What is 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, in the television show ''[[Archer (television)|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== There are a few reports of swirlies in real life. In some, the victim agreed to be part of the swirly.<ref name=Green>{{cite news|title=Greendale high school football team reportedly gave 'swirlies' to teammates|accessdate=September 9, 2021|author=Christina Palladino |url=https://www.wisn.com/article/greendale-high-school-football-team-reportedly-gave-swirlies-to-teammates/6317733#|publisher=WISN}}</ref> 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.<ref name=Com>{{cite news|author=Lori Comstock|title='Get over it': Blair Academy wrestler says coaches turned a blind eye to years of hazing, abuse|accessdate=September 9, 2021|date=April 14, 2021|publisher=New Jersey Herald|url=https://www.njherald.com/story/news/local/2021/04/14/former-blair-academy-nj-wrestler-claims-coaches-laughed-off-hazing/7139900002/}}</ref> In others, the person giving the swirly is an adult or even a parent and not an older child.<ref name=Lee>{{cite news|url=https://www.dailycommercial.com/new