That’s the Way They Want It

As anyone familiar with the behavior of children in groups must know, there is likely to be a bully in every neighborhood. His technique is fairly simple. He enjoys pushing the smaller and younger children around because they are not so likely to retaliate. If they show spirit and punch him, he yells his head off that he’s being attacked.

The technique is remarkably effective; so effective that it has been imitated by older and, you may be sure, far more astute persons. Back in the thirties it was the Communists. Whenever they could do so, they pulled some stunt to outrage an employer, a community or even a government; and when the outraged party struck back, they screamed their heads off. By skillful use of this tactic they persuaded a good many gullible persons that they were the victims of abuse or witch-hunting.

HI

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H. Gifford Irion

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As anyone familiar with the behavior of children in groups must know, there is likely to be a bully in every neighborhood. His technique is fairly simple. He enjoys pushing the smaller and younger children around because they are not so likely to retaliate. If they show spirit and punch him, he yells his head off that he’s being attacked.

The technique is remarkably effective; so effective that it has been imitated by older and, you may be sure, far more astute persons. Back in the thirties it was the Communists. Whenever they could do so, they pulled some stunt to outrage an employer, a community or even a government; and when the outraged party struck back, they screamed their heads off. By skillful use of this tactic they persuaded a good many gullible persons that they were the victims of abuse or witch-hunting.