I sat a table preparing to browse the web, and a conversation of sorts broke out that caught my attention. I peered over to see a girl about 15 years of age starting to punch another girl who remained in her chair trembling, unprepared for the blows, apparently innocent of the name calling attributed to her.
Why the !@%$#%@ are you talking !@%$#%@ about me? Who the !@%$#%@ do you think you are?”
Mothers and fathers swarmed over to the young teenagers, as the perpetrator walked away to avoid further confrontation. But she soon found herself in handcuffs. A smile of satisfaction—not fear—emerged on her face, as her friends took photos from their camera phones.
I watched from afar, reflecting upon my reaction to the fight, and that of others. Ten to fifteen witnesses intervened or at least discussed the situation thereafter, but I was not one of them. I watched and listened, deeply saddened by the intense anger displayed, and my lack of surprise.
At what point does the fist replace the spoken word? When does punching become as, if not more, comfortable than talking?
If you have a difficult time communicating with others and you’re going to punch for a conversation, you might as well have fun doing it. Throw a pillow rather than a punch, and you’re not likely to find yourself in jail.
2 Comments
Sometimes we need to stop and think…how often do you react and then regret later on what comes out…..throwing a pillow will bring smiles instead of tears…..
And even throwing out words that you might regret later is better than throwing a punch.