Physical Violence

[Coyote]

As a young kid in Elementary School, I punched a bully who'd been giving me hell for months. Put him on the floor, that was it, and I felt bad (apologized) later. I tried to avoid fights; the best way to win is to not be there.

Later, after the Army and Karate, I was pleased to note that most people grow up and lose that boyish desire to tough off to someone. Plus I lost that slow, chubby exterior that made me a target for such types.

Still, Ihave the concealed carry permit for my Glock, 'cause it's better to have it and never need it than to need it and not have it. I am pleased to say I've never needed it and I hope to keep that fine record as it is.

But again, I never go looking for reasons, either.

[ArmorPierce]

Hey lookee, rob wilson is back, where have you been?

[Perinquus]

When I was in high school I got into a couple of fistfights. One I ended with a single punch, and I'll admit: I started it. I hit a guy who for years had been a really good friend of mine. I helped him get a job at the hotel where I worked that summer, and then when the school year started, he suddenly found some more popular friends, and it became his favorite thing to do to run me down in front of them - especially if they were female. One day, I'd plain had enough. He was busy running his mouth to a couple of the cheerleaders and I stepped right in front of him and popped him right on the chin, right on the spot that boxers call "the button". It worked too, and he went down like he'd been poleaxed. I'd put up with his crap for over a month, and fired back plenty of verbal barbs, and I just decided I was not going to tolerate it one moment longer. I never had any trouble at all out of him after that.

Yes I started it. Was I justified? I thought I was. I still think so. It solved the problem and let him know his behavior was unacceptable. I still hear from the guy every so often, and even he admits today he had it coming.

Of my three other fights in high school, two were either inconclusive (stopped by an adult before the finish) the third was a victory for me. But I didn't start any of them. The win was actually in junior high, and was me knocking down a bully.

For many years that remained the extent of my fighting experience. Now I do it on a semi-regular basis, since I work for the Norfolk Police Department. And I never, ever fight fair. If you raise a fist or take a swing at me, the baton comes out and you will get an ass-whooping. If you seem especially combative, the pepper spray will come out, and that stuff is like Bruce Lee in a can! (They sprayed us with in in the academy; basically you will feel like your head's on fire for the next two hours.) If you draw a weapon on me, then I draw my sidearm. I haven't shot anybody yet, but I came within literally a fraction of a second of doing so on two occasions. And of course, whenever possible, we always like to use superior numbers.

Now I do not go around whooping people's asses because I have a badge and a gun and I can. These days, that's actually a pretty good way to lose your job. But when I have to throw down with someone I will do it, and as I said, I never fight fair. As to how I feel about that... Well, I can honestly say it doesn't bother me. As I said: I don't abuse my authority, so when I do have to get physical, I know I'm justified. It's also a bit different than a civilian getting into a fight in a bar, or at the scene of an accident. Most civilians who get into fights could avoid them; I'm expected to confront people deliberately, and some of them are real shitbags. In my job I won't fight with anybody unless he's trying to fight back or resist arrest, then I'll do what I have to, so I can honestly say I never feel badly about it. And I almost hate to admit it, because it would be easy for someone to misconstrue this, but some of these guys are big enough shitbags, that it even gives you a real feeling of satisfaction to give them as ass whooping. Again, I stress that I do not go out and beat people for fun, but when I guy just attacks you out of the blue while your just talking to him, because it turns out he's got a felony warrant on him, and he knows that the instant you run his ID you'll find that out, and he's determined not to go back to prison, and then you find out he's also a registered sex offender... Well, I'll admit it, I don't feel the least bit guilty about inflicting a little pain on people like that. Whether that's barbaric of me... I guess everyone will make his own mind up on that.

[Rob Wilson]

Hey lookee, rob wilson is back, where have you been?

There and back again

[Kuja]

In other words, real life.

[Rob Wilson]

In other words, real life.

A real what?

[Kuja]

Ah, say no more.

[The Yosemite Bear]

Good your back, And I needed someone to help me with some editting....

heh

[Rob Wilson]

Good your back, And I needed someone to help me with some editting....

heh

I'm almost afraid to ask what the hell the Cult of the Kitten is... Anything Sluggy related perchance?

[weemadando]

You haven't been in a fight? Congratulations you are a winner in the Game of Life. Anyone who has started a Fight or has not run away/talked their way out when the opportunity presented itself is a Loser. That's it basically.

Fighting is neither big, nor clever. Anyone that tells you otherwise is too stupid to know better.

To quote my philosophy on fighting: "The best fight is won by a hundred metres and still accelerating."

[The Yosemite Bear]

Good your back, And I needed someone to help me with some editting....

heh

I'm almost afraid to ask what the hell the Cult of the Kitten is... Anything Sluggy related perchance?

yes, mew.

[Perinquus]

You haven't been in a fight? Congratulations you are a winner in the Game of Life. Anyone who has started a Fight or has not run away/talked their way out when the opportunity presented itself is a Loser. That's it basically.

Fighting is neither big, nor clever. Anyone that tells you otherwise is too stupid to know better.

I don't know if I'd agree with that. Certainly a fight is to be avoided whenever possible. But having said that, there are times when people are provoked beyond endurance, and times when running away will only encourage the opponent to pursue you, or try to victimize you again later. The example of the schoolyard bully is perfect - I have never seen anything as effective at ending bullying than the intended victim standing up and fighting back. Anything else - avoiding the bully, running away, running to an adult for protection - always seems not to work; the bully just bides his time and strikes again.

I do agree that the great majority of fights that most people get into are avoidable, but some aren't. And sometimes, very rarely, even when they're avoidable, you've got to stand up for yourself. A lot of people these days confuse squeamishness with morality.