Verbal Assault = Just Fine .. Guess What? It's Not (Titty Twister Story)

[NashVegas]

David said he and Matthew were in line at a local deli when Matthew jokingly made an embarrassing remark to the female clerk about David. So David counterattacked with the "titty-twister," which Matthew said came unprovoked.

There's nothing in the story that indicates the girl was asked for her version of what went down. That's too bad. But for the purpose of this argument, I'm going to side with the twister, because people who say things that embarrass their compadres will often see their remark as harmless and non-provoking.

It's interesting how we just assume that people who can well express themselves, verbally, are automatically the good, superior, guy in these situations, and the one who expresses himself, physically, is the brute. It's interesting that what sent the twister to juvie hall was, ultimately, his refusal to express himself in words.

In my mother's house, mealtimes were made fun by a little game where we all tried to outdo each other in cracking everyone up with a joke. Make someone spew their milk and that's extra points. Funny thing, though, there always had to be a chump to get those laughs and most often it was someone else at the table. I gave about as good as I got. The kid who gave the twist wouldn't have stood a chance at our table.

As paybacks go, this little twist wasn't much. Just enough to say, "I'm not thrilled with what you just did." It doesn't deserve juvie.

[Maddy McCall]

1. Excellent post! I hope we have forty more threads on this topic!!!

:bounce: :bounce: :eyes: :sarcasm:

[NashVegas]

2. *smooches*

Good morning, Maddy.

[Maddy McCall]

5. Hey, Crisco.

Got in a flame war over this last night. Forgive me for hating to see another titty-twister thread. :hi: ;-)

[NashVegas]

8. Hey Back

Forgiven. Have a donut. :donut:

[Maddy McCall]

9. Don't do that to me! Don't tempt me like that!

I was just thinking, "I wonder if the local donut shop is open yet." Hot, delicious donuts first thing in the morning. :D

:9

[NashVegas]

10. Go On. It's Sunday

"Body time," as one friend puts it.

[RagingInMiami]

3. You're exactly right

No telling what type of humiliation that kid went through. And kids that age have trouble dealing with this type of mental anguish. Especially in front of a girl they're trying to impress.

If they weren't friends, the older kid would most likely have punched him out instead. I wonder what type of lesson the younger kid has learned from all this.

[NashVegas]

4. Right Now, I'd Say He's Learned He Can Get Someone Into Big Trouble

Too bad the story doesn't interview the Twistee and get his thoughts in the aftermath.

I found more from a link someone posted in the Lounge thread.

According to this one, Twister was preparing to write the letter that was required, but refused to say what the people who run the program wanted him to say. How telling?

The offender is required to describe the act in detail, explain "thinking errors," "express empathy" and describe any resultant life changes.

....

Thumler said he presented a rough draft of his letter in the third session. He said he balked when told he must also describe his "criminal thought processes."

He said that would imply malicious or criminal intent, and "none of that applied to my feelings or actions."

Thumler said he had no criminal intent because he considered the victim to be a friend at the time of the incident - which he deemed horseplay. Including the language sought by Mediation Works, he said, would turn his prior court statements into lies.

Stories like this that come up on DU are an invitation for everyone to project whatever abuse they took as a kid. We talk a good game about relativism, but somethings just throw us into 'black and white' mode.

[Branjor]

6. What do you mean

"David counterattacked with the 'titty twister'"?

Did David do something to Matthew or to the female clerk? What happened?

[NashVegas]

7. I Guess You Had to Be There

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x571424

http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/news/local/14002543.htm

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/nipple_pincher