kengr

Ever hear of the game of 'british bulldogs'? The principle is very simple. You have one kid, at the start, and everyone else has to rush past them to get to 'home' or base.

It's massively unfair, usually because the kid chosen at the start is the weakest, least athletic. however it has a wrinkle. The bulldog can catch someone by holding on to them until they're the last one. Then they are out.. but they join the bulldog, and now you have two.

Most kids learn that no matter how strong or fast you are, in the end numbers win. In fact, the usual tipping point is when three or more bulldogs take down the biggest, fastest kid.

The game is banned now in most schools, the adults said it was too rough and there was risk of people getting hurt, after a bunch of parents complained all the way to the top...usually wealthy middle-class or above parents of kids who complained that they kept losing to 'gangs'.

Kids don't usually listen to explanations, however they do learn by example and by doing.

Yeah, keep away is unfair, and telling the kids that or stopping them playing might not be the best thing to. Perhaps it would be better to give them games that are fair, or can be played in a way to make it fair. Like, one or more kids cooperating to take down the bully playing keep-away and get whatever it is back.

Who knows, maybe the bullies will find out that being on the receiving end of the 'fun' isn't fun at all. Thus, hopefully, learning an important lesson.

Not that I hold out much hope for that, society seems to be going in the opposite direction of banning 'dangerous' games, teaching the kids that 'he who has the best lawyers wins'.