what to do about someone who technically isn't breaking rules?

[Ko-Ko]

This is a rather unusual problem, because the subject of this post is technically not breaking any rules. There is someone in several of my classes, who I will call Lucy (short for Lucifer) who basically puts her nose into other people's business in an effort to get them in trouble. The thing is, everything she says is usually true, so telling teachers wouldn't do any good.

For example, we were in first period when another classmate came in about two minutes late. He was sweating and his face was red, so he clearly ran in an effort to get to class on time. The teacher was facing the board and didn't notice him. The guy almost made it to his desk, when Lucy shouted, "Mr. G, Bob is here!" Bob got a detention for being late, and Lucy sat there smirking.

Another time, she tried to get me in trouble. We both have study hall period 10. The rule is that students aren't allowed to leave early and cut study hall, but most teachers don't care. I usually stay on weekdays to do homework, but on Fridays I usually leave. She apparently saw me leave once, and the following Monday she told the teacher, in front of the whole class, that I had been cutting study hall. Fotunately, his response was, "So?" It was kind of funny watching her face when she realized that I wasn't going to get in trouble.

A few months before that, before I knew what she was like, she did get me in trouble. I had been doing math homework in study hall and I didn't understand it. My math teacher is strict, and I knew I had to be able to show him something, so I looked up the answers to the odd-numbered problems in the book. She saw me do this, and told the math teacher, who gave me a zero on the homework.

Now I don't want to make it seem like I go out of my way to break rules, but these are all very minor things, and more importantly, they had nothing to do with her. Her interference was not from a desire to uphold the rules, but to get everyone in trouble. Is there anything I can do about her even though she technically didn't do anything wrong? Or do I have to just deal with it? Thanks for reading.

Ko-Ko

[Alida]

One of these days, Karma is going to turn and bite her in the bottom.

No one likes a tattletale, which is what she is.  I think the most you can do with someone like Lucy is ignore her.

[sammycat]

Does this girl have any friends?  I'd be very surprised if she did.  She'll get her comeuppance one day.  Sounds like she has a self esteem issue.

[Ko-Ko]

You're problably right Alida and Sammy. One of these days she is going to anger the the wrong person, who will wipe the smirk off her face. Am I evil if the thought makes me smile inside? 

Ko-Ko

[sammycat]

If it's any comfort most of the teachers probably aren't that impressed with her either.  They'd probably like to scream at her to sit down and shut up and to stop wasting their time with this tattletailing.  I liked the response of the teacher who said "so".

[Chocolate Cake]

Lucy is the classic definition of a "Tattle Tale". It used to be that matters such as this were taken care by a group of students ambushing and beating up the Tattle Tale after school.  Viola!  No more Tattle Tale.     Handling it this way these days would only result in a call to the police and a lawsuit for "pain and injuries."

That doesn't mean there aren't ways.   You and a group of others could always kill her with kindness.   Chances are she's really lonely, feels ostracized, and this is her way of getting attention (as twisted as it is).   It would probably be hard for her to then betray that feeling of inclusiveness by turning on her "friends" after that.   As her "friend" it would also give you the opportunity to speak to her about how this personality trait is souring how people feel about her thus ruining her chances of increasing her circle of friends now and in the future.

Another option is for an entire group of you (power in numbers) to visit your school's guidance counselor to discuss what Lucy has been doing.   Your purpose for this meeting is to ask the counselor for suggestions on how to effectively handle her and/or to ask the counselor if he/she would be willing to
call Lucy in for some "guidance" on this matter.  

It also doesn't hurt to ask the one teacher that responded "So?" if he would be willing to advise the rest of the teachers that they are playing into Lucy's hands when they respond to her tattling by punishing the other student.

[Ko-Ko]

That is probably true for many teachers, Sammy, but unfortunately there are some who would punish a student for anything. To them she is probably a god-send.

Ko-Ko

[Ko-Ko]

I never thought about her being lonely before. I know she has "friends" but they are more like her servants. Having a bunch of goons at your beck and call doesn't take the place of having a real friend.

Ko-Ko

[cocacola35]

The first thing I thought when I read this post was, "How old is this girl?"  Seriously, in my day by second grade all the kids in my school knew tattleing on each other was social suicide.  NOBODY would be your friend if you tattled on them for petty things and the tattler would usually get teased mercilessly.  I think the reason why kids do that is to feel a sense of power and to get attention from the authority figure.  The best thing to do about this Lucy is to ignore her and believe me, she will tattle on the wrong person one day.  

I think sammycat is right about the teachers being annoyed with it- I know it got on my nerves when I was a camp counselor.  If the kids told me something petty, I would say that I didn't see it or say OK and move on to something else.  I always felt that the tattler was just wasting my time.  

Edited after reading your post to say that her "goons" are probably just afraid of her tattling on them- it stinks not to have a mind of your own and a low self-esteem.

[Ko-Ko]

Yes, you would think she was a little girl the way she behaves, but she is seventeen, same as me. She should definitely know better by now.

Ko-Ko

[Slartibartfast]

A few months before that, before I knew what she was like, she did get me in trouble. I had been doing math homework in study hall and I didn't understand it. My math teacher is strict, and I knew I had to be able to show him something, so I looked up the answers to the odd-numbered problems in the book. She saw me do this, and told the math teacher, who gave me a zero on the homework.

Wow, wait a minute.  Isn't that the POINT of putting the odd-numbered answers in the back of the book - so you can test a few and see if you did them right?  How could your teacher possibly expect his class to do homework for which they already have half the answers and NEVER look?

When my books had this, my math teacher usually either assigned only the even-numbered problems (so you could do some odd ones to make sure you understood, but wouldn't get credit on them), or would assign whole sections but then would only grade random (even-numbered) questions.  One teacher even joked about the locker gremlins who hide in your locker and erase the answers to only the even-numbered problems in your homework assignment . . . and once when a guy in my class turned in an assignment where the answers to all the even problems were in pencil and the odd ones were in pen, my teacher put him on the spot and got this guy to give a really lame excuse about how he likes to switch back and forth between his pen and his pencil because it makes his hand cramp (?) otherwise.

[Ko-Ko]

A few months before that, before I knew what she was like, she did get me in trouble. I had been doing math homework in study hall and I didn't understand it. My math teacher is strict, and I knew I had to be able to show him something, so I looked up the answers to the odd-numbered problems in the book. She saw me do this, and told the math teacher, who gave me a zero on the homework.

Wow, wait a minute.  Isn't that the POINT of putting the odd-numbered answers in the back of the book - so you can test a few and see if you did them right?  How could your teacher possibly expect his class to do homework for which they already have half the answers and NEVER look?

When my books had this, my math teacher usually either assigned only the even-numbered problems (so you could do some odd ones to make sure you understood, but wouldn't get credit on them), or would assign whole sections but then would only grade random (even-numbered) questions.  One teacher even joked about the locker gremlins who hide in your locker and erase the answers to only the even-numbered problems in your homework assignment . . . and once when a guy in my class turned in an assignment where the answers to all the even problems were in pencil and the odd ones were in pen, my teacher put him on the spot and got this guy to give a really lame excuse about how he likes to switch back and forth between his pen and his pencil because it makes his hand cramp (?) otherwise.

Well you would think that, but this guy expects everyone to do the whole assignment without help like that. I have plenty of issues with him, from things like this to not telling me a project was assigned on a day I was absent even though I asked him what I had missed. To tell you the truth, he's kind of an idiot. Pretty funny about your classmate. 

Ko-Ko

[CreteGirl]

Now I don't want to make it seem like I go out of my way to break rules, but these are all very minor things, and more importantly, they had nothing to do with her. Her interference was not from a desire to uphold the rules, but to get everyone in trouble. Is there anything I can do about her even though she technically didn't do anything wrong? Or do I have to just deal with it? Thanks for reading.

Ko-Ko

My guess is sometime soon she will hear the toot of the karma bus horn as it turns down her street to run her over. 

Ignore her, she is a fool.

[Ko-Ko]

I suppose I will just have to ignore her and hope for the best. At least until I catch her at something (something she should actually get in trouble for, not something stupid. I'm not sinking to her level).

Ko-Ko

[Ko-Ko]

I don't actually have anything to say, but I think that by making this post I can become a jr member! Now how to celebrate? I'll have a shower for myself and invite everyone I know in the entire world to give me tons of presents. And I'll register for lots of expensive things because everyone is soooooooo generous and will want to give me lots of new stuff! Well, better summon my subjects to court... I mean invite my friends to my house. I can't wait!

Thanks for putting up with my weirdness,

Ko-Ko

Jr Member