Name Calling

David Sloan: The most dangerous weapon in the universe is a focused mind. Your mind should be like a still, calm pool. Tranquil. Relaxed. One violent emotion is like taking a rock and dropping it into that smooth pond. Everything is chaos. Concentration is lost. Now, Brian here is going to show us how to lose with dignity and grace. You ready?
Brian Wagner: Any time, old man.
David Sloan: See? He's trying to throw a rock into my pond.
--Kickboxer 2

Verbal altercations on the playground often find kids running to their teachers or parents with the complaint that "s(he) called me a name!"

There are two ways to approach this situation. One is to sanction the name caller and perhaps even the name caller's parents.

Another is to strengthen the minds of children so that they are immune to name calling. Because not taking it personally is associated with maturity, name calling episodes are an opportunity to help children advance their emotional stability.

We know, of course, that society has leaned toward the first approach, given the hypersensitive nature of many who are offended by and seek to sanction all who say things deemed by the recipient as unpleasant.

Many adults have not yet graduated from the playground.