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
[change | change source]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, in 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. In The Simpsons, Bart Simpson gets a swirly from Jimbo Jones. In Cobra Kai, Kenny Payne gets revenge against Anthony LaRusso by dunking his head into a used toilet, giving him a swirly.
In real life
[change | change source]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]
References
[change | change source]
- ↑ Christina Palladino. "Greendale high school football team reportedly gave 'swirlies' to teammates". WISN. 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. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
- ↑ "No charges against Leesburg mom for giving toilet swirly". Daily Commercial. September 5, 2018. Retrieved September 9, 2021.