by Kathy Gottberg

        The current box-office movie The Avengers features a scene where the evil bad guy Loki confronts the massive and up-until-then unpredictable Green Hulk.   During the entire first half of the movie Loki repeatedly hurts, maims and condemns both the people of Earth and the avenging superheroes at every twist of the plot.  At one point Loki even stabs his own brother Thor in the gut when offered a chance at peace.  Finally, during an intense confrontation where Loki insults the Hulk and demands subjugation, the Hulk merely looks at Loki calmly before reaching out and gabbing his ankles.  Then with a firm grasp, The Hulk beats Loki senselessly against the ground over and over again like a rag doll.  The action feels so justified and well deserved that just about every single person in the theater laughed and applauded in agreement.   If only every encounter with a difficult person were as clear-cut and simple to resolve. [Read more…]