One punch and out...

[TFOGGER]

I'll say this: I wasn't there, so I don't know how it went down. I do know that meth and drugs like it make people hyper paranoid. Chances are about 50/50 that the guy would have taken a swing anyway. Violence isn't the answer, but sometimes it's an answer.

[tmckay2]

meh, the guy was probably a douche, but to be honest you should never reach out and touch anyone you don't know, ever, in a situation like that. sure, you let him have it this time. next time you might find a knife in your belly, or worse. never a good idea to make physical contact with a stranger. obviously once the d-bag swings, he should be fair game. i just don't see why it isn't easier and safer for everyone to descalate the situation by talking calmly, politely, and sometimes even backing down. your manhood isn't at stake. speaking in a humble voice and trying to explain the situation doesn't mean you don't have balls. don't get me wrong, im not trying to preach to you, the guy was probably an idiot and probably had it coming, but its just my opinion.

knowing how to fight or carrying or whatever the situation may be, doesn't mean we should puff up our chest when people confront us in and effort to be "the man". in fact, i think those of us with the ability to protect ourselves need to have even more responsibility to avoid confrontation at ALL costs. thats not necessarily directed to you, ive just seen a lot of threads on here about almost drawing on people, getting in fights, what have you. and almost every single one has to do with said person being just a tad too puffy and afraid to look meek and escalating a situation that probably didn't need to be escalated, even if the assailant is a complete idiot d-bag. someday someone could get seriously injured or even killed, and frankly even if its the bad guy its not a result i think anyone really wants.

[tmckay2]

I'll say this: I wasn't there, so I don't know how it went down. I do know that meth and drugs like it make people hyper paranoid. Chances are about 50/50 that the guy would have taken a swing anyway. Violence isn't the answer, but sometimes it's an answer.

i completely agree. but i am a super easy going, laid back guy who would avoid a fight in any way possible. but if some random guy reached out and touched me, even patted me on the shoulder or back, it would immediately put me into a defensive mind set. i wouldn't swing at someone but it would make me super uncomfortable, and if someone is already on edge or just a plain jerk, touching them isn't going to end well.

[ronaldrwl]

500 fights? Holy crap you must be ugly.

This is getting funny

[ronaldrwl]

Pat him on the back, it will defuse the situation.

Umm, good advice

[Chad4000]

This is finally the thread where the newbs like me get to see where everybody is at.. There is a differance between people..

Those who think it's ok to go up to somebody and talk shit, assuming nothing will happen. The same people that are banking on somebody elses restraint... The one who wakes up taking about how he almost tripped walking by some dogs



Then there is the person who gets swung on and knocks out a dick...

I'm going with the later...

[hollohas]

I am late and haven't read all the responses but I will say I don't think you did anything wrong. I'm not sure what to think about some people here saying "I would have never patted him on the shoulder in the first place". WTF? What have we come to when you people consider a seemingly friendly pat on the shoulder with a stranger an invitation to a dangerous altercation?

The dude was a dick by calling you an asshole. I think you handled it fine by laughing it off and giving him a friendly pat. He had no right to swing at you and you had every right to knock his ass out for that. Then the fight was over, no knives, no guns. OVER. That's the way it should be.

A polite society is one where a man gets a broken nose for taking a unprovoked cheap shot on another man. God I wish we stilled lived in a world where two men could solve their problems this quickly without always escalating to knives, guns and police.

That dick got his ass handed to him. Good job.

[hollohas]

If you and I had a verbal altercation followed by you "patting me on the shoulder" I probably would have taken a swing at you too. Just saying. I am not the type of guy that likes people I don't know to lay a hand on me.

I didn't include the name here because I don't want to sling insults directly at someone I don't know. This post is not directed solely at the person who wrote the above but I have issue with the above statement.

Seriously?!?!?! You think a man patting you on the back is a reason to swing at him? That's fucked.

What happened to this country when people see a pat on the back as instigation and assault? Anyone that says patting another man on the back or shoulder is a provocation needs to grow a pair. "OMG, officer, he patted me on the back! I had a right to swing at him! He TOUCHED ME first!!" Bunch of whinny girls...

[hollohas]

I find this post rather troubling. Why was it necessary to tie your dogs up outside the truck stop? Did they have shade and water? Were they safely out of the way of traffic both foot and motorized? Obviously, no one was watching them or there would be no need to tie them up. Who would stop them from being poisoned, or let off their leashes and get hit? What if a young child walked up to them and for some unknown reason, they maul the child?
As a dog lover, I don't like it when people tie their dogs up outside a public building not designed for it. If this place had stalls to tie your dog up in, I apologize. Do me and everyone else a favor by having more respect for the friends you haven't met and YOUR DOGS!
Too, I think by your description of the trucker, there may have been more than one person with a short fuse. Bottom line is: If you had taken proper care of your pets, we wouldn't be discussing this in front of the viewing public.

Take care,
Dave

HAHAHAHAHA. After the OPs story and the comments we get you should take better care of your dogs. HAHAHAHAHA.

Paladin, are you suggesting he leave them in the hot vehicle instead? Maybe the OP should only do business at truck stops that allow pets inside and then bring them in the restroom with him too? Oh, and when it's time to eat, he should bring them into the diner and let the dog sit in the booth too... Ridiculous.

"If the place has STALLS to tie your dog in"...??? What? What kind of store has stalls for dogs?

Sorry if this has been discussed already. I'm just not able to wait to post until I have read everything first. Some posts require immediate responses...

[hollohas]

My problem with the OP is that lets say you called someone an asshole and then that guy put his hand on you like described in the OP. Would you swing? I would. Put your hands on me or mine and good luck to you. Keep your hands to yourself. The OP got lucky that he hit the sweet spot on the guy. If he keeps his hands to himself he may not have to try his luck next time.

Bunch of whiners. "He TOUCHED me!" If you would hit a guy for touching you with a friendly pat, you're a dick just like the tweaker. Grow some balls. Not everything is worth fighting over and a pat on the shoulder is on the top of the list of "Things Not Worth Fighting Over"

Man, this thread is really making me upset at how many people think a pat on the back is grounds for a fight.

OP, good job. You tried to be a man and be friendly about being called out but obviously the world has changed. For whatever reason, as this thread proves, a pat on the back is no longer allowed in our society. Too bad.

Name calling does not make a fight. Physical contact does.

And another asinine comment. A friendly pat on the shoulder doesn't make a fight either. What a joke.