One punch and out...

[UberTong]

Wow, this thread is STILL going? I have no reason to throw a punch unless I feel threatened. If that makes me "soft as baby thighs" then bite me. I don't know if I'm as Rambo as the OP and would put a guy out with one punch but I do know how to land them and will do whatever I intend to do. That being said, I've cooled down a lot since I was 25 and don't feel like I need to "rumble" these days.

Ranger, not calling you out. Unless you think you wouldn't feel threatened by A) a guy talking smack to you as you approach an establishment (I'm not feeling threatened yet) or B) THE GUY TAKES A SWING AT YOU (ok, now I feel threatened. Why? He intended physical harm by swinging a fist at my body, end of story). What if he landed that first punch and you never got to swing back, and he got to keep kicking your face into the curb? I honestly can't see how this is up for debate. I'm far from a hothead, I'm 28 years old, don't drink, and avoid bars and confrontations like the plague. BUT, if someone swings at me, game on, green light. I'm tired of the pussification of America. How is there a right and wrong after the guy has both been the first to talk shit and take a swing? I didn't say be Rambo, I didn't see be Johnny Tuffnuts and look for a fight. When did it become wrong to stand up for yourself and defend yourself. Jesus people, fist fights used to be a way to deal with this sort of thing, now we are so soft its a umpteen page debate. Sorry just my .02 and to quote ranger, if you don't like it bite me.

[tmckay2]

Who said patting someone on the back gives a right to swing? Only an idiot wouldswing and that's what happened. But sometimes you have to e the bigger and smarter man and completely walking away. Putting your hands on a stranger, especially someone confrontational, is just plain stupid, for your safety and his. It escalates things unnecessarily. Once the guy swings sure I don't think there is anything wrong with defending yourself. But if you have the means to defen yourself, especially if carrying, it should alwas e avoided anyway possible. You can say that's soft but the fact is we live in a country where you can end up in jail real easy. If you want to ro the dice so you can call yourself a man have at it. My advice is to avoid it altogether, backdown, and both get to live another day of freedom. It seems like a stupid reason to risk so much. It's not about soft it's about priorities.

TM, I have to say it, I agree 100% with Hollohas... and it's more than one post. The general consensus I get from some of the responses on this is there are two groups- the group that gives the OP a "pat on the back" (it's ok, you can chuckle a bit) for his actions, and the group that says "OH MY GOD! YOU TOUCHED HIM!? He had every right to hit you, keep your hands to yourself!" What is this? Kindergarten? If a friendly gesture of just touching someone warrants violence then I'd say we are surrounded by psychos! I wouldn't throw a punch if I got a bit peeved at someone and they patted me and laughed. I might ask them not to touch me, but I wouldn't take a swing at them, c'mon, a little ridiculous. If physical contact is enough to warrant a fight then I should have had at least 60 fights in just the last few days, because I've touched, bumped into and put my hands on at least 2x that many. Not one of them tried to fight me, no one got angry, and I certainly didn't "provoke" anything. So let's all fucking stop with this pansy attitude where we should all keep inside our own personal bubbles and never touch anyone at all costs for fear of "instigating" something.... jeez, I thought you all would be a little thicker skinned.

[Ronin13]

Ranger, not calling you out. Unless you think you wouldn't feel threatened by A) a guy talking smack to you as you approach an establishment (I'm not feeling threatened yet) or B) THE GUY TAKES A SWING AT YOU (ok, now I feel threatened. Why? He intended physical harm by swinging a fist at my body, end of story). What if he landed that first punch and you never got to swing back, and he got to keep kicking your face into the curb? I honestly can't see how this is up for debate. I'm far from a hothead, I'm 28 years old, don't drink, and avoid bars and confrontations like the plague. BUT, if someone swings at me, game on, green light. I'm tired of the pussification of America. How is there a right and wrong after the guy has both been the first to talk shit and take a swing? I didn't say be Rambo, I didn't see be Johnny Tuffnuts and look for a fight. When did it become wrong to stand up for yourself and defend yourself. Jesus people, fist fights used to be a way to deal with this sort of thing, now we are so soft its a umpteen page debate. Sorry just my .02 and to quote ranger, if you don't like it bite me.

I agree, but for clarification, the debate was more about the OP patting this guy on the shoulder (or similar) while laughing trying to get the dude to calm down- they claim that instigated the guy to throw the punch... everyone saying the OP was wrong is basically saying "keep your hands to yourself and don't touch other people." I just for the life of me can't remember when a harmless touch was enough to get punched over...

[airborneranger]

I thought the base of division was whether or not the OP demonstrated some sort of aggression by "patting" the guy on the back. I don't think anyone is arguing that once someone throws a punch that it is game on.

[Lex_Luthor]

Wow, this thread is STILL going? I have no reason to throw a punch unless I feel threatened. If that makes me "soft as baby thighs" then bite me. I don't know if I'm as Rambo as the OP and would put a guy out with one punch but I do know how to land them and will do whatever I intend to do. That being said, I've cooled down a lot since I was 25 and don't feel like I need to "rumble" these days.

I'm 25 and I'm definitely cool. It's great to look forward to being even cooler when I get older!

[spyder]

So, lets just say someone pissed you off by doing something you thought was stupid (everyone has their own things) and you call them an asshole and walk away. As you start to walk away, you feel the other guy touch your shoulder. What do you do? Remember, you have already reached the point of name calling.

Honestly, if my back is turned and you touch me, you are at least getting an arm bar. I will probably not swing but rather put you in a hold that doesn't quite hurt you so I can ask what the hell you think you are doing touching me. In the real world, all around us, people hurt and kill other people for a lot less. Now I would have already had to have been in a bad mood for me to have acted like this (easily reached the point of name calling, bad days happen). Shit happens like misunderstandings every day, just be smart, don't touch someone who is already pissed off.

How do we know the other guy was a druggie again? He could have just been someone in a bad mood, or someone who is a little touchy.

[tmckay2]

That's allfine and good but I know a handful of people that use that rationale and still wound up in jail for a few months right or wrong. I totally agree this country is weak but it is what it is. If you don't acknowledge it and live accordingly you may just find yourself dead or in jail. Just not worth it in my opinion. I've seen the risks you run when you "defend yourself" an I think I've learned a thing or two. One buddy got stabbed when he could have just walked away and two wound up in jail. All had what you would define as a good reason to fight back but it didnt matter

Ranger, not calling you out. Unless you think you wouldn't feel threatened by A) a guy talking smack to you as you approach an establishment (I'm not feeling threatened yet) or B) THE GUY TAKES A SWING AT YOU (ok, now I feel threatened. Why? He intended physical harm by swinging a fist at my body, end of story). What if he landed that first punch and you never got to swing back, and he got to keep kicking your face into the curb? I honestly can't see how this is up for debate. I'm far from a hothead, I'm 28 years old, don't drink, and avoid bars and confrontations like the plague. BUT, if someone swings at me, game on, green light. I'm tired of the pussification of America. How is there a right and wrong after the guy has both been the first to talk shit and take a swing? I didn't say be Rambo, I didn't see be Johnny Tuffnuts and look for a fight. When did it become wrong to stand up for yourself and defend yourself. Jesus people, fist fights used to be a way to deal with this sort of thing, now we are so soft its a umpteen page debate. Sorry just my .02 and to quote ranger, if you don't like it bite me.

[sneakerd]

[UberTong]

That's allfine and good but I know a handful of people that use that rationale and still wound up in jail for a few months right or wrong. I totally agree this country is weak but it is what it is. If you don't acknowledge it and live accordingly you may just find yourself dead or in jail. Just not worth it in my opinion. I've seen the risks you run when you "defend yourself" an I think I've learned a thing or two. One buddy got stabbed when he could have just walked away and two wound up in jail. All had what you would define as a good reason to fight back but it didnt matter

That is a good, sensible point mckay. The world is a fucked up place, and 'defending yourself' is all relative to a jury or the scumbag sueing you etc. But, I don't what it is, how I was raised, what God put in my soul. I'm just not the kind of guy to say "Hey now mister, why did you swing that fist at my face? Let's talk about sir, you look upset!". I know I'm dramatizing it, but it's just not me. If that makes me a hothead, then sign this brotha up as a hothead. I will never look for a fight, but I will finish one. And believe me I know the scenario you're talking about. I was always picked on in grade school when I was younger, and when I retaliated I was always the one being reprimanded because I was bigger/stronger. Still felt right in my heart.

[ronaldrwl]

That's allfine and good but I know a handful of people that use that rationale and still wound up in jail for a few months right or wrong. I totally agree this country is weak but it is what it is. If you don't acknowledge it and live accordingly you may just find yourself dead or in jail. Just not worth it in my opinion. I've seen the risks you run when you "defend yourself" an I think I've learned a thing or two. One buddy got stabbed when he could have just walked away and two wound up in jail. All had what you would define as a good reason to fight back but it didnt matter

+1

Things seem different when you're in your 20's and got nothin. When you're twice that age with a house and kids.... It's just not smart to let some drunk/druggy draw you into something that puts everything you've built in your life at risk. Dumb...