Sticks & Stones can break my bones but words will never hurt me. Do you live by this?

Question

Yes words can hurt but this phrase was taught to me when I was young and I think as much as anything was an inoculation against hate speech and just nasty to people who want to pick on you and bring you down with mean bullying words & insults. This helped me a lot through school especially school in England where girls are so mean to each other and bullying behaviour can be awful. Seems nobody has heard of this here in America with all these microaggressions where people will take offence at any precevived slight real or imagined, unintentional or on purpose while at the same time looking to hurt others and bring them down. I think if you are having a great day are you going to let the rude offensive lady at the check out bring you down because she is unhappy in her own life and doesn't like you because you are thin and pretty living your best life or that road rage guy screaming obscenities, beeping his horn and flipping you off because he's having martial difficulties and he feels like a big man trying intimidate and ruin the day of someone else he feels superior too when she's 4ft10 but isn't so brave when her husband approaches him. Life's too short to let mere words hurt you especially when there are worse thing like sticks and stones.

https://youtu.be/u_Kw0yEjVrA

ohsheeT · Accepted Answer

When we are young. We are taught to be nice.
And through watching our parents are our friends we are taught that words hurt if said in the right sequence.

Everything we do in life is an emotion everything we feel in life is an emotion
But what we have to understand is it we are the only ones on the inside of us that can control those emotions

To be honest with you the only time those words can hurt you is if they're true

People can say anything they want to about me and if the words are not true it's not going to phase me

But when the words have meaning behind them you have to think about it and then you have to acknowledge it and if it's true then you have to do something about it

A lot of people will say go f*** yourself
Or eat me I'm a cookie LOL..

When people go out of their way to try to hurt you it's usually because they're pissed off they're angry or they're hurt for some reason

I've had people say
You're a f****** asshole
And I will yell back
I am too

Because when you're a kid somebody will say you're a f****** asshole and the first thing out of your mouth.. is.. I am not.

So instead of yelling I am not. Because they want a reaction.

I'll give them a reaction and I will yell. I am too then they don't know what to say

So basically for me the only time words hurt me is if they're true

And if they're true then you must know me but you also know that I have a reason for anything and everything I do so you could be telling the truth in one way but in another way there's a reason behind it for my actions

If somebody's just venting I let them vent if they feel the need to use me as they're whipping boy verbally go for it hope it makes you feel better

But to be honest I don't let words hurt me.
Because that's probably the person's goal is to hurt me somehow and I'm not going to allow that to happen by words.. and like I said if it's true then I have to look at that person thank them yeah you know what you're right I'll work on that but there's not too many times that happens.

LOL what was the question again throughout my whole answer I was having flashbacks of what people have said or done so I forgot the question LOL
Whatever it was don't let people bother you if somebody's saying something about you or calling you names they're doing it because they're angry they're doing it because they're hurt they're doing it because they want to get a rise from you either you allow them to or you don't and if you feel an emotion come from it it's probably because it's true in some form some way somehow and look at it as a positive thing because now you get to fix it life is too short to let other people bother you just because they think something doesn't mean it is true you're the only one on the inside that knows the truth and that's all that matters
It is somebody said something that you don't like just smile and shake your head and say I know huh or I am too LOL

Lliam · Accepted Answer

That phrase appears to go back as far as 1862. When I was a kid, it was the standard response for children when another kid said something mean to them.

I agree with you 100% about all snowflakes these days being offended by everything, even "micro-aggression" for god's sake. They think they deserve to be protected from having their fragile feelings hurt.

We have college students walking out of class and reporting professors who express opinions and even facts that they find offensive.

When I was young, it was conservatives who complained about offensive language and politically incorrectness in movies and comedy. Now the roles have reversed and it's woke liberals who demand political correctness. They have no sense of humor, look for reasons for righteous indignation, and insist on censorship.

And that's how we get social media platforms censoring anything that might offend anybody or anything that doesn't fit the official narrative.

Sharing information and having conversations is being suppressed.

EmyyWolf · Accepted Answer

I don’t think it’s true to most people. We can all say it’s what we live by. But I highly doubt it.

You won’t be saying this hen you’re in HighSchool. You have no friends to back you up because you’re the new kid. And soon a group f of girls comes over to you to isolate you and pick on you. Bully you, pull your hair, throw your backpack in the trashcan. You have no martial arts skills. Mom and Dad ain’t there to save you. The teachers don’t give a ShT.
And these girls who are obviously friends with one another will call you every other name in the book.
AND YOU WILL TAKE THAT TO HEART.

Because you’re vulnerable. You having no friends backs up those girl’s words. You having no friends leaves you defenseless.

AND YOU WILL TAKE THESE EXPERIENCES WITH YOU FOR LIFE.

Online words is different, online nobody sees your face. Nobody knows how you truly look, and who you truly are. The worse you can get here is threats. Death threats. Or threats with the law. 🤡 And nobody really carries those out. Trust me, I’ve gotten plenty 😈

RainbowMarinade · Accepted Answer

If someone breaks your arm, it’s gonna hurt. If someone says something nasty, it’s on you how much power you give those words.
If being called a nasty name causes you to break down and cry, you’re the one with the issue.

Peter_Penetrator · Answer

I have heard this all my life. It is easier to brush off a bullies remarks. It has served me well at my job. One bully in particular likes to bully new employees. I believe this guy was bullied himself when he was younger. Rather than mentoring newer employees he talks down to them and will “throw them under the bus”. He tried early on with me but because I never mouthed off to him my job stayed secured. Now he is close to retiring and I will be replacing him as supervisor. Now, this doesn’t mean that I never mumbled under my breath or cursed him outside of his presence only to blow off steam. Eventhough he bullied me, I always greet him with a smile, joke and kid around with him and seem to have made him more friendlier towards me.

It never pays off to overreact, yell or get physical with someone because your pride takes a hit or you look weaker in the eyes of others when verbally bullied. Now physical bullying is different. That is illegal and will cost someone their job or better yet a few teeth.

I have gotten my revenge against this workplace bully. I am still employed after more than 15 years of taking his shit and his attempts to push me to quit.

Here is a funny variation of your cliché:
Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones, but Whips and Chains Excite Me.

kylee2437 · Answer

Yes I do stand by this because from what I’ve learned no matter how out of the way you stay from the crowd , they will always have something to say about you. I learned this a lot when I was in high school and I had anorexia. People used to laugh at me, mock me, post me on social media because I was stick thin. They did this instead of checking up on me. Then once I recovered and gained the weight back, people assumed I got butt implants, and still talked shit , so no matter what you do, you can’t really impress people that already have something to say. That’s why I’ll always rather do things for myself

CupcakeTheDestroyer · Answer

“Sticks and stones” kind of makes it seem like verbal and emotional abuse isn’t real just because it doesn’t leave a mark. It’s all well and good to take negative comments like water off a duck’s back, but it’s also just another way to invalidate people who are hurt by another’s words that are specifically meant to target their deepest insecurities.

Red-Blaze · Answer

I try my best, can't say it dose not hurt a little when it comes from someone you care about

But its really more the intention then the words them self

But beside that (the cover photo I think is not really the video)

https://www.youtube.com/embed/2vHWsS5Kcd8

hbg84 · Answer

I grew up using that saying. Im from a time when kids werent babied by their parents.

Im a xennial. The last of the latch key generation. We were tossed out side in the morning. Werent allowed back in the house except to eat lunch and poop. Them back outside. That's the weekend. During the week we were left alone. From the time i was 8 and my sister was 12 we were alone during the day.

If we had any issues with other kids being mean we either insulted them back or we settled it other ways. Plain and simple. We were a much tougher generation mentally and physically

purplepoppy · Answer

Words can hurt, words dehumanise you until you lose your rights.

Gent207-2 · Answer

You lost me at microagressions - a slight ishardly worth mentioning if it requires a MICROscope to see them 😄

Honestly the art of throwing shade and word dueling your opponents is an art long lost. But truly some people in this world need their ass beat to learn anything

dreamstar72 · Answer

The old saying is kind of dumb. I think it was made up by some inconsiderate person who had no compassion. To me both are equally harmful. Sure bones can break/heal they can cause pain or death. Words however can cause many physiological problems and pain and even death (suicide).

electromagnetic · Answer

I’ve received some words that made me feel like I was nothing. So word’s actually hurt more. Breaking bones means they’ll heal. Words scar internally

worldscolide · Answer

It's similar to how I live. Offense is never given, only taken, if you choose to be offended by something someone says thsts on you.

FunkyMonkee · Answer

I keep telling people, words can never hurt you unless you give4 them the power to. Most people never listen.

Sparkie460 · Answer

Yes I've always lived by it. I've been called so many things in my life. I don't let it bother me. There are so much more important things to worry about in life.

Thatpearl26 · Answer

I’d rather take sticks and stones than words. Especially if they’re from someone I respect or love.

Smashingdoozy · Answer

No. It's a stupid saying that basically encourages bullying. Words hurt, physical wounds heal with time, mental ones don't don't much.

strateguy632 · Answer

it just means "ignore mean words" pretend you did not hear. i wish people acted that way.

GoodGuyBreakingBad · Answer

Yes, I tend to live by that phrase.

XXblack88 · Answer

No but I find with age the less I care about what others think/ say about me.

CubaPirate · Answer

Kinda but I do realise some folks are quite sensitive to verbal attacks. And given the choice I'd rather suffer that than a physical attack

HippieVeganJewslim · Answer

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can hurt me deeply. My health teacher actually agreed with that! Many committed suicide/divorce/murder due to some nasty words.

Snakeyes7 · Answer

Yep and laugh at those who will try to use it against you.

Sticks & Stones can break my bones but words will never hurt me. Do you live by this?

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