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US high school 'held cage fights'

I preferred lawn jarts to nerf :mrgreen:
One of those hits a kid in the head and he will be riding the short bus from there on out. ;)
 
I'm not talking about justice. Why do you keep thinking that I am talking about justice, when I have made it clear repeatedly that I am not? There is a legal system for doling out justice, and I whole-heartedly approve of it. This isn't about justice, or damages, or reparations. It's about settling minor grievances and venting frustration.


A fight like that doesn't solve anything except for feeling like you want to hit something. That's all I'm looking for it to accomplish.

If a grievance is minor, by definition, it isn't worth fighting over.

I think most fights are because someone feels slighted, wronged, or outright disrespected. For them, it is about their own personal justice. People who vent frustration by committing violence against another are learning a bad way to deal with said frustration. What happens when they transfer that to someone that isn't a "fair" fight, like their kids, pets, or spouses?

It's one thing for brothers or friends to box, but I don't see that as the normal situation for fighting.
 
I think Korimyr's basic point that if people knew being a jagoff in public was likely and acceptable to result in them getting a beatdown, that we'd have a lot less jagoffs. Conversely that because we have no real fear of consequences from being a jagoff to strangers, we see it far more often today. In our culture I can be a complete and utter butthole and unless I inititate a physical confrontation, the other guy can't do anything other than walk away.

Would an increased social tolerance for casual violence be abused by some individuals who just want to feel like "big shots"? Sure. It was in the past and it certainly would be again. But is dealing with those few outliers worse or better that what we have today? Its an interesting question. It could be argued that having to deal with a few bullies who abuse tolerance for violence is better than the widespread lack of civility we experience today. The reverse could be argued as well, so like I said, its an interesting question.

As to duels, I'm a libertarian. If two consenting adults want to risk their lives or well being in fair contest, I say let 'em. We're free to make our own decisions, even bad ones.
 
Blown out of proportion I expect. When I was in jrHigh thirty years ago, the gym coaches used to do this when they caught two guys posturing for a fight: throw them in the equipment cage and make them fight it out, stopping it when someone had enough. Nobody ever got hurt very much.

Different times, I know...but it usually ended there back when I was a kid, instead of resulting in someone shot or stabbed like it so often does now.

That is insane:(

You should never try to teach kids to fight it out. How about talking it out? My goodness this makes me so sad:shock:
 
Saw the video. Kids were wearing headgear and gloves, the floor was padded, and they had responsible adult supervision-- including breaking clinches and preventing groundfighting. As far as I am concerned, the only thing the school did wrong was failing to secure parental permission for the bouts. That, and it probably would have been better to use an open space instead of a cage.

This is still a damn sight better for the students than having them expelled and arrested.

Still, it makes me wonder what the principal was thinking in the current legal and cultural climate.

I hope the parents sue the living hell outta this school and win:roll:
 
How in the heck can some of you condone kids beating the crap outta each other? What next: fight clubs in high school where you go and cheer your kids on as they beat each other to death via fightclub style?

Also I thought they took bullying in school much more serious these days and are trying to wipe out bullying? If you think tossing two kids in a cage is gonna help aid getting rid of bullying in schools? You are wrong.

What happens when one of these kids get hit too hard and end up Dead? Are all of you gonna be cheering this on? Do you all know what boxing can do to your brain? I guess some of you do not give a crap if your kids get brain damage?
 
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That is insane:(

You should never try to teach kids to fight it out. How about talking it out? My goodness this makes me so sad:shock:

I know this might be an alien idea, but fighting in a controlled setting like this is actually a really good way for young men to work out there problems with each other.

I suggest watching Alexander the Great film, specifically the part where young men are fighting to learn how to become good warriors. Basically the young boys create a bond with each other that last throughout there lifetimes. One of my best friends from highschool who I still talk to on a daily basis is a guy who I got into a very large fight with in gym class.

I fear this kind of male bonding(I mean this as hetereosexually as possible) is what is missing from children nowadays. It is an easy way to come to terms with each other, something not really explainable in words.
 
I firmly believe one of the biggest problems with people today is that they never have taken a punch in the face. ;)
 
How in the heck can some of you condone kids beating the crap outta each other? What next: fight clubs in high school where you go and cheer your kids on as they beat each other to death via fightclub style?

Also I thought they took bullying in school much more serious these days and are trying to wipe out bullying? If you think tossing two kids in a cage is gonna help aid getting rid of bullying in schools? You are wrong.

What happens when one of these kids get hit too hard and end up Dead? Are all of you gonna be cheering this on? Do you all know what boxing can do to your brain? I guess some of you do not give a crap if your kids get brain damage?


Good clean fun. I used to box, and I don't have drain bramage.

:rofl
 
I was working up a thread in my mind over the past few days, where I was going to discuss why the rise of the UFC(and MMA) in popularity in the US was important and a positive impact on our society and its youth in particular. After reading this thread, most of what I would have argued and other points I wouldn't have, seem to be sufficiently covered.

Like it or not, fighting is a way to solve problems on just about every level. We need to be a society of warriors, and having a public display such as the one the UFC puts on, is a positive model for us to embrace. Now before anybody goes off the deep end, I have trained young kids in basic MMA techniques. Some as young as 4-5. What they learn in those classes is not simply about beating up people. They learn how to fight back, but they also learn to respect their opponents(and themselves), and they also learn when to stop which is probably the most important thing for them to learn. Its the ones who have no training or discipline that you have to worry about in a fight. The ones that have the parameters built into them from a young age are fine for the most part.

As for the school, they'll likely lose a suit and deservedly so. Although I agree with the idea of a boxing ring(or cage in this instance) in a school for this purpose(as long as it supervised), they didn't get parental permission. If you need parents to sign a slip so you can go to the museum, you are going to need one for them to participate in a physical act of this nature.

I'd actually go so far, to say that I would like to see self-defense classes taught at the jr. high/high school level as part of the physical education classees.
 
I was working up a thread in my mind over the past few days, where I was going to discuss why the rise of the UFC(and MMA) in popularity in the US was important and a positive impact on our society and its youth in particular. After reading this thread, most of what I would have argued and other points I wouldn't have, seem to be sufficiently covered.

Like it or not, fighting is a way to solve problems on just about every level. We need to be a society of warriors, and having a public display such as the one the UFC puts on, is a positive model for us to embrace. Now before anybody goes off the deep end, I have trained young kids in basic MMA techniques. Some as young as 4-5. What they learn in those classes is not simply about beating up people. They learn how to fight back, but they also learn to respect their opponents(and themselves), and they also learn when to stop which is probably the most important thing for them to learn. Its the ones who have no training or discipline that you have to worry about in a fight. The ones that have the parameters built into them from a young age are fine for the most part.

As for the school, they'll likely lose a suit and deservedly so. Although I agree with the idea of a boxing ring(or cage in this instance) in a school for this purpose(as long as it supervised), they didn't get parental permission. If you need parents to sign a slip so you can go to the museum, you are going to need one for them to participate in a physical act of this nature.

I'd actually go so far, to say that I would like to see self-defense classes taught at the jr. high/high school level as part of the physical education classees.

The UFC is competition, not conflict resolution. I have no problem with people learning various disciplines in self defense or hand to hand combat. But in martial arts, you are taught never to practice the art in anger. Tucker mentioned this truth earlier. Boxing is a technical thinking sport. When you are angry, you lose technique and overlook openings (singles) in favor of the big knockout blow (the home run). There's fighting and there's fighting. It's the physical temper tantrums that I oppose. I disagree that it solves anything.

I love the UFC BTW.
 
Ever see a hockey game? fights keep the cheap shots in check.
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They sure do.
The Europeans don't allow fighting and that is when the sticks get used and it gets dangerous.
The Soviets were masters at cheap shots, but they certainly have cleaned up their act since their best players have joined the NHL.

This reminds me of the good 'ol days; Broad Street Bullies... Big Bad Bruins.

YouTube - Russian Hockey Brawl Jan 8, 2008

.
 
The UFC is competition, not conflict resolution. I have no problem with people learning various disciplines in self defense or hand to hand combat. But in martial arts, you are taught never to practice the art in anger. Tucker mentioned this truth earlier. Boxing is a technical thinking sport. When you are angry, you lose technique and overlook openings (singles) in favor of the big knockout blow (the home run). There's fighting and there's fighting. It's the physical temper tantrums that I oppose. I disagree that it solves anything.

I love the UFC BTW.

Of course the UFC is competition. But its a display of physical agression as well. You don't win by running away, or by winning a philisophical debate about a topic. You win by beating your opponent up more than he does you. Thats important for us to hold dear in our culture, because there are simply situations where being the more physically aggressive party is going to save your skin.

What having these competitions in a school does, is provides a safer outlet for the anger that will likely be unleashed anyway. But its done with protective gear, under supervision. Is it better for two kids to square off, with gloves, headgear, and a mouth piece or have one kid tackle another from behind and start beating his head into the floor and his friends join in kicking him while he's down.

Denying or trying to suppress our natural tendencies to the level we pretend that we shouldn't have an outlet for them is more dangerous and unhealthy IMO, than throwing on some gloves and having at it.
 
Of course the UFC is competition. But its a display of physical agression as well. You don't win by running away, or by winning a philisophical debate about a topic. You win by beating your opponent up more than he does you. Thats important for us to hold dear in our culture, because there are simply situations where being the more physically aggressive party is going to save your skin.

What having these competitions in a school does, is provides a safer outlet for the anger that will likely be unleashed anyway. But its done with protective gear, under supervision. Is it better for two kids to square off, with gloves, headgear, and a mouth piece or have one kid tackle another from behind and start beating his head into the floor and his friends join in kicking him while he's down.

Denying or trying to suppress our natural tendencies to the level we pretend that we shouldn't have an outlet for them is more dangerous and unhealthy IMO, than throwing on some gloves and having at it.

Knowing how to defend yourself is something we should hold dear. I agree.

But I don't think all people are responsible enough with knowledge of this sort. I don't think it should be mandatorily taught in schools for this reason. I could support an elective course though.

I have not said that we should deny or suppress these natural tendencies. We can channel them into something positive. Are you against anger management classes? You see, no matter what, there are instances where you can't resort to fisticuffs. Do you throw gloves and headgear to your wife when you argue? Did you do this with your mother, teacher, clergy, police officers, drill instructors, judges, mayor, neighbor, etc? Are you denying or suppressing natural tendencies in these situations? Do you consider that to be more dangerous and unhealthy?
 
If you never defended yourself, you DO NOT KNOW how to defend yourself.


Refer to my statement re: being punched in the face. ;)

Being punched in the face does not automatically mean you know how to defend yourself. I know a guy who has had his ass kicked more times than I can count on both hands. He doesn't know how to defend himself.
 
Being punched in the face does not automatically mean you know how to defend yourself. I know a guy who has had his ass kicked more times than I can count on both hands. He doesn't know how to defend himself.





until you get punched in the face, all you have is self defense "theory"
 
Of course the UFC is competition. But its a display of physical agression as well. You don't win by running away, or by winning a philisophical debate about a topic. You win by beating your opponent up more than he does you. Thats important for us to hold dear in our culture, because there are simply situations where being the more physically aggressive party is going to save your skin.

What having these competitions in a school does, is provides a safer outlet for the anger that will likely be unleashed anyway. But its done with protective gear, under supervision. Is it better for two kids to square off, with gloves, headgear, and a mouth piece or have one kid tackle another from behind and start beating his head into the floor and his friends join in kicking him while he's down.

Denying or trying to suppress our natural tendencies to the level we pretend that we shouldn't have an outlet for them is more dangerous and unhealthy IMO, than throwing on some gloves and having at it.

Even more, doing it in a controlled environment like this can teach them that the person who acts wildly in anger will not be as likely to win as the one who acts with cool efficiency.

It is an outlet for aggression, but more importantly, it can teach them how to released controlled aggression. That is something very lacking in today's society. Aggression will exist regardless of what we try to do to stop it or prevent it.

Right now, most children are never taught how to control their aggression and utilize it as a tool and, thus, they end up being controlled by that aggression. They act like thugs. They have no honor.

People will try to say that there is no honor in fighting, but they are wrong. There can be honor in fighting. There is an honorable to fight, and there is a dishonorable way to fight. It is important that we teach them the honorable ways of doing it.
 
I know this might be an alien idea, but fighting in a controlled setting like this is actually a really good way for young men to work out there problems with each other.

I suggest watching Alexander the Great film, specifically the part where young men are fighting to learn how to become good warriors. Basically the young boys create a bond with each other that last throughout there lifetimes. One of my best friends from highschool who I still talk to on a daily basis is a guy who I got into a very large fight with in gym class.

I fear this kind of male bonding(I mean this as hetereosexually as possible) is what is missing from children nowadays. It is an easy way to come to terms with each other, something not really explainable in words.

Umm.. You wish to go back in time? Shall we start feeding the Christians to the Lions again? I am sure it would be a nice bonding time for all non X-ians?
See how nuts that sounds?

In a school setting? We should create more groups where students can bond over common interests and goals.. This brings kids together that may have never talked to each other before and it creates a peaceful, non-violent atmoshpeher-helping the kids learn from each other while developing friendships.

I am at a loss as to why you feel that boys need to fight to be able to bond and will not even get into the sexism part of all of this.. :doh
 
I am shocked at some of you! You cannot really think this is the answer for kids solving their problems? I just cannot get my mind around what some of you are saying in this thread and just disgusted!

You really feel if they do these caged matches at school that the losers are not gonna be picked on? Give me a break!

The majority of this thread is nothing but a bunch of chest pounding males that feel boys should be boys and fight it out. Makes me sick:(
 
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