Your "fighting words"

[hounddog]

this topic is on another forum I visit and got me to thinking.  Then it got me thinking it might be interesting here.
So in real life what would you consider fighting words worth getting into a physical altercation over?

For me it would be anyone calling my wife or daughter "cunt", hell even calling my passed away mother would start me up.

Also, touching wife or daughter inappropriately would probably get you face time with me.  

[2o6]

Calling me a Nigger. Not in jest, not in fun, but out of anger.

[280Z Turbo]

None. I don't want to fight.

[CJ]

None. I don't want to fight.

This.

[2o6]

I could see HD writing all these down and then requesting to meet us in person.

[hounddog]

I could see HD writing all these down and then requesting to meet us in person.

It would be like shooting fish in a barrel:  not very sportsmanlike. 

[J86]

If ANYTHING some random geek off the street is enough to make one fly into physical rage, I think that person ought consider seeking some help.  Sticks and stones and all that...

[hounddog]

Who said anything about "flying" into a physical rage?  Angry, yes.  But being in a rage is almost always going to cause you to lose a fight. 

I am talking about theoretically where people draw the line and feel they must stand up for principle/what is right, etc. 

[hotrodalex]

Only time I've gotten in a fight is when someone hit me first.

[dazzleman]

Only time I've gotten in a fight is when someone hit me first.

You're too pretty to fight.....

[Soup DeVille]

Personally, I'd like to see the return of the gentleman's duel.

A lot of people would suddenly start remembering their manners.

[Onslaught]

I probably wouldn't fight over just words throw at me. Unless I was already really pissed off. I really don't give a fuck what people say about me.

Saying something about a good friend or family member on the other hand would bring out the rage in me.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Guns speak louder than words.

[MX793]

Personally, I'd like to see the return of the gentleman's duel.

A lot of people would suddenly start remembering their manners.

Glove slap, baby.

[S204STi]

There was a time in my life when rage and anger played a powerful part.  I nearly came to blows with people a number of times, usually over perceived offenses to my ex-wife.  When I began to understand that such a thing was neither healthy, nor normal, nor right, I determined that nothing would cause me to fly into a rage ever again.  Anger is to me what alcohol is to an alcoholic.  I choose to deal constructively with the emotion, not suppressing it, but actively choosing a different response.

[GoCougs]

Sometimes I go on 100% autopilot when someone says something stupid, and I return the favor - that has almost resulted in them coming after me a couple of times. But yeah, it'd have to be pretty drastic, such as an assault (i.e., direct threat or imminent indication of violence) for words to bring me first to blows. FWIW, I've never been in a fight.

[GoCougs]

It would be like shooting fish in a barrel:  not very sportsmanlike. 

Very dangerous thinking.

[Northlands]

I can handle a lot of taunts. I tend to only be drawn in by actions. 99% of the time people talk shit, that's basically all they're prepared to do.

[Laconian]

I think I would only respond with violence if there was *no other way* out.

It's much too easy to get sued.

[Rupert]

Yeah, I don't need to punch someone to prove my worth or manliness or whatever. I guess "give me your wallet and get in the van" might provoke violence, depending.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Wouldn't bother me. My wallet is usually empty, and I am a van enthusiast.

[Raza]

I think I would only respond with violence if there was *no other way* out.

It's much too easy to get sued.

This.  A bar fight can end up costing you a lot, for example.

[Tave]

I'm almost 30, well past the age of picking fights with random assholes. Unless me or someone I know is threatened by actual violence, I'm probably going to let it slide.

[Lebowski]

There are no words worth getting into a physical altercation over.

[Byteme]

So in real life what would you consider fighting words worth getting into a physical altercation over?

Words?  Just words?  

None.  


Lay a hand on my wife or son though and we are talking about a different ball game.  

[Raza]

I'm almost 30, well past the age of picking fights with random assholes. Unless me or someone I know is threatened by actual violence, I'm probably going to let it slide.

I let it slide, I let it slip on by
Giving you one last try to kill it with the eye

I agree.  I figure if there's going to be enough of an issue to cause a physical altercation, it's basically down to someone getting killed.  That's where the seriousness level has to be for me to get into it. 

[Raza]

There are no words worth getting into a physical altercation over.

What if someone called you a nigger?  Would you throw down or just be really confused?

[Tave]

I let it slide, I let it slip on by
Giving you one last try to kill it with the eye

I agree.  I figure if there's going to be enough of an issue to cause a physical altercation, it's basically down to someone getting killed.  That's where the seriousness level has to be for me to get into it. 

Sometimes it can't be helped. For example, the other day my friend and his buddy were riding the light rail in Denver and some yahoo came along and started hitting one of them in the face for no reason, so they had to beat the guy's ass.

[Payman]

Too old for that shit, and so are you, Tony. I did give my asshole neighbour a shove for calling my daughter a liar, but it wasn't the right course of action. There are other ways to handle conflict.

[280Z Turbo]

Picking a fight over petty shit is why Trayvon Martin is dead and George Zimmerman is in jail. Not a good idea. These things can escalate quickly, especially if someone is packing heat.