Boys in a circle

When I was in elementary school,¹ there was a group of boys who would do a certain thing.

First, they would seek out a pair of close friends. The closer the better.

It is extraordinary how instinctively and swiftly tribalist boys encircle prey, covering all exits.

---

Then the boys in the circle would push the friends into each other repeatedly.

More boys would join the circle, for a total of perhaps twenty. They would yell, "Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!"

Bystanders would join silently. They couldn't be distinguished from those cheering.

---

If the friends resisted, the pushing would continue harder. If one fought with a member of the circle, he would be hit and pushed at his friend again.

The friends would resist, but after many pushes over a long time, eventually one would think the other did not resist enough, or took inadequate precautions; or in the confusion, one would reflexively strike, which then looked deliberate.

The friends would fight.

---

Here is an old Star Trek clip. It lacks gravity and ignores complexities, but it makes a point.

---

What I'm saying is that we have powerful external enemies. Amid the flying fists, let's not forget their existence.

Samuel

Footnotes:

¹ Lest the gang behavior seem rare: it can happen anywhere in the world, not only in ghettos as often portrayed (and not only by boys). In fact, the events in this story happened in a rather high-status place that was regarded as enlightened and not violent.