Board Thread:Episode Discussion/@comment-34633327-20171201215836/@comment-34633327-20171205172644

MetallicArcher wrote: BenRG wrote: If Cardin would have got anything other than Ozpin's disapproving glare, it would have been harsh words because, in the end, he didn't do anything directly actionable. Bullies tend to be careful like that. Additionally, Cardin wouldn't have been intimidated into backing off. It simply isn't in his nature to respond to threats like that as anything other than a challenge to his personal masculinity. It is much more likely that he would have doubled-down and even started targeting RWBY and JNPR too in order to prove his dominance. While I agree Cardin isn't the kind to back down, provoking bullies into initiating physical agression so I can incapacitate them in self defense worked just fine for me during high school. And, I mean, Cardin was already being physically agressive to Velvet. Really it depends on the school. I remember back in my last year of middle school, I put my tapped someone on the shoulder to get their attention, and he spun around and punched me. We both ended up with detention because he claimed it was self defense. Zero Tolerance Policies punish not just the instigator, but the victim as well. At least, my school system does.

Yes, Cardin pulled Velvet's ears, but had Velvet fought back, it could have caused a bigger incident because A.) She's an upperclassman and it would be seen as an Upper beating their junior, B.) It would paint her in a negative light as CRDL could claim they were fooling around, and that she unreasonably attacked him, and C.) With only RWBY and JNPR being shown to witness it, and neither really getting involved to begin with, CRDL could easily turn the situation into a case of He said She said, which would spiral out of control. Even if RWBY did try to stick up for Velvet, they would be questioned as to why they didn't intervene earlier, or better yet, get a Proffesor. It was a no win situation.