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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

would you reatliate?

27 replies

painrush · 11/07/2007 11:53

if your family life was damaged by someone you didnt know, but you had the wherewithal to retaliate, would you do it?

OP posts:
obimomkanobi · 11/07/2007 11:58

only if it were legal and didn't strip me of my dignity.

How has your family life been damaged and how do you want to retaliate?

ChristyC · 11/07/2007 11:58

Hi,
Depends. The situation, how bad it was, we need more to be able to comment.

painrush · 11/07/2007 11:59

it would be to make someone go thru the pain (as in hurt feelings etc) that im currently going thru. nothing illegal, but making their family suffer similarly, or should i just let it go?

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obimomkanobi · 11/07/2007 12:01

What have they done?

LittleLupin · 11/07/2007 12:03

no. why make yourself as bad as they are. take the moral high ground.

painrush · 11/07/2007 12:03

i dont want to go into details, but i have been hurt very badly (emotionally), and feel like gaining revenger/retaliating in the same way. but dont know if it would make me feel better, or help my situation?

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throckenholt · 11/07/2007 12:06

do their family deserve to be hurt in the way yours has ?

Even if they have caused a problem, are their family involved.

I would like to think I would be big enough to let it go - and treat the individual with the contempt they deserve - ie by ignoring them.

mylittlestar · 11/07/2007 12:06

Ok I will make something up to put this into context - for example - a married woman has had an affair with your dh... you have found out...

You've got the pain. You have to live through a nightmare each day. She goes back to her family and lives with no reprocussions...

And should you tell her dh and ruin her family too?

Probably not. It wouldn't make you feel any better and more innocent people would be hurt.

Would I retaliate in that situation - if I'm truly honest - yes I would.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 11/07/2007 12:07

Revenge is a dish best served cold.

Be the bigger person here and do not stoop to their level.

painrush · 11/07/2007 12:08

not as bad as what you said mylittlestar, but emotionally painfull all the same. feel so hurt, but want to get thru it. just feel like the person involved is laughing at us.

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mylittlestar · 11/07/2007 12:13

It's hard to advise without knowing the details (and hope I didn't offend with the example was just trying to get a context)...

But I agree with people who say rise above it. And revenge is definitely always a dish best served cold. In the heat of the moment our judgement may not be at its best...

But think how it will make you feel to retaliate. Would hurting them give you some comfort and make you feel any better?
Do you think it would remove those feelings of them 'laughing at you'?

If it will genuinely help you to get over it then you need to do whatever you need to do.

If it will just hurt more people and not help you, then maybe try to find other ways to move on and put it all behind you?

peachypie · 11/07/2007 12:13

I was in a similair situation, i thought about revenge for a long time, but what good would it do? short term yes it would feel good but long term I may not feel so good about myself.
4 years on im glad i decided not to, I didnt come across as bitter, i have kept my self respect and not lowered myself to the same level as those with out morals.

Let them reap what they have sown without your intervention if possible.

But thats just my opinion and the circumstances may be different.

painrush · 11/07/2007 12:14

thank you everyone

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mylittlestar · 11/07/2007 12:17
painrush · 11/07/2007 12:19

thanks mylittlestar, wish i could, but would make things worse, and im trying to rebuild everything, the foundations rocked, but im still standing.

will think about whats been said and done, and will wait and see if anything further occurs before i act.

thanks

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harpsichordcuddler · 11/07/2007 12:24

the problem is that it is very hard to "limit" the hurt - if you deliberately set out to hurt a person, then people close to them inevitably get hurt too. you might say that it not your fault, that the party in the wrong brought it on themsleves. you wou dbe wrong about that.
revenge is destructive and vile and brings out the worst in humans. go and read Shakespeare if you don't believe me those stories don't have a happy ending

Pennies · 11/07/2007 12:26

if you have mutual friends I would just let it be known what they have done (if ou can face doing that) and let the gossips meter out any punishment.

painrush · 11/07/2007 12:27

i dont know the other person/family, but they have hurt me and my family life, and feel they are getting away with it, and laughing ta me/us

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suezee · 11/07/2007 12:30

hi painrush hope ur ok......the chances are u will feel bad about urself for stooping to their level if u retaliate,this may seem the easiest option as ur livid at the mo,but make it known ur better than them x

Anniegetyourgun · 11/07/2007 12:59

You showing strength and dignity and rebuilding something good out of your life will leave them nothing to laugh at.

painrush · 13/07/2007 11:33

has been a few days since last post and feel calmer now (tho still extremely peeved).

am still contemplating on whether to retaliate. feel in better frame of mind, but cant help but feel that they are getting away scott free, whilst im suffering?

sorry to keep on, ranting like this does help......

OP posts:
mylittlestar · 13/07/2007 12:17

Feel free to rant away! That's what MN is for!

So do you think you want to retaliate?

TaylorsMummy · 13/07/2007 12:45

i don't think anyone can advise you properly on whether it's a good idea or not without knowing anything about the situation/person involved

zookeeper · 13/07/2007 12:55

Don't do anything whilst you are hurt and upset then come back and ask us again

painrush · 13/07/2007 18:13

thanks, will think it over for a bit longer

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