe and hazard free as the faculty can maintain. Bullying destroys lives and grade point averages. Until you're and adult and can choose your friends and determine your own destiny this bullying needs addressed by those in charge. One thing I will say is I don't blame the faculty from advising the parents not to let him bring the lunch box... they must have felt it made him a target, but the damage is already done... he will be a target from now on. It doesn't go away. So it must be addressed and polices must be enacted to ensure this behavior does not continue. The situation p!sses me off.

[NOTDilbert]

@ ozymandius:

He is not being bullied for any perceived sexual orientation.

He is being bullied for bringing a My Little Pony lunchbox/bookbag to school.

This is why Atsali is dressed as the character Rainbow Dash to show our support.


And by the way, your bias is showing, too.

[Wapsi]

1. WHY is there a multi-colored pic on the support page?

This. Sali is cosplaying.

As I have gotten several messages of people asking me about the multi colored banner, and confused people asking why the gay community has anything to do with this,.... Are you all THAT fucking stupid?! Grayson's favorite character is Rainbow Dash. She has a fucking rainbow colored main! Do the math!

Grayson wasn't just called names. He was beaten up too. That counts as bullying in my book.

[Zogh]

. . . then WHY are we *assuming* that the child is other than herto in orientation simply because he's 9 and likes MLP? The argument is not if non-herto 'breeder' leanings are good, bad, whatever, but WHY the automatic clumping, categorizing or stereo-typing of such?

What the hell is a *herto*?

[senusenu]

. . . then WHY are we *assuming* that the child is other than herto in orientation simply because he's 9 and likes MLP? The argument is not if non-herto 'breeder' leanings are good, bad, whatever, but WHY the automatic clumping, categorizing or stereo-typing of such?

What the hell is a *herto*?

This, for one.

And two, being a male and openly enjoying an otherwise female-perceived hobby tends to make one non-gender conforming. (Which has nothing to do with sexual orientation.) (Yes, I am on the LGBT spectrum, and no, I see absolutely nothing wrong with what Pablo has said or drawn.)

Third, oh my god, really?

[AmriloJim]

On the south outskirts of Amarillo, there is a public art piece called "Ozymandias on the Plains." Some folks have taken it upon themselves to give the sculpture athletic socks, supposedly to keep it warm during the cool West Texas nights. I propose we give the sculpture rainbow socks in support of Grayson.