Slapping the Bull

The act of purposely inciting an individual or group to action, often retaliatory, through words or deeds. In the textbook example of “Slapping the Bull”, the targeted individual or group (aka “The Bull”) will be quietly going about their normal daily routine before being roused to action by the efforts of the person inciting the bull (aka “The Slapper”). Often the Slappers goal is simply to create some excitement in their otherwise boring day. The excitement can come from fending off the retaliatory response by the Bull, or delighting in watching the Bull unknowingly take out their aroused anger on another innocent party (The Rube) who was set up to take the fall by the Slapper. The latter case is sometimes referred to as “Bitch Slapping the Bull”, as the Bull is so completely mind fucked by the Slapper that they lash out against the Slappers second target (The Rube), yet another unsuspecting individual or group.