If someone bumps into you once on a crowded sidewalk, there is ample reason go

[Atticus]

assume the collision was accidental.

If the same person bumps into you again a little harder the next day at the same place on the same sidewalk, you may call that a weird coincidence.

But, if you receive painful jolts from this person on a daily basis for the rest of the week and beyond, at some point the bruises are YOUR fault: you have, by your silence and inaction, given your batterer PERMISSION to hurt you.

If anyone thinks the above situation is comparable to the daily barrages of racist, vulgar, transparently stupid lies spewed by the moral pygmies on the other side of the aisle, well, gee---you just might have something there.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. It sure is comparable, and thank you for pointing it out, my dear Atticus! ♥

[lame54]

2. Blaming the victim?...

So, a bully can earn the right to bully you through time and repitition.

[Atticus]

3. "---earn the right?" No, but a bully can be encouraged to continue the abuse. And, "blaming the

victim"?

As I said, at some point, yes.

[kcr]

4. Painful attempts at analogies aside

It is never okay to bully or abuse someone, or aid in that abuse, because of a perception the victim isn't doing enough to defend themselves. That isn't "permission" to bully or abuse, nor is it an excuse to do nothing about it.

[Atticus]

7. What is truly "painful" is the transparent attempt to put words that were never spoken or

even implied into the mouth of another. No one suggested that bullying was "okay".

I assumed, incorrectly it seems, that most here understood analogies.

[kcr]

8. "you have, by your silence and inaction, given your batterer PERMISSION to hurt you."

Direct quote via copy paste. I didn't put those words there. You did. Do you somehow have your own special definition of the word permission that is different from everyone else's?

[Atticus]

9. I'm sure you think that means something in support of your post. Where is your quote of me saying

that bullying is "okay"?

We "permitted" McConnell's theft of a SCOTUS seat We "permitted" the suppression of countless votes. Hell, we "permitted" Trump to squat in the Oval Office for four disgusting years, not because the majority of Americans chose him, but because an unholy alliance of Putin, corrupt Republicans, white supremacists, billionaires and garden-variety psychopaths chose him.

NONE of those things were "okay".

[kcr]

10. So, if you think someone has permission to do something

That means it isn't okay? Interesting.

[Atticus]

11. "Permission" is a noun. To give permission is to "permit" (a verb). A synonym of "permit",

per Macmillan Dictionary, is "tolerate".

To tolerate is to allow someone to do something you dislike.

Therefore, while someone who gives permission to some to do something MAY be saying "That's okay with me", they also may just be tolerating or allowing the conduct.

Your "okay" was an unwarranted assumption and was never my intent.

[Wounded Bear]

5. Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, three times is enemy action...

When bad behaviors continue, it truly does identify people who mean you evil.

Far too many people seem to fall into Stockholm Syndrome too easily. As a society, we need to support the real victims, not the bullies and perpetrators.

[betsuni]

6. Another "Why don't/didn't Democrats stop _____ ?" Why don't Democrats stop Republicans.

If they can't it's because they don't really want to, they're complicit. If they just fight hard enough Republicans will be nice. As Bernie Sanders said about Republican voters, "We've got to take it to them. I intend ... to start going into Trumpland and start talking to people." See, easy.

[AverageOldGuy]

12. Once is happenstance . . .

Ian Fleming, author of the James Bond novels, analyzed it this way:

"Once is happenstance.
Twice is coincidence."
Three times is enemy action."


Or,

“Mr Bond, they have a saying in Chicago: 'Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action'.” (Goldfinger)

[Evolve Dammit]

13. Watch Carlin's "American Dream." It's all disgustingly simple. Agreeing Atticus. Fight dammit.