Let's think about what would have happened if this were a park in say, Sacramento, and if the boxer dude had called 911. The police would respond to an assault report and after the inevitable discovery of the idiot with the camera criminal charges would almost surely be filed. A police report is a certainty. Potential for a civil suit (if he really wanted revenge) which would be a huge thorn in the slaphappy park visitors side.
Instead he's on video assaulting an innocent bystander along with a guy who could have a somewhat credible claim to accidentally whacking his girl.
I contend that the first option is a much better outcome, although not as emotionally satisfactory in the very short term. I admit, it as long as we're discussing fantasy fistfights I'd love to sneak up on the cameraman and hit the base of his skull with a stun gun, then take his videotape. But that would be illegal.
Obsidian said:
if you're on the street, get out your cell phone and call the police
if you're in a bar, let the bouncer kick them out
If the slap is so hard that it's actually painful to the girl, then yeah you can probably retaliate without a prosecutor trying to lock you up for it -- even though it may not technically be self-defense. (If you do retaliate, you should do so instantly without asking for an apology first. Then when the police interview you, say that you thought he was about to hit her again.) But when I said fighting over a "slap" was idiotic, I wasn't talking about a violent punch; I was talking about what those guys did in the video. In situations of mild slaps, the ancient wisdom of "Turn the other cheek" generally applies.
This is all true, but I'd still never escalate a situation like this. I'm very capable of self defense but the outcome of even a successful defense has such huge downside potential that it's worth taking pains to avoid. Call 911, protect your loved ones. Do not become an aggressor.
If you have absolutely no choice then you do what you are forced to do and pay the very high emotional and fiscal costs because in the end you have to choose to live. A lot of girls say carrying is unattractive, but again, they seem to always be able to excuse
your choice to carry because [insert female reason] and in reality it seems to be a turn on for them.
Nighthawk said:
The slap in that video looked painful and intentional.
The police aren't going to do a thing, .... And I question whether many assailants will stand by as you dial the police or anyone else.
Then you can kill them. I'm saying this in the plainest most brutal terms possible because that's the real choice you have to make in cases like this. You don't know who his friends are, you don't know what he can do, you don't know what he's willing to do. When you choose to escalate you are stepping into something that you can't easily step out of. You are committed. Like other life commitments, it's best to avoid making snap decisions on this one too if you can.
If you're too hot headed to avoid, avoid, avoid, then by all means, you don't have any business with a weapons permit. Stick to imaginary fistfights.
At least you know I'll never be the guy who's picking a fight. Unfortunately a lot of guys who do pick fights may have weapons so please think about that. I enjoy your conversation and would hate to have your liver splattered all over a bus because you had to impress a girl.
Nighthawk said:
I agree that if you're anywhere like a bar where there is handy authority figure, get them to handle it.
Agreed. It's what they are paid for.
