# My son was jumped by a couple of punks at school today **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 28, 2011, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-was-jumped-by-a-couple-of-punks-at-school-today/583530 "2011-05-28T04:51:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-was-jumped-by-a-couple-of-punks-at-school-today/583530/41 "2011-05-28T18:40:16Z")
Pressing charges is the right thing to do. Also, teaching your children not to go junior modding in the bathroom is a smart thing to do. **jz78817** - Stop bullying **treis**! ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-was-jumped-by-a-couple-of-punks-at-school-today/583530/42 "2011-05-28T18:43:44Z")
> [@treis](#): > > Good lord, I didn’t think the hyperbole could get any worse, but there you have it. Make fun of some kid’s girlfriend when you are 9 and you are a sociopath. For what it’s worth, I got the sense from your previous post that you think randomly punching people for no reason, etc. is totally normal childhood behavior that most people have done. It’s really not. I think the vast majority of us have managed to get through our school careers without punching people for no reason. As for name-calling, etc., who gives a crap? That’s not what this thread is about. And re limp, OK yes, you don’t need to go to the doctor for _every_ limp, this is true, but if it’s serious or seems like, I don’t know, the kid has a broken toe, then yes, we’re getting that checked out. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-was-jumped-by-a-couple-of-punks-at-school-today/583530/43 "2011-05-28T18:46:06Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > So a deep abrasion, bruising and a broken bone constitutes a minor incident. He doesn’t have a broken bone. He has a ‘possible’ broken toe, which means he doesn’t have one. Broken toes hurt like fuck and they are kinda hard to miss. > [@runner pat](#): > > What level of injury is allowed before it becomes major? He fell/was taken to the ground scraped his knee and stubbed/twisted his toe. The attackers didn’t hit him in the face, and maybe caused some bruising through body shots. Here’s my fight injury scale: Minor: Scrapes and some bruising. Serious: Black eyes or bloody noses. Major: Major broken bones (Orbital, ribs, arms, etc.) Extreme: Internal injuries/Hospitalization > [@runner pat](#): > > If he doesn’t want his life ruined, then he shouldn’t engage in violent, anti-social behavior. He’s a kid, and doesn’t have the mental ability to comprehend what a ruined life means. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-was-jumped-by-a-couple-of-punks-at-school-today/583530/44 "2011-05-28T18:47:24Z")
> [@treis](#): > > Look in the mirror. You feel that costing the parents a couple grand for a lawyer is a good thing. Yet you don’t seem to consider the implications of this. Not many families nowadays have a couple grand laying around. Having to hire a lawyer for Billy might mean that little Timmy doesn’t get piano lessons this year, or little Suzie has to quit the hockey team. I’m fairly sure that the courts will provide legal counsel for families that can’t afford a private attorney. > [@](#): > > And what exactly does Juvie mean for this kid? Do you really think kids go into Juvie and come out well adjusted adults? Of course not. Juvie is full of real delinquents. The kids that are in gangs or are putting other kids in the hospital. Those are the influences this kid will be exposed to, and that sure as shit isn’t going to help his behavior. To continue further, what will the disruption of his school and social life going to do to this kid? No school sports, no school band, no activities that could be a positive influence on the kids life. These kids are one step away from putting some kid in the hospital. What will happen if their behavior isn’t stopped, and they get bigger? And these kids probably don’t care about extracurricular activities. Taking something away that they don’t care about accomplishes nothing. > [@](#): > > No, the people in this thread are the ones who aren’t thinking this through. Putting a kid in the court system is very damaging and serious, and should only be considered as a last resort. > > Everyone is wildly overreacting to this incident. A kid limping for a couple hours after a fight doesn’t need to be taken to a doctor or interviewed by cops. He needs to get some ice cream and be taken to a movie. A kid being a bully doesn’t need to be arrested and tossed into juvie. He needs to have detention and be suspended. A middle school does not need a police officer. It needs a principal. Detention will mean time to hang out together. Suspension means not having to go to school, or if it’s in-school suspension, not having to go to class, so they have time to think and to plot. Police intervention WILL make them think twice about going after other kids. > [@](#): > > A couple stories from my school career: > > (1) In 5th or 6th grade, IIRC, I made fun of some kid and compared his ‘girlfriend’ to a warthog. He decided to start a fight on the playground. It’s too bad this little Hitler didn’t get tossed into jail for the rest of his life. Or maybe I should have been arrested for harassment and defamation. > > (2) 7th grade. I walked up to some kid in the hall and punched him in the spine. Why? I haven’t the slightest idea. I barely knew the kid, he hadn’t done anything to me, and I wasn’t mad. Maybe I just thought it was funny, I dunno. I suppose I should consider myself lucky that I didn’t have a middle school cop to taze me and toss me into Juvie. > > (3) Freshman year of high school. We were required to show our IDs to get on the bus to go home. I made some commented to the effect of, “If I was going to bomb a school bus I wouldn’t forget my ID”. That got me two days of in school suspension. Guess I am lucky I didn’t rendered to Gitmo and waterboarded. And you’re proud of these things? Jesus, you really are a piece of work. To the OP: Good on you for reporting this and for filing charges. If more parents stepped up to deal with egregious bullying, the problem wouldn’t be as bad as it is. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-was-jumped-by-a-couple-of-punks-at-school-today/583530/45 "2011-05-28T18:47:59Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > And re limp, OK yes, you don’t need to go to the doctor for _every_ limp, this is true, but if it’s serious or seems like, I don’t know, the kid has a broken toe, then yes, we’re getting that checked out. And in this case, as it was a deliberate attack, having a doctor’s assessment and a record of the injuries placed in the incident report is a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-was-jumped-by-a-couple-of-punks-at-school-today/583530/46 "2011-05-28T18:49:16Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > And re limp, OK yes, you don’t need to go to the doctor for _every_ limp, this is true, but if it’s serious or seems like, I don’t know, the kid has a broken toe, then yes, we’re getting that checked out. If it hadn’t been a holiday weekend, I would have waited a day to take him to the doctor. But he was still having trouble putting weight on it two hours after the incident so I figured better safe than sorry. The doctors response: “This happened today? That’s a lot of swelling. Go get it x-rayed.” ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-was-jumped-by-a-couple-of-punks-at-school-today/583530/47 "2011-05-28T18:53:21Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > For what it’s worth, I got the sense from your previous post that you think randomly punching people for no reason, etc. is totally normal childhood behavior that most people have done. It’s really not. I think the vast majority of us have managed to get through our school careers without punching people for no reason. As for name-calling, etc., who gives a crap? That’s not what this thread is about. _Shrug_ I don’t think kids giving other kids charlie horses, shots in the shoulder, playing punch buggy, or whatever is something that I would see as outside the norm of kid behavior. I don’t think it should be tolerated, but it certainly isn’t an indicator of sociopathic behavior. > [@MsWhatsit](#): > > And re limp, OK yes, you don’t need to go to the doctor for _every_ limp, this is true, but if it’s serious or seems like, I don’t know, the kid has a broken toe, then yes, we’re getting that checked out. If the kid is walking or his toe isn’t giant and purple he is fine. Limps only require medical attention if they are persistent, accompanied by excessive swelling, or if there is obvious bone deformation. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-was-jumped-by-a-couple-of-punks-at-school-today/583530/48 "2011-05-28T19:02:10Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > Detention will mean time to hang out together. Suspension means not having to go to school, or if it’s in-school suspension, not having to go to class, so they have time to think and to plot. Police intervention WILL make them think twice about going after other kids. I spent some time chatting with the school nurse while the cops were talking to my son. She actually knows one of the kids and had talked to him that morning about skipping class and being disruptive in the classroom. She expressed exactly these sentiments to me. Detention and suspension had become just another way to get out of class. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-was-jumped-by-a-couple-of-punks-at-school-today/583530/49 "2011-05-28T19:05:51Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > I’m fairly sure that the courts will provide legal counsel for families that can’t afford a private attorney. If you have the ability to pay for piano lessons and hockey, then you have the ability to pay for a lawyer according to the courts. You can’t simply say “I’m poor, lawyer please!”. > [@MsRobyn](#): > > These kids are one step away from putting some kid in the hospital. What will happen if their behavior isn’t stopped, and they get bigger? They knocked a kid down, and weren’t competent enough to get even one face shot in. They are a far far far ways away from putting some kid in the hospital. This is what I am talking about with perspective here. > [@MsRobyn](#): > > And these kids probably don’t care about extracurricular activities. Taking something away that they don’t care about accomplishes nothing. Why do you think these kids don’t care about extracurricular activities? People are taking this way too far. It is an incident of bullying that merits a serious response, but this isn’t sociopathic behavior or a necessary indication of future criminality. > [@MsRobyn](#): > > Detention will mean time to hang out together. Suspension means not having to go to school, or if it’s in-school suspension, not having to go to class, so they have time to think and to plot. Police intervention WILL make them think twice about going after other kids. I’m guessing you have never had detention or suspension. There’s nothing that quite matches the soul crushing boredom for a kid. Detention means time to hang out together? LOL. I agree that out of school suspension is ridiculous, and I am not really sure why it is included in any punishment scheme. Police intervention is not really going to be that effective. Let’s be realistic here. These kids aren’t going to jail for this. There will probably be a faux trial in front of some sort of peer court. There will be lots of abstract threats about futures and jail that these kids don’t really have the mental ability to fully grasp. It’s a long, drawn out process, which basically doesn’t work with kids. > [@MsRobyn](#): > > And you’re proud of these things? Jesus, you really are a piece of work. Why on earth do you think I am proud of those things? ---
**Author:** ![Docta\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Docta\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Docta_G)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-was-jumped-by-a-couple-of-punks-at-school-today/583530/50 "2011-05-28T19:08:25Z")
> [@treis](#): > > Ha! If you had any idea of what I was like as a kid you would realize how ridiculous this statement is. I have an even better idea of what you are like as an adult. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-was-jumped-by-a-couple-of-punks-at-school-today/583530/51 "2011-05-28T19:11:36Z")
> [@treis](#): > > People are taking this way too far. It is an incident of bullying that merits a serious response, but this isn’t sociopathic behavior or a necessary indication of future criminality. The reason for the beating was to send the message that he(victim)was not to talk about what he had seen. That is sociopathic. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-was-jumped-by-a-couple-of-punks-at-school-today/583530/52 "2011-05-28T19:13:52Z")
> [@Docta\_G](#): > > I have an even better idea of what you are like as an adult. Ohh, please share. ---
**Author:** ![Docta\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Docta\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Docta_G)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-was-jumped-by-a-couple-of-punks-at-school-today/583530/53 "2011-05-28T19:16:39Z")
> [@treis](#): > > Ohh, please share. ()\*() ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-was-jumped-by-a-couple-of-punks-at-school-today/583530/54 "2011-05-28T19:18:51Z")
No matter how bad juvie might be for the vicious little hoodlums, anything that takes them away from assaulting the innocent is worthwhile. Most of the kids I know who grew up angry and damaged started out angry _that adults didn’t do anything about the bad guys._ ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-was-jumped-by-a-couple-of-punks-at-school-today/583530/55 "2011-05-28T19:19:49Z")
> [@treis](#): > > Are you insane? I had a limp dozens, if not hundreds of times as a kid from various sports and stupid stunts. Every twisted ankle and stubbed toe does not require medical attention. > > You don’t know me or what the hell you are talking about. > > Good lord, I didn’t think the hyperbole could get any worse, but there you have it. Make fun of some kid’s girlfriend when you are 9 and you are a sociopath. It seems to me that you are engaging in some hyperbole in this thread as well, **treis**. I recommend that \*everyone \*dial it back a little. If y’all want to engage in name-calling, take it to the Pit. No warnings issued. **twickster** , MPSIMS moderator ---
**Author:** ![wipetheclock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b19c9b/32.png) [@wipetheclock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wipetheclock)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-was-jumped-by-a-couple-of-punks-at-school-today/583530/56 "2011-05-28T19:20:09Z")
> [@treis](#): > > And what exactly does Juvie mean for this kid? Do you really think kids go into Juvie and come out well adjusted adults? Of course not. Juvie is full of real delinquents. The kids that are in gangs or are putting other kids in the hospital. Those are the influences this kid will be exposed to, and that sure as shit isn’t going to help his behavior. To continue further, what will the disruption of his school and social life going to do to this kid? No school sports, no school band, no activities that could be a positive influence on the kids life. > > No, the people in this thread are the ones who aren’t thinking this through. Putting a kid in the court system is very damaging and serious, and should only be considered as a last resort. > [@treis](#): > > Police intervention is not really going to be that effective. Let’s be realistic here. These kids aren’t going to jail for this. There will probably be a faux trial in front of some sort of peer court. There will be lots of abstract threats about futures and jail that these kids don’t really have the mental ability to fully grasp. It’s a long, drawn out process, which basically doesn’t work with kids. So which is it? Reporting will ruin their lives or is useless because the court system will do nothing? ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-was-jumped-by-a-couple-of-punks-at-school-today/583530/57 "2011-05-28T19:29:52Z")
> [@wipetheclock](#): > > So which is it? Reporting will ruin their lives or is useless because the court system will do nothing? The first post is a response to the “toss them into juvie” crowd. The second is my opinion of what will happen. Note, that the court system and “peer court” are different things. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-was-jumped-by-a-couple-of-punks-at-school-today/583530/58 "2011-05-28T19:35:59Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > It seems to me that you are engaging in some hyperbole in this thread as well, **treis**. > > I recommend that \*everyone \*dial it back a little. If y’all want to engage in name-calling, take it to the Pit. > > No warnings issued. > > **twickster** , MPSIMS moderator What exactly do you consider hyperbole? I mean, he did call me a sociopath. I was a kid with a bad habit of rolling ankles and stubbing toes, so I don’t think the number I gave is an exaggeration at all. I think taking a kid to the doctor for every limp is utterly senseless. ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-was-jumped-by-a-couple-of-punks-at-school-today/583530/59 "2011-05-28T23:19:27Z")
> [@treis](#): > > He is also a kid and doesn’t deserve to have his life ruined over what is a relatively minor incident in the grand scheme of things. Their life isn’t going to be ruined. They aren’t going to be forced onto a chain gang or sent to some “Born Innocent” type facility over this. If it isn’t worked out before court, they will get some sort of lite punishment, the point of which will be that actions have consequences. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-was-jumped-by-a-couple-of-punks-at-school-today/583530/60 "2011-05-29T00:03:08Z")
> [@treis](#): > > What exactly do you consider hyperbole? … > [@treis](#): > > It’s too bad this little Hitler didn’t get tossed into jail for the rest of his life. Or maybe I should have been arrested for harassment and defamation. > [@treis](#): > > I suppose i should consider myself lucky that i didn’t have a middle school cop to taze me and toss me into juvie. > [@treis](#): > > Guess I am lucky I didn’t rendered to Gitmo and waterboarded. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-was-jumped-by-a-couple-of-punks-at-school-today/583530.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-was-jumped-by-a-couple-of-punks-at-school-today/583530.md?page=4)