You know, as I think about it, my son told me he got through all of his school years without being in a single fight. Very hard for a white kid to do when going to public school in San Bernardino, CA. I know I had shared my lessons of my youth with both my kids, including how I dealt with gang members and bullies. Joe did tell me he came close to getting into a fight he did not provoke, but told the kid that he (the bully) was going to get hurt real bad even if he were to "win" in a fight. Bullies bleed and feel pain also.
I also told my kids about Kellogs Apple Jacks TV commercials that ran in the late 60s and early 70s. The scene was one where a puny kid (cartoon characters) gets picked on by a bully. The Apple Jacks character tells him to not let the bully get away with that, and gives him a bowl of Apple Jacks. The enxt day the bully picked on the little kid again, and the little kid whipped the bully. The chorus line was, "New Kellogs Apple Jacks, a bowl a day keeps the bullies away!? I wonder how many kids got the snot beat out of them by bullies because they tried Apple Jacks, and it just flat out did not work for them. Or, how many bullies ate Apple Jacks anticipating being able to be a tougher bully <g>... I don't think anyone could get away with a commercial like that today. I recall my kids laughing when I would tell them about that stupid commercial. Hey, this has started to drift into [OT] territory, huh? I guess it still ties back to how to deal with clients who are bullies. And all of our collective life experiences taught us a lot about how to deal with folks who are cruel and twisted. So, I will leave it on this edge as [NF]... Gil > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Alan Lukachko > Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 9:43 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: RE: [NF] Contract not renewed. I'm mad as hell and I'm not > gonnatakeit any more! > > > Hi Gil, > > I have an interesting parallel; perhaps not as involved, but the > same basic > "I don't take shit from nobody, no how !!" attitude. > > In grade school, my brother was being beaten up by the school yard bully > towards the end of recess one day at the end of winter. When I saw this, I > ran over and put the bully in a choke hold. He let go of my > brother and was > so shocked that I, the timid peaceful guy, beat him off my brother that he > never touched either of us for the rest of the the school year. And he > stayed clear of us the next year as well. I know the recess teacher saw > this, but never said anything to any of us. > > One of my first clients would "yell" at me and when he'd call my home, > "yell" at my wife if I wasn't there. Usually I'd quietly ask what > was wrong > and as quickly as possible fix the problem. One time, when I > wasn't home, he > got my wife and started "yelling" at her. She just "yelled" back > at him even > louder. He never "yelled" at her again and hasn't "yelled" at me since. > Although my wife died many years ago, the client is still my client and he > always talks to me in a reasonable civil manner. > > At a first meeting with another potential client, the owner started by > launching a lot of tough questions on my company's ability to provide the > solution they were looking for. I saw the bully rising and shot back with > the same degree of toughness. I finally said that I needed a retainer of > $5,000 to start. He told his comptroller to issue me a cheque and I walked > out with the $5,000 cheque in my hand. > > Violence is not the answer, but a single well placed and timed > "punch" does > wonders in dealing with bullies. > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf > > Of Gil Hale > > Sent: Monday, May 12, 2008 8:28 PM > > To: [email protected] > > Subject: RE: [NF] Contract not renewed. I'm mad as hell and I'm > not gonna > > takeit any more! > > > <snip> > > > So, in later years, as back then, I was well aware that I was not the > > toughest or best fighter in the area - never wanted to be, it is not my > > nature. Not by a long shot. But nobody fucked with me either, as I may > > not > > win a fight, but I sure wasn't going to let anyone get the better of me > > without losing some blood in the process. There were easier targets to > > pick > > on than me. And I suppose after a long look back as to why I > am the way I > > am now, it all makes sense in a strange way. I don't let > anyone bully me. > > Some folks may be wealthier and more powerful than me in absolute terms. > > But I am in a position where I can't get hurt easily - and I > simply refuse > > to take shit off anyone. > > > > Oh, the memories... > > > > > > > [excessive quoting removed by server] _______________________________________________ Post Messages to: [email protected] Subscription Maintenance: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profox OT-free version of this list: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profoxtech Searchable Archive: http://leafe.com/archives/search/profox This message: http://leafe.com/archives/byMID/profox/[EMAIL PROTECTED] ** All postings, unless explicitly stated otherwise, are the opinions of the author, and do not constitute legal or medical advice. This statement is added to the messages for those lawyers who are too stupid to see the obvious.
