I present to you a moral dilemma

[Cowabungaa]

No, he's being a bit of a twat, you can get him back. Being mentally challenged isn't an excuse to fling rocks at people and be mean to them.

This. Mentally challenged or not, he threw rocks at you and intended to hit you with a piece of wood. Then you have every right to defend yourself.

 

[Sevre]

Ok I think the real question is how you are going to get out of a fight, I suggest going on to Youtube to learn some self defense tricks just in case and drinking a can of Red Bull before leaving work allowing you to RUN.

 

[Darkwolf9]

I went to school with someone who used to that crap too. He was mentally challenged he would sucker punch anyone and grope the girls. For the most part he got away with it and what was worse was that people would ag it on. With that said from my own experiences I say you not only did the right thing, but you probably did the only thing that he would understand. I'm not saying you should go out be the crap out of him at all, but if he's messing with you he's just another bully. Do what you have to.

 

[zauxz]

Nah, come on, he tried to hit you with a fucking plank. I would have doned the same thing, aswell as everyone else.

 

[Mr. Socky]

There is no easy answer, but yes. You accidentally hit him, and he was going to fight back, so you stopped the fight before someone got hurt, without hurting the other guy. Good for you.

Yes there is an easy answer. The OP was attacked. It doesn't matter what mental problems someone has, as soon as they initiate violence, the only appropriate response is to stop them, with whatever force necessary.

The OP did a wonderful job of restraining himself, not sure I could have done the same, but that doesn't introduce any ambiguity into the situation.

What I meant to say is that responding in such a way (to being threatened) is difficult and there is often no absolutely perfect option, but yes, he did respond correctly. I apologize for my poor use of grammar.

 

[PirateKing]

Of course you did the right thing. You didn't even hurt him.
Why are so many of his transgressions directed at you?

 

[H.R.Shovenstuff]

People have the weirdest sense of moral outrage when its convenient. If it were one of the 'cooler' kids I'm sure everyone would have laughed at the kid and moved on. But they see it as something to latch on to and call you out on.

 

[Koobatashin]

Was I wrong?

I was in a similar position when I was a kid. I was really small for my age, still short, so I got constantly picked on. I started takin a Martial Arts class and excelled in it, to the point that another kid from my school started it, saw me fight, and basically told the whole school not to fuck with the little guy anymore.
Well I still got picked on and stuff, but unless it actually went physical I ignored it. One day I was at a pool and a kid from behind me shoved my head under water and held it there. I grabbed his arm and twisted his wrist, flipping the hold so he was under and I was holding him... then I saw he only had one arm, so I let go, but he still wanted to fight so I got outta the pool and went to swim away from him.
BUT, parents had already seen what happened and I guess the fact I had 2 arms made me the ruffian and I was labeled a troublemaker.
I dunno.. 4 years later or so.. as a sophomore in high school I met him again as a freshman, we got to be good friends and I now get to call him 'Nemo' cause of his special fin.

don't let it bother you, take care of your self, and just don't be a douche back.. that's my advise.

 

[Chrinik]

Reminds me of the time a black person called me a white monkey, so I replied he must then be a black monkey.
My class was outraged. But a bit of reason and a week later everything was back to normal.

I hate it when that happens...i mean its like a group of black people beating up a whitey and stealing his pocket money isnt as bad as a group of whiteys beating a black person and stealing his pocket money...

Really, all Humans are equal in rights in my eyes, and if some metally challanged person, some *****, a Black dude or some other minority goes on my nerves or even worse, phisically assaults me, im going to pay them back, because in my eyes, actions count more then skincolor, IQ or Gender.

 

[Sixties Spidey]

Are you fucking kidding me?! Dude, what you did was RIGHT! You stood up for yourself, and you didn't take shit from that guy! Don't listen to them. At the end of the day, their opinions don't matter a fucking thing to you, and they don't deserve your attention. They'll eventually be punished for their wrongdoings.

 

[Taerdin]

If you're so certain that bodily injury awaits you at work then maybe you should talk to the police? I mean, they obviously have no right to assault you...

 

[Clashero]

If things did honestly go down in the fashion stated above, i say no you are not wrong. The kid was obviously pushing your buttons and generally trying to be as much of an asshole as he could be. Now only two questions, one which is it work or school, cos you cant have co-workers and classmates in the same story. Second Why does everyone else encouraging this person have it out for you?

Well, I work and go to school, so it's perfectly possible.

On topic, you did the right thing. Really, there's no dilemma. It seems that EVERYONE in your class is mentally challenged.

 

[Shapsters]

I really do hate situations like that, I mean, do you sit there and let him beat one you? Do you defend yourself against a handicapped person? Do you run? Its the same with a crazy girl, you cant hit her back or defend yourself.

I dont think what you did was wrong, what the hell else were you supposed to do? Just sit there ad let him flick you for an hour?

 

[bowserboy26578]

Not at all. Slow or not, thats just wrong for him to do that to you. self defense, ya know

 

[Evertw]

You did it in self defense, and are in full right to defend yourself against anyone.

 

[Zersy]

A student I have classes with is mentally challenged. He isn't exactly friendly to me, throwing small things and swearing at me, and is encouraged by the classmates. I normally ignore this. Today, he took a rubber band and flung a rock at me, which missed. He then walked over to where I was standing and, while my back was turned, flicked me in the back of the neck. I turned around while swatting my hand to my neck, and thus hit him in his face. He stooped to grab a wooden board which I can only assume he intended to strike me with, and I stamped down on it. He stood back up and acted like he was going to hit me, and I shoved him back by reflex.

Apparently, this makes me the worst mofo on the planet. Stoners, drug dealers, and racists (all in my class) saw me as the scum of the Earth.

There's going to be a linch mob when I get to work, from what I've gathered. I have training to defend myself, and I think I can rely on some of coworkers to help me out, but I present to you this question:

Was I wrong?

I'll post more when I get back from work tonight.

Hell no !

You were right ! It was the one that was being a prick It was the the thing that started it all It was a retard for acting like a Retard.

You should have hit him more !

 

[Twilight_guy]

No. You were defending yourself from a threat. The mentally challenged may not be fully aware of what they are doing, but that doesn't mean that you can't defend yourself when threatened. Assault is still assault after all.

 

[Andalusa]

If he was about to hit you with a wooden board, mentally challenged person or not, there's nothing wrong with what you did. Self defence and reflexes.