Swirly
A swirly or swirlie is a form of bullying in which the victim's head is put into a toilet. Some people have questioned whether swirlies are real or whether they were invented for television and other fiction.
In fiction
On television, one or more bigger people, usually high school boys, pick up the victim. Then they dunk the victim's head in a toilet and flush it. The swirling water gives the swirly its name. For example, on the television show Archer, Archer tells Lana about how he got pneumonia from getting a swirly in high school: Two bigger boys had picked him up, turned him upside down, and put his head in a toilet. On The Simpsons, Bart Simpson gets a swirly from Jimbo Jones. In Cobra Kai, Kenny gets revenge against Anthony LaRusso by dunking his head into a used toilet.
In real life
There are a few reports of swirlies in real life. In some, the "victim" agreed to be part of the swirly.[1] In other reports, the victim describes the swirly almost exactly like a swirly in fiction. One Blair Academy wrestler talked about being given swirlies and other abuse from older teammates.[2] In others, the person giving the swirly is an adult or even a parent and not an older child.[3]
Swirly Media
A female bully, portrayed in the 1917 silent film Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm
- Stop bullying Serbia 23.02.2008.jpg
Cartoon representation of a bully and a victim used to depict Western European powers and the United States bullying Serbia in the aftermath of the 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence during the 2008 Serbian protests
Some U.S. states have implemented laws to address school bullying.* Law that prohibits discrimination against students based on sexual orientation and gender identity* School regulation or ethical code for teachers that address discrimination and/or bullying of students based on sexual orientation and gender identity* Law that prohibits discrimination against students based on sexual orientation only* School regulation or ethical code for teachers that address discrimination and/or bullying of students based on sexual orientation only* Law that prohibits bullying of students based on sexual orientation and gender identity* Law that forbids local school districts from having anti-bullying policies that enumerate protected classes of students* Law that prohibits bullying in school but lists no categories of protection* No statewide law that specifically prohibits bullying in schools
References
- ↑ Christina Palladino. Greendale high school football team reportedly gave 'swirlies' to teammates. WISN. https://www.wisn.com/article/greendale-high-school-football-team-reportedly-gave-swirlies-to-teammates/6317733#. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
- ↑ Lori Comstock (April 14, 2021). 'Get over it': Blair Academy wrestler says coaches turned a blind eye to years of hazing, abuse. New Jersey Herald. https://www.njherald.com/story/news/local/2021/04/14/former-blair-academy-nj-wrestler-claims-coaches-laughed-off-hazing/7139900002/. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
- ↑ No charges against Leesburg mom for giving toilet swirly. Daily Commercial. September 5, 2018. https://www.dailycommercial.com/news/20180905/no-charges-against-leesburg-mom-for-giving-toilet-swirly. Retrieved September 9, 2021.