What I learned being a big guy,

[MadHound]

Long ago when I was young, I learned some lessons about being a big guy. Such as having to give folks a bit more personal space so I wouldn't "loom" over them, thus making them uncomfortable, things like that.

One of the the things I learned was when to walk away from a fight. You see, being a big guy, I found that there was this certain sub group of short guys who were just hell bound on proving themselves against me in a fight. They would try and provoke me into a fight, making a big show of how macho/strong/crazy they are, when all along I knew I could wipe the floor with them, and worse yet, they knew it as well. Crazy guys. What I learned is to simply walk away from these idiots, because if you tried to intimidate them, that would just make them crazier, and if you continued to try and intimidate them, they really would do something crazy, like pulling out a knife or gun, and then the real fun would begin, and at that point it could very well end up with me being seriously injured or dead.

I think that lesson applies to what is going on between the US and N. Korea. We are the big guy in this case, and for whatever reason(or perhaps no reason at all), this small dude Kim Jong Un is hell bound on proving themselves against us. The trouble is, we haven't learned the lesson of being a big guy, to walk away, that it isn't worth it. We've sent B-2's over for the first time ever last week, and just sent over some F-22 stealth fighter jets, all in an attempt to intimidate this guy. C'mon, this is a scion of the Kim family, the dude is fucking crazy, and all we're doing is ratcheting up his, and North Korea's crazy factor exponentially.

If we continue, this won't end well for anyone. A bomb dropped, a war launched, it can get ugly, quickly. Can we kick the shit out of N. Korea, certainly, but doing so would leave a serious mark, that is unless China decides to back its traditional puppet, then we're in real trouble. So instead of pursuing this tactic of intimidation, it is time to pursue that old strategy that any big guy knows, just walk away. Ratchet down the level of discourse, pay no attention to the small crazy guy, just walk away.

[malaise]

1. Excellent post

Bullies never learn

[markiv]

2. agreed - silence says 'try it, and find out'

more effectively than any other message could

and anyone of any real IQ knows whe everything stands

normal guys just walk past a yapping chihuahua

[rhett o rick]

3. I have known big guys that couldnt wipe the floor with smaller guys because of their nature.

They were always harassed by the little bullies.

But your point is right on. Trouble is the USofA is run by a bully culture. We are collectively bullies.

[Lex]

4. Basically it's like this little 8 second video

with the small cat taunting the big cat:

[Hoyt]

7. That's great.

[awoke_in_2003]

23. I need to send that to SalmonChanedEvening. nt

[Bosonic]

5. A cartoon is worth 1000 words

[uponit7771]

26. +1

[ChoppinBroccoli]

6. I Totally Relate To This

I'm a 6'6, 300 lb. former college Offensive Lineman. Most big people learn from an early age that there are small guys out there who will challenge them because they feel inadequate. The reason why they do this is because they know they can't lose. If they win, they're a big man. If they lose, so what, they were supposed to lose anyway. When you have someone who knows that either way, they win, they have no incentive to back down.

Also, I don't know how this applies to the N. Korea situation, but I can tell you (and I got this anecdote from John Madden) that growing up as kids, we big people were always told not to play rough or fight with the other kids because being bigger than them made it unfair. Big kids are always being told, "Don't pick on that little kid." As a result, most big people grow up to be pretty docile. Which is another reason why small people with Napoleon Syndrome target them.

I guess speaking from personal experience (and this DOES apply to the N. Korea situation), the best way to handle crazy little people who want to prove something by fighting you is to remain calm, let them sputter and spew, show them that you're not in the least bit afraid of them and that you're not going to allow them to get inside your head (by remaining quiet, but also not ceding any ground whatsoever to them), and then if they decide to take the first shot, you end it quickly and decisively. Anything else, and YOU'LL be the one perceived as the bully (i.e. "Look at that big ape pummeling that poor little guy!!! Oh, the humanity!!!&quot

[JDPriestly]

16. As a very small person, I agree.

Being small has its advantages. You can sneak through a forest of tall people whose weight prevents them from moving as stealthily as you do.

But small people who take on big people face to face, in a physical reality, are crazy. Really crazy because they should know before they start that they will lose.

In a physical fight, the smaller person loses. They may get in some good blows against the big guy, but in the end they lose. They are best off figuring out some strategy for self-protection that does not involve a physical confrontation.

So, I agree, ChoppinBroccoli.

The North Koreans are crazy. Absolutely crazy. And the Chinese know that even better than we do.

[yodermon]

30. OK, because of your handle I have always pictured you as Dana Carvey, lol n/t

[Hoyt]

8. It wouldn't bother me if Obama sent Little Kim a letter saying "we surrender."

If that goes to Kim's head, we can always say we lied.

Let N Korea say whatever. If the invade South Korea . . . . . . . well they had their chance.

[KittyWampus]

17. that would be a fantastic plot for a movie, seriously.

[Javaman]

9. As Obama stated yesterday...

N. Korea hasn't massed any troops.

It's all bluster.

Of course that could change at any time, but somehow, I don't think it will.

this is just more fanciful sabar rattling that NK is known for.

Why? who the heck knows.

But frankly, and I have been saying this for a very long time, Un is not in charge. what we are witness to is of the general's doings. Not that I would put this kind of behavior past Un, I just don't believe he is in control.

[Matariki]

10. The situation is probably a bit more complicated than your social encounters.

Anti missile ships have been sent over to stop a missile should NK decide to launch one at SK. There's really no telling what they'll do and stopping a missile would save a lot of lives and perhaps prevent something bigger. This isn't a street fight or a bar brawl. Your personal life lessons of being a 'big guy' don't really apply.

If you want to apply your personal story to this, imagine seeing a crazy little bully threatening a lethal fight with some preteen or something. Would you walk away? Would you intervene? Would you keep an eye on a potentially deadly situation that you'd have the ability to stop?

[MadHound]

11. "There's really no telling what they'll do. . ."

Yes, there is. N. Korea has done this crazy song and dance before, it is their way of getting attention, whether they want more food, or money, or whatever, they go into this psycho crazy dance for a while until they either get what they want or they realize that they are being ignored. They recognize the fact that if they actually did something, they would get stomped into the ground. They may act crazy, but they are not actually that crazy.

This time, we're simply encouraging them to be crazier than usual because we are trying to intimidate them, sending over the anti-missile destroyer(which is actually more of a move against China than against N. Korea), having the B-2's make an appearance, sending in the F-22's, that is not how you calm a situation down, that is simply making matters worse. Is that what you want?

This is all a bunch of saber rattling, and if we're not real careful, it could turn into the real thing. Is that what you want? Sure, we'll prove in the ensuing conflict that we're the bigger bad ass, but at what cost, thousands, millions dead? Because if N. Korea recognizes that they're going down, they will launch everything they've got, and a whole lot of people are going to die, most likely S. Koreans and Japanese, they will pay the ultimate price for our braggadocio. Is that what you want, to prove that we're the bigger bad ass, at the cost of thousands or millions of lives?

Cooler heads are what is needed, and an end to saber rattling. We need to stop our heated rhetoric, our displays of intimidation, and simply walk away. That is what is needed.

[Lurker Deluxe]

13. Not exactly.

I get the reference, I'm no shrimp myself and understand that sometimes that makes you a target. I've gotten old enough that the little punks do not "bow up" as much as they used to when I was "younger".

This is more like if some chump was bowing up and acting a fool and you decided to ignore him and then he punched your friend, looked at you and stuck his chest out more. The obvious response there is to get up out of your chair and stand between them ... making it painfully obvious that the next move will be met with force. We are not the aggressor here, and we run these drills and practice for these events and help our friends get better at defending themselves.

There is no telling what this little fool is going to do, he is not his father although he is acting pretty much the same. If it is being implied that he is being pushed around by the mean 'ol USofA he may do something stupid just to prove he is not weak. We can only hope that whatever this twit does it doesn't lead to full scale conflict.

The only thing "walking away" would accomplish is another North strike against the South. Our presence there is the reason there is no war.

[Matariki]

27. That is hopefully correct, however with a change in leadership I can see the need for caution

and close observation.

[lastlib]

20. Here's what ya gotta worry about...

this:

&feature=player_embedded

[Mopar151]

21. Just a thought from another big guy

Maybe the same rules can be a guide...
F'r instance, suppose you're livin' side by each, down from the Foreclosure Cancelled by Board of Health Trailer Court, and you got a neighbor problem. Like a bunch of raggedy-ass kids ain't seen a square meal or a grown-up readin' for about 6 weeks too long. A yard full of busted 4-by's and mean-ass dogs behind a fallin' down fence, and a couple - 3 fools that spend any cash they can get on guns and ammo for "protection". And now they're tryin' to put up a friggin' gun tower, they'r all shitfaced, and you saw the kids stealin' bread out of your pig food - You want to tell 'em to toast it, but any help for the kids turns into beer, bullets, or dog food.

Now, your short, nervous, curious buddy has been throwin' rocks at the fence, 'cuz he's tryin to count the dogs. The cops have driven by a couple times, which evokes another round of target practice, fowllowed by surveillance in your'e general direction, through rifle scopes, 'cus they think you might be the "troublemaker". Old Henry Who Bought The Smith Place has just showed up in your driveway, and his wife has ordered him to "do something!". You tell him to keep Stubby from throwing more rocks, and to keep the wife from tying up the phone line to the cop shop.

On the whole, it's probably time to go to the hardware store, down next to the police station, and takl to an old cop about how to defuse the situation without settin' off the "Natty Light Rebellion". Maybe get their crazy Cousin Dennis to talk some sense into 'em - but, for crissakes, no tank assaults, cuz these fools' want to play with the artillery.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

12. There's an attitude on the Right to "teach em a lesson"...

The ones acting that way are little guys.

[JDPriestly]

14. Germany was just a little guy after WWI, but it was the bully.

I'm little, and I'm feisty on paper, but not in person.

N. Korea is little, but thinks it is big.

I understand where you are coming from, MadHound.

I understand the equation of big and little although from the opposite perspective from you.

But, let's be honest, sometimes little people think they are bigger than they are. That may be the case with N. Korea.

We should not attack N. Korea, but we should remind its leaders that they are just one small country among many small countries.

I don't think it is just the US that is concerned about what is going on in N. Korea. And I seriously doubt that the US is acting without letting China know what it is doing. Besides, I suspect that China's intelligence is at least as good as ours. In other words, both China and the US know the score in N. Korea.

It may be time for N. Korea to rejoin the real world. I don't think war is the answer, but maybe it needs a special invitation to return to the reality the rest of us live in, the reality of compromise and friendship.

N. Korea is a rogue state, and not just from the point of view of the US. It is in trouble and not admitting it.

[socialindependocrat]

15. I had similar thoughts....

It seems ridiculous that N.K. would be so dead set on picking a fight.

My thought was to ask N.K. what specifically they are pissed off at and set things straight.

I agree, this guy is picking a fight in order to get some money out of the deal for reconstruction.

The other thing is that wars used to be fought to reduce the size of the kingdom so the
population wouldn't exceed the ability to grow enough crops to feed the people plus
use them to pay taxes to the king.

He may be starting this to reduce his population plus get some reconstruction money.

I wouldn't play into his game and get China to say that there is no reason to start a war with someone who doesn't want to join in.

I was a big baby-faced guy who would get picked on. In a few cases I would stay calm and just say I didn't want to fight and sooner or later they would smile and let the whole thing drop.

If N.K looks like the aggressor (for no reason at all) they will not come out with much sympathy from anyone.

[RedstDem]

18. it's not only about north Korea

it's about China, and their insistence that some of japans territory belongs to them, as well as their stance on Taiwan.
it would be a no brainer if it were only about north Korea.

[LeftInTX]

19. What I think might be going on:

Kim might be trying to pull a "Sadam". Hoping that we will invade like we did with Iraq. If we did that, then China would pull in to defend N Korea. Since North Korea is bordering on "failed state" status, the support of China would boost NK.

[caraher]

22. I think we're actually not trying to intimidate them

Instead, we're trying to make sure South Korea feels reassured that we have their back. After all, despite the bluster there's apparently no evidence North Korea has begun a serious mobilization for war. And as "crazy" as we take the regime to be, they are surely realistic enough to recognize that a war is a no-win proposition for either side. They need the South and US as enemies to keep their misinformed population under control; the very last thing they need is to pop the bubble of the bizzaro-world fantasy they've fed them for decades by actually trying to use their military.

The only thing that can really mess things up is the fact that their military, by virtue of size alone, is capable of causing serious damage to Seoul, and South Korea might feel they can't risk North Korea attacking first (especially since the capital is pretty much within artillery range of the North). So I see us more as the big guy saying to our friend, "Just ignore that loudmouth."

[Martin Eden]

24. Yes, it's best to avoid escalation

Let NK throw its tantrun like a petulant child, but don't feed into it.

NK is dangerous, so be prepared for what they might do -- but don't play the role they've fashioned for us.

We have nothing to prove in terms of our military might.

[MineralMan]

25. That's OK advice on an individual scale, up to a point.

However, walking away from a determined little guy who happens to be armed with, say, a pistol, can lead to unwanted consequences. Before turning on your heel and walking away from some annoying twerp, it's a good idea to assure yourself that the little twerp won't shoot you in the back.

As applied to North Korea, there's the matter of their recent nuclear capabilities. Very modest nuclear capabilities, but nuclear capabilities, nevertheless. The scene has changed somewhat in that area when it comes to threats and blustering, since NK now has the capability of attacking with something more than conventional weaponry and lots of troops.

The distances in that area aren't large, either. A look at the map of the Koreas gives one pause.

So, we shouldn't be attacking North Korea, and we're not. However, turning our back on Kim Jung Un and his merry band of aging military officers probably isn't a good idea, either.

Another strategy is to put your hand on the top of the head of the blustering little guy and let him swing away, while watching his other hand to make sure he doesn't reach for some sort of equalizing weapon.

Big guys are still vulnerable in some ways, you know.

[Quantess]

28. Interesting post.

I like your analogy.

[PCIntern]

29. I'm acquainted with a couple of ex-NFL players in my practice,

and they say exactly the same thing about being a big guy around these nincompoops who try to assault them and/or provoke them. You gotta be nuts...

One fellow told me that whenever he went to a bar, even an upscale one after a game, there were at least two or three guys who would start in on him, even though he is 6'5" and about 300 pounds, all muscle. I told him that if he ever hit me I would resemble a thin film on the floor. I don't think I'm wrong about that...

[dawg]

31. Little-man syndrome is a thing.

We don't all have it, but some of us do.

In my experience though, there are also some big guys who like to throw their weight around and physically intimidate smaller men and even women. I don't cotton to that, no sir.

[aikoaiko]

32. The Big Guy Code.

This big guy abides.