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My dad taught it to me this way. ... Got 3 licks from the Principal and 10 from my dad.

Interesting relationship. Your father beat you for doing what he taught you.

Were my parents abusive... yes. The stories I have shared with those I trust often brings tears to their eyes when I have shown them my scars... but that is not my point.

In this situation, my father's point was that fighting is going to get you punish, often regardless of being right or not. So if you are going to get into a fight... if it is important enough to fight for it, it is important enough to fight with everything you have and to NOT lose.

When you make the conscious choice to step over that line, it had better not be half hearted. Yeah I got punished for fighting... that is what the 10 licks were for... but I did not get the additional 10 licks for loosing.

And the school bully ended up with a black eye and a fat lip. He had to show his face around school wearing those marks of his loss. Everyone knew that is was me, the fat, crew cut, thick glasses nerd kid that gave it to him .... and I never was messed with again, by anyone.