Bush(ala) League

I think it was last week that John Seiler penned a defense of Art Pedroza and Tony Bushala on the OJ blog because an unnamed blogger at Red County posted a diary that questioned what both Art and Tony actually did for a living.  John felt its OK to attack one for their politics but heaven forbid we should go after either man for their professions.  Then John compared Art Pedroza with King Arthur (Avalon trembles at the thought).

When Red County executive Chip Hanlon pulled the post, certainly in questionable taste for Red County, Art crowed like a rooster about seeing another post of its ilk again (Art must have picked up a dictionary…ilk).

But Art and Tony have a sure-fired way to drive up hit counts on OJ and Bushala’s Fullerton blog — make fun of Matt Cunningham.  Call him “Jerbal,” post a funny picture with a caption or, do what Tony did today, and go back to the third grade and call Matt a childish name.  Then sit back and watch the same comments about what a jerk Matt is from the same six people pile up.  This isn’t political debate or discourse, it’s about being small minded and ill-tempered.

Matt is a worthy debate opponent on issues of policy and politics.  Readers here know we go at it all the time both here and on Red County.  And while neither of us is going to convince the other to switch sides, the debate never gets…personal.  There are plenty of things to debate Matt on and about. 

But Matt is a political consultant and so is his wife.  Art and Tony attack Matt for his profession; the very thing they whined about when the Red County diary went live.  What’s next guys, are you going to go after Matt’s kids too?  Maybe he has a dog you can both go over and kick if it makes you feel all important and stuff.

For Art and Tony to cry like stuck pigs because of the Red County diary, but then turn around and attack a guy for his job simply makes them hypocrites who must be compensating for something both of them lack.  Frankly, I think Chip Hanlon ought to put the diary back up.  If Art and Tony want to fight dirty, they shouldn’t cry when they get hit with a mudball in the eye.  Chip, if you won’t put it up, send it over here and I’ll have to convince Chris Prevatt that we should host it.

Art is particularly fond of bringing up the fact that Matt, inadvertently, outed the names of priest sexual abuse victims.  Yes, it was a terrible and unfortunate thing to have happened and I’m sure Matt would give anything to take that mistake back (wouldn’t we all).  It was a terrible, terrible thing for the victims. There is a difference between making a mistake and malice.  This is not a defense of Matt’s actions and I am not suggesting that we “move on” from this, as Art has stated on his blog (love how they put words in your mouth over there).  But with so many other things to legitimately debate Matt Cunningham about and be on the right side of the debate, why go nuclear with your first strike?  It’s the last card I’d play, and by doing so concedes that I’ve really lost the debate to Matt (keep dreaming bub).  But by going first with it, it just demonstrates Art’s lack of imagination.

Not so long ago, Art had a number of posts that were downright hateful about gays and lesbians.  He has since repented, but no one ever brings it up because Art’s change of heart was viewed as sincere.  Perhaps it’s time to rethink that Art still is a homophobe simply trying to appease a certain readership for his blog.  Isn’t that holding Art to the same standard he holds Matt? 

Tony’s  post entitled “Fart Boy” is simply a childish attempt at Bullying; Art’s comments on the post shows he’s just as big a bully too.  And Matt doesn’t need me to defend him, and I’m not.  But I found this passage on the net and think it applies to Art and Tony pretty well.

Get help.  You both need it.

What it means to be a bully

Living in a society where wealth and power are admired, film heroes regularly beat up and kill others, and the weak and sick are often despised, it is no surprise that some children have learned to imitate these values. Research has shown that although bullies tend to have difficulty making friends, they do gain a certain level of popularity and peer status for their actions. It is possible that bullies may be enjoying more respect and admiration from their peers, and bullying behavior, especially among boys, can often be considered normal behavior.

Causes of bullying

Parental relationship

Bullies tend to come from families that are characterized as having little warmth or affection. These families also report trouble sharing their feelings and usually rate themselves as feeling less close to each other. Parent of bullies also tend to use inconsistent discipline and little monitoring of where their children are throughout the day. Sometimes parents of bullies have very punitive and rigid discipline styles, with physical punishment being very common. Bullies also report less feelings of closeness to their siblings.

School failure

Bullies are usually not model students. Very often they are not doing well in school and do not have good connections with their teachers.

Peer rejection

Researchers who are interested in how children form relationships with their peers have identified four categories that describe how children relate to peers, based on having children name children that they like as well as children that they don t like:

• Popular children are those that many children say they like, and few children say that they dislike. These children have developed positive social and communication skills.
• Controversial children are both actively liked and disliked by many of their peers. They tend to have good social skills, but also exhibit aggressive behavior. Class clowns often fit into this category.
• Rejected children are actively disliked by many of their peers and well liked by few of their peers. They show high rates of conflict, aggression, and immature play, and they have trouble taking the perspective of another person. They also have a hard time solving problems without resorting to violence. Rejected children are often prone to delinquency and dropping out of school later.
• Neglected children are seldom neither liked or disliked by their peers. Although they are very shy, and may have low self-esteem, many neglected children do very well in school and are able to develop friends as they approach adolescence.

Bullies come most often from the rejected category, but they sometimes are popular children as well. Victims can be selected from any category, although neglected children often are more likely to be victims. 

Short term effects of being a bully

Even though bullies are sometimes viewed positively by their peers, they rarely are capable of maintaining close friendships. They are usually not doing well in school and not well liked by their teachers.

Long term effects of being a bully

Bullying is a behavior that is very often one of the first steps to more serious problems. Unless some kind of intervention takes place, the aggression of bullying often leads to more serious acts of delinquency and criminal activity. Bullies are also more likely to use drugs and alcohol as adolescents.