“AITA for slapping a teenager?”

Violence is never a good idea, but sometimes, whether it's a kick, a slap, or an outright punch, it's an instinct that kicks in when something unexpected happens.

For this Reddit user, that “something unexpected” was someone undoing their top at a water park. The woman turned around and slapped the individual, leading to both parties being kicked out of the park and threatening to sue. Scroll down for the full story below.

People generally associate water parks with fun and games.

Photo credits: Armin Rimoldi / Pexels (not the actual photo)

But for this woman, a visit to the water park with her family quickly turned sour.

Image credits: ImageSourceCur / Envato (not the actual photo)

Photo credits: Old_Educator_3516

Certain unexpected situations can trigger a “fight or flight” response.

The author's reaction to the person who took off her top has divided internet users into two camps. While some believe she was right to defend herself against what some consider to be sexual assault, others believe she should not have reacted violently, especially in front of her daughter.

It goes without saying that presenting violence as the first or only option is far from ideal when it comes to setting an example for young children. But in the Reddit user’s case, the slap may have been instinct – a sudden, ill-considered reaction to a perceived threat.

According to Harvard Health Publishing, a stressful situation can trigger a reaction in our bodies called the “fight or flight response,” which allows us to fight back or flee to safety. Because it’s a survival mechanism, it typically leads to a “carefully orchestrated but near-instantaneous sequence of hormonal changes and physiological responses,” such as increased heart rate, sweating, or muscle tension.

While such an instinct likely evolved to help a person defend themselves against dangers like animal attacks and the like, it has adapted to modern life just as humans have: even though we no longer hunt in the forests, we do so – in a way – in grocery stores, and while the chances of being attacked by a bear in the city are close to zero, the odds are not as favorable when it comes to confronting attackers.

On top of that, as Harvard Health Publishing points out, the body can also overreact to certain non-life-threatening stressors, such as traffic jams, work pressure, and family difficulties; or, in the OP's case, naughty teenagers.

It is essential to respect the limits of others

While a fight-or-flight response usually elicits a reaction within seconds, some netizens suggested in the comments that this is not an excuse to hit a minor. They said that in situations like this, the best thing to do is to talk to the teen's parents or the water park management.

Others, however, said that you have to defend yourself when someone tries to touch you, let alone undress you, without your consent, something that many parents try to instill in their children, especially their daughters. It is essential that children understand the meaning of boundaries and respect them in the same way that they expect others to do as well.

According to clinical psychologist Dr. Stephanie Dowd, boundaries are all about understanding and respecting your own needs, as well as being respectful and understanding of the needs of others. “And for that to work, we need to focus on helping children develop greater empathy and self-awareness,” the Child Mind Institute expert said.

Chances are, if the teen had been more aware of the boundaries imposed on others, or if he had cared more, the incident could have been avoided altogether. But since he likely didn't think much about the consequences of his actions, in the words of other Reddit users, “he played dumb and found out,” putting the woman and her parents at the center of it all.

Many Redditors didn't think the woman was wrong in this situation

ADVERTISEMENT

Some, however, thought she should not have reacted the way she did.