Quote from: cobaltskky on October 03, 2014, 06:39:59 PM

I had a nemesis once in high school. He was a chronic ne'er-do-well bully and I was the teacher's pet, so I thought I could take him on.
I dreamed about giving him a public telling off. In my fantasy, he would listen contritely to my advice and we would eventually become friends.
I even drafted some lines that I can use when the day comes. Heroic lines that my classmates and teachers will be in awed off.

What I didn't realize was, we weren't playing by the same rules.
He physically assaulted me in PE, and naturally, as I try to fight back while holding back my tears (I was 17, and he slapped me really hard. Really), we were separated by the other students.

A little later, I was in the disciplinary teacher's office, and he was explaining to me how incidents such as this could affect my options for college.
And then it hit me - my nemesis won't be going to college. He doesn't care if he gets suspended, or if it comes to it, expelled. He had nothing to lose if matters escalate - I did.

So I swallowed my pride and just kept quiet whenever he heckled and teased me for the remainder of the term.
It was humiliating at the time, but in retrospect, it taught me how to pick my battles. Especially those that could potentially cause collateral damages.

Quote from: bluemeanie1 on October 03, 2014, 05:26:42 PM

When pushed into a corner, it is only natural to lash out. Which is why I never understood why people become surprised at the inevitable wild retaliation.
Be that as it may, there is a little girl involved here. Don't cross that line. Count to ten and take a deep breath. Lock this thread and delete the Reddit one. It's the right thing to do.
People will forget about this thread in a day.

Anyway, such heavy stuff. Mood needs lifting.