Thursday, January 25, 2018

SHANE'S EXCELLENT NEW WORDS: "Individual bullying is usually characterized by a person behaving in a certain way to gain power over another person."


We have a disturbing situation here in New Albany. Ranking Democrats within Team Gahan's ever-shrinking perimeter of comprehension seem to think it's funny to joke about shooting and tasering people.

Spoiler: Threats and intimidation aren't laughing matters. They're bullying.

ON THE AVENUES: David Duggins’ violent “jokes” will continue until the New Albany Housing Authority’s morale improves – or Duggins is fired. We advocate the latter.

 ... Only with power comes the “right” to say it was all a joke, and make no mistake: (David) Duggins’ threats to Brown were all about power. So was Gahan's hostile takeover of public housing. People? They're just in the way.

Perhaps you remember the entertainer's explanation last fall of why he masturbated in front of women:

“When you have power over another person, asking them to look at your dick isn't a question. It's a predicament for them."

If, like (Brandon) Brown, you find yourself wondering whether a highly paid public official with a policeman standing by his side is joking – that’s a bit of predicament, isn’t it?

Jeff Gahan owns this predicament. For too long, Duggins has been empowered, and we see clearly what this means to him. Duggins needs to go, and he needs to go immediately, before someone gets hurt.

We're looking at a dick, Jeffrey. How can Duggins ever be trusted after this?

Most of us know bullying when we see it, and we've been here before, because money is the ultimate bully. Still, let's consider a brief refresher.

Bullying (Wikipedia)

There is no universal definition of bullying, however, it is widely agreed upon that bullying is a subcategory of aggressive behavior characterized by the following three minimum criteria: (1) hostile intent, (2) imbalance of power, and (3) repetition over a period of time. Bullying may thus be defined as the activity of repeated, aggressive behavior intended to hurt another individual, physically, mentally or emotionally.

The Norwegian researcher Dan Olweus says bullying occurs when a person is "exposed, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more other persons". He says negative actions occur "when a person intentionally inflicts injury or discomfort upon another person, through physical contact, through words or in other ways." Individual bullying is usually characterized by a person behaving in a certain way to gain power over another person.

Let there be no mistake: the issue with Duggins' behavior didn't begin Monday evening. NAC received this revealing testimonial earlier today.

I’ve been waiting for this shoe to drop. In every encounter I’ve had with this manipulative bully, David Duggins’ verbal and body language has swung between smug condescension, derision, and smoldering anger, with a dash of Trumpian sanctimony (“I care deeply about the poor”) thrown in. I’m paraphrasing, but that’s essentially what I've heard him say. I’ve watched Duggins at meetings grimace at others’ comments and have even seen him give hand signals to members of his/Gahan’s NAHA board prior to his appointment as interim director. He has a short fuse and is temperamentally unsuited to his current (overpaid) position. He should resign or be fired. I hope this issue does not go away.

Indeed. Duggins has to go. We're to the point now where someone might get hurt. My prediction: Since by his own estimation, Jeff Gahan has not been wrong once during the past six years, the mayor cannot fire Duggins on demerit, as this would soil Gahan's lapel. Rather, look for the situation to become one of health and well being; poor Tazie Davie has been working so hard to bring Dear Leader's plans to fruition that he's (a) had a breakdown, (b) will go to anger management counseling, and/or (c) enroll in drug or alcohol rehab.

My guess is he'll still be a bully, but there you have it.

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