I ran from a fight...

[SpiralOut]

. He was just aggressive. In fact he could have just left the car where it was or come out and asked me nicely. He was on a power trip and wanted to impose himself.

 

You're the one on a power trip. You expect someone to park their car in the middle of a traffic lane and ask you nicely to move?

Edited October 18, 2014 by SpiralOut

[skydiveaddict]

. Got to be real careful over here, if you can handle yourself there is more to fear from the law than an attacker.

 

I've read that. But I'm fairly certain those rules don't apply over in the sandbox.

I'm certain you would be exonerated.

[thefooloftheyear]

For the last few decades, I have had to show restraint on a few occasions...Mostly road rage shyt...Now I am no stranger to street fights...Dozens of them....I am a big and very strong guy, was a hs and collegiate wrestling champion, and worked for years as a bouncer/doorman and I know how to put most guys on their back...

 

Now, I think of all of the potential consequences and I dont bother..I have literally drove away from eminent physical confrontations with guys I would have easily buried-just because I dont want the hassle..I have a lot of assets, a business to run, a kid to raise,etc...I dont need anymore aggravation at this point..,To prove what? That I can knock out some douchebag that thinks he's a tough guy because he is surrounded by 3 thousand pounds of steel? I dont need that type of validation anymore..

 

TFY

[Taramere]

Part of maturity is allowing yourself to evolve experientially. A couple of years ago if someone aggressive told me to move out of the way I may have done - not any more.

 

Well, the first thing is that if you're in the way of a vehicle that's lawfully trying to access somewhere or park, then you get out of the way. In that situation I'd feel so stupid about blocking somebody's access (because I was too busy yapping on my mobile) that even if they shouted at me aggressively I'd hold my hand up and say sorry as Snaggletooth suggests.

 

Perhaps it comes down to how easily you can put yourself in the other person's shoes. While I think the driver in this scenario reacted badly I can also see why it would be frustrating to find your access blocked by some guy chatting on a mobile phone.

 

I can remember years ago driving a car full of my brothers and his friends one time, and some drunks were walking along the road blocking the car's path. Much as they were pissing me off with their drunk and obnoxious behaviour I decided the best thing was to just wait it out until they'd cleared out of the way. Generally with types like that they'll move after a few seconds - they just want to make some sort of petty point about lording it over traffic.

 

However, my passengers (who were all drunk too) were less patient. One of the guys leaned across and peeped the horn. The walking drunks then started banging on the car. I recall seeing my brother (who always was good in a fight) in the back of a car being restrained by his friends as he was desperate - like some sort of rabid dog - to get out and have a fight with them.

 

I suppose the bottom line is that either you want things to descend into a physical scrap - because you've got some pent up anger that you want to deal with by visiting physical violence on somebody else - or you don't. The person who is itching for a physical fight is always in the wrong. To me, by refusing to get out of a vehicle's way you were demonstrating a desire for conflict. For a fight. The vehicle's driver was similarly minded, and unfortunately for you he was probably more built for a fight.

 

So essentially you provoked a fight by blocking somebody's path and being unnecessarily obstructive - and then you ran from the fight. You were right to run, as you would have likely been pulverised - but nonetheless the whole thing is pretty shameful. If you're going to look for trouble and conflict, which you absolutely were doing by refusing to get out of the way, then you'd better be reasonably confident that you can handle it. Provoking trouble and then running away from it is hardly behaviour that will win you much respect or trust from others.

 

Most people just avoid any kind of risk or confrontation in any case scenario, which is actually the easy route to take. If some jerk is sounding off on the train in London usually everyone ignores them and pretends they're not there to avoid a confrontation. I'm more happy with myself if I've told them to shut the **** up.

 

I think that generally people who are sounding off loudly in public have either got some sort of mental health problem or are high on drugs. The people who ignore them are reacting in the best way.

 

It's called standing for something.

 

Let's say the shouter is a schizophrenic person who is off their meds. What would you be standing for exactly?

 

It sounds as though you only see conflict in win/lose terms. You got into a conflict with somebody in a car, it enrages you that the car should win just because it's bigger and harder than you are - and so you thumped it then ran from the driver.

 

If you saw conflict as something that you deal with, rather than that you necessarily win or lose, then you would probably have reacted much differently. You would probably, in that situation, recognise that you were in the wrong by not paying attention to what was going on around you (while you were on your mobile) apologise for getting in the way and, if the guy continued to be aggressive, tell him "I said sorry, and I got out of your way. Stop shouting." You can be reasonably energetic and engaged with your "opponent" in these situations without it spilling over into rage and aggression.

[skydiveaddict]

. Got to be real careful over here, if you can handle yourself there is more to fear from the law than an attacker.

 

That ain't right. You should have the right to defend yourself and disable your attacker w/out being thrown in jail.

 

Hell, if someone attacks you here in Colorado, there is a fairly good chance the bad guy will get shot.

Edited October 18, 2014 by skydiveaddict