Good for Mike. What a gutsy kid for following his mom’s advice in spite of his fears. Also, good on Brad for being so quick to change his attitude for the better.
I had a feeling that would happen. It’s like Frankie Stecchino of “Boy Meets World.” He looks like a tough guy, but on the inside he’s actually kind and caring.
“If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and The Lord will reward you.” – Proverbs 25:21-22, NIV.
Lynn has said in her notes earlier in the week that they were fighters where she grew up, and sometimes they’d work out alliances just like this, and sometimes not. But clearly she does know of what she speaks. However yes, that was a different environment
Some kids bully because they are jealous of kids that they perceive to have a better home life, better clothes or bike(or whatever). Often, these kids bump around between schools, so getting expelled is no big thing. Many can be changed with kindness, but there are also many that can not.Many bullies have been bullied by an adult or older sibling(not proper discipline, bullying).
I have seen this happen in families, where the father is like that and also in “blended” families, where one of the parental units picks on the other’s offspring.
All well and good but none of that helped, the school refused to help and my friends ran away. It took a state Senator, police and a lawsuit that took care of the problem.
Nonsense advice, and would never work in real life. This is why this whole anti-bullying movement is doomed to fail and is nothing but feel good rubbish.
Here’s what one person said about his experience with a bully and how he dealt with it. I copied it from Lynn’s site:
About bullying. Way back in WW II when I was in basic training, we had a particular big nasty guy in the squad. One day, on the rifle range, this guy took out after me, and I saw some black and blue marks coming up after he started yelling and screaming at me. I stopped him cold by asking him for a cigerete, and then thanking him. and then faking that my lighter did not work and asking for a light. He remarked " You don’t seem to have anything. do you" " No, I replied that’s what all the good looking girls tell me also." At that, he started laughing.Turned out this guy was a tough Texas wild horse breaker and moved a lot from ranch to ranch. Whenever he got to a new ranch, he was a tough guy at the start to establish his pecking order with the other ranch hands who were rough and tumble guys also. After that instant, we became fast friends and I heard interesting western stories. Bill Borgers, Laguna Woods ,Ca
If you can find Brad’s bio on the official FBOFW site, it includes an explanation for his behavior in this strip. His father had just been arrested after beating up his mother and his mother had told him she didn’t want him to grow up to be a bully like his father. He figured if he said “OK” to being friends, Mike wouldn’t get him in trouble and his Mom wouldn’t find out.
Templo S.U.D. over 11 years ago
oh, that must’ve been quite a relief (Ellie’s plan must’ve worked)
kfccanada over 11 years ago
Good for Mike. What a gutsy kid for following his mom’s advice in spite of his fears. Also, good on Brad for being so quick to change his attitude for the better.
baileydean over 11 years ago
As I said before… it worked for me.
ARF2 over 11 years ago
“Be kind to your enemy and drive him crazy” is a sword that can cut both ways!
MAC45 over 11 years ago
I`ll be darned if Elly`s idea actually worked.However, in the real world,Mike would have been stomped.
Rufus The naked mole rat over 11 years ago
I had a feeling that would happen. It’s like Frankie Stecchino of “Boy Meets World.” He looks like a tough guy, but on the inside he’s actually kind and caring.
TheSpanishInquisition over 11 years ago
A naive view of bullies is presented in this comic.
neatslob Premium Member over 11 years ago
“If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and The Lord will reward you.” – Proverbs 25:21-22, NIV.
js305 over 11 years ago
Yes, and sometimes, after all else fails, somebody has to beat the crap out of the bully, as that is all they will understand.
freewaydog over 11 years ago
Those methods don’t work either, usually the bully is protected by school officials & staff & often the victim is blamed. I know,…
masnadies over 11 years ago
Lynn has said in her notes earlier in the week that they were fighters where she grew up, and sometimes they’d work out alliances just like this, and sometimes not. But clearly she does know of what she speaks. However yes, that was a different environment
I Quit over 11 years ago
It’s a cartoon, people. You can’t use this to make decisions on what to do in real life. “howtheduck” has it right.
prrdh over 11 years ago
Sometimes it is. No two bullies are alike, because bullies are (lest we forget) people, and no two people are alike.
doctorwho29 over 11 years ago
Cool! This wouldn’t work with every bully but sometimes it’s worth a try.
route66paul over 11 years ago
Some kids bully because they are jealous of kids that they perceive to have a better home life, better clothes or bike(or whatever). Often, these kids bump around between schools, so getting expelled is no big thing. Many can be changed with kindness, but there are also many that can not.Many bullies have been bullied by an adult or older sibling(not proper discipline, bullying).
I have seen this happen in families, where the father is like that and also in “blended” families, where one of the parental units picks on the other’s offspring.
loves raising duncan over 11 years ago
All well and good but none of that helped, the school refused to help and my friends ran away. It took a state Senator, police and a lawsuit that took care of the problem.
porkerroy over 11 years ago
Nowadays, bullies are in gangs and appeasement doesn’t work.
pouncingtiger over 11 years ago
Michael, don’t tell your mother that she was right. She will gloat to the nth degree.
nyder over 11 years ago
Nonsense advice, and would never work in real life. This is why this whole anti-bullying movement is doomed to fail and is nothing but feel good rubbish.
ronpolimeni over 11 years ago
It worked for me,…….after I finally gave the bully a black eye.
1JennyJenkins over 11 years ago
Here’s what one person said about his experience with a bully and how he dealt with it. I copied it from Lynn’s site:
About bullying. Way back in WW II when I was in basic training, we had a particular big nasty guy in the squad. One day, on the rifle range, this guy took out after me, and I saw some black and blue marks coming up after he started yelling and screaming at me. I stopped him cold by asking him for a cigerete, and then thanking him. and then faking that my lighter did not work and asking for a light. He remarked " You don’t seem to have anything. do you" " No, I replied that’s what all the good looking girls tell me also." At that, he started laughing.Turned out this guy was a tough Texas wild horse breaker and moved a lot from ranch to ranch. Whenever he got to a new ranch, he was a tough guy at the start to establish his pecking order with the other ranch hands who were rough and tumble guys also. After that instant, we became fast friends and I heard interesting western stories. Bill Borgers, Laguna Woods ,Ca
Asharah over 11 years ago
If you can find Brad’s bio on the official FBOFW site, it includes an explanation for his behavior in this strip. His father had just been arrested after beating up his mother and his mother had told him she didn’t want him to grow up to be a bully like his father. He figured if he said “OK” to being friends, Mike wouldn’t get him in trouble and his Mom wouldn’t find out.