Fight or Flight?
- Thread starter Lofty
- Start date
It depends on a huge number of factors really. Anecdote time :lol:
A good few years ago, I was out in town with my reenactment friends. We're a bit of a mixed bunch really; one of us works for the RAF, but when he goes out he looks like a traveller; another is in the Navy and built like a brick ****; the rest of us a gaggle of biker/rocker types and our other halves. I think there were ten of us in total on this occasion and some block and his mate banged into my RAF/traveller mate.
It was the usual deliberate walk into him, then have a go for getting in his way kind of thing. He started calling him a smelly bastard and stuff.
We all just looked at each other and laughed and agreed. In that situation, to fight would have been ludicrous. The guy kept trying to provoke us, but there are ten of us, and more than half of us spend each weekend fighting side by side. There's this one guy and his mate looking a bit worried, and the trouble you'd get in for being involved in a fight like that (which would have no doubt ended very badly for this one bloke) wasn't worth it. So we walked off. I guess it's flight, but with the confidence in the group, fight just wasn't needed.
A year or so later, same group and a similar situation. About five of us were sat in the pub, and the Navy guy was approached by somebody. It became rapidly clear that it was a "bully" from his school days. Sam was obviously uncomfortable and this "bully" started to wind him up, using typical bully tricks of psychological intimidation. Sam wasn't having any of it though, and this guy got completely wound up and threatened to "plant" Sam. Sam suggested it would be a bad idea. When the bully said "yeah, and who's going to stop me?", Sam pointed behind him, where three of us had stood up surrounding him. In that case, fight would have been an option and we kept close to Sam as we went home in case this guy wanted to pick him off.
It's odd though, as I wouldn't try anything against Sam, as I say, he's built like a brick **** house, proper, seriously huge.
Both these times, I was pretty fit though. Exercising or fighting regularly which makes a huge difference in confidence.
People will remember the queue for the Skyride at Alton one CF-Live where some queue jumpers wanted to beat me up for arguing with them. I didn't back down, but I certainly made sure I was backed up afterwards. Three against one when I was fat and unfit is bad odds. I'll stand up for myself, but I always try to handle things cleverly.
I did once throw a guy against a phone box for calling my girlfriend a bitch (she was on the phone at the time and this guy wanted to use it). He'd been yelling while she was on the phone and getting mad about something. One of the few times I can remember losing my temper and striking out at somebody.
Yeah, so it really depends on the situation and how confident I'm feeling with myself. I'll make a concious decision each time, but I'd certainly back down if a friend is in trouble unless the odds were really bad (in which case I'd help him get away).
A good few years ago, I was out in town with my reenactment friends. We're a bit of a mixed bunch really; one of us works for the RAF, but when he goes out he looks like a traveller; another is in the Navy and built like a brick ****; the rest of us a gaggle of biker/rocker types and our other halves. I think there were ten of us in total on this occasion and some block and his mate banged into my RAF/traveller mate.
It was the usual deliberate walk into him, then have a go for getting in his way kind of thing. He started calling him a smelly bastard and stuff.
We all just looked at each other and laughed and agreed. In that situation, to fight would have been ludicrous. The guy kept trying to provoke us, but there are ten of us, and more than half of us spend each weekend fighting side by side. There's this one guy and his mate looking a bit worried, and the trouble you'd get in for being involved in a fight like that (which would have no doubt ended very badly for this one bloke) wasn't worth it. So we walked off. I guess it's flight, but with the confidence in the group, fight just wasn't needed.
A year or so later, same group and a similar situation. About five of us were sat in the pub, and the Navy guy was approached by somebody. It became rapidly clear that it was a "bully" from his school days. Sam was obviously uncomfortable and this "bully" started to wind him up, using typical bully tricks of psychological intimidation. Sam wasn't having any of it though, and this guy got completely wound up and threatened to "plant" Sam. Sam suggested it would be a bad idea. When the bully said "yeah, and who's going to stop me?", Sam pointed behind him, where three of us had stood up surrounding him. In that case, fight would have been an option and we kept close to Sam as we went home in case this guy wanted to pick him off.
It's odd though, as I wouldn't try anything against Sam, as I say, he's built like a brick **** house, proper, seriously huge.
Both these times, I was pretty fit though. Exercising or fighting regularly which makes a huge difference in confidence.
People will remember the queue for the Skyride at Alton one CF-Live where some queue jumpers wanted to beat me up for arguing with them. I didn't back down, but I certainly made sure I was backed up afterwards. Three against one when I was fat and unfit is bad odds. I'll stand up for myself, but I always try to handle things cleverly.
I did once throw a guy against a phone box for calling my girlfriend a bitch (she was on the phone at the time and this guy wanted to use it). He'd been yelling while she was on the phone and getting mad about something. One of the few times I can remember losing my temper and striking out at somebody.
Yeah, so it really depends on the situation and how confident I'm feeling with myself. I'll make a concious decision each time, but I'd certainly back down if a friend is in trouble unless the odds were really bad (in which case I'd help him get away).
nadroJ
CF Legend
I'll fight if I have to. I'll never start a fight but if somebody is asking for it then yeah.
One thing I'll never forget is the first week of senior school. Let's just say I didn't look anything like how I look now (I was a gross, spotty nerd <3) and this kid of the bus kept picking on me, from the moment I got on. As we were pulling up to his stop he was still going on and on. So I smacked him in the face and broke his nose. Not only did he never say anything to me again but people also didn't pick on me, or even try, the entire time I was at school. So I guess that time it worked out for the best =]
One thing I'll never forget is the first week of senior school. Let's just say I didn't look anything like how I look now (I was a gross, spotty nerd <3) and this kid of the bus kept picking on me, from the moment I got on. As we were pulling up to his stop he was still going on and on. So I smacked him in the face and broke his nose. Not only did he never say anything to me again but people also didn't pick on me, or even try, the entire time I was at school. So I guess that time it worked out for the best =]
LiveForTheLaunch
CF Legend
When it comes to people picking on me it's definitely flight, all basically coming down to the fact that I'm a huge pussy and I absolutely hate confrontation of any sort. However, if anyone came up and tried to do anything to someone I'm close to, I'd probably be the first to defend them.
Ollie
CF Legend
I usually try to avoid confrontations if it's with a stranger. If pushed though I will fight.
Like in school when I was bullied I'd always tried to ignore it but they kept at it so I just went mad and ended up punching him in the face. It stopped after that.
But yeah. I can stand up for myself if I need to. It's just that I try to avoid being in that situation if I can.
Like in school when I was bullied I'd always tried to ignore it but they kept at it so I just went mad and ended up punching him in the face. It stopped after that.
But yeah. I can stand up for myself if I need to. It's just that I try to avoid being in that situation if I can.
walker1104
Mega Poster
I think usually walk away. I'll usually try to avoid confrontation, but I will stick up for myself if I need too. I trained karate for about 3 or 4 years when I was a bit younger, so I know something about how to defend myself. But I can fight back if needed.
The only time I really remember fighting back was in about Y10 at school. This lad kept bullying me. Calling me names, pushing me about etc. Then one day, at lunchtime, he took things too far and tried to hit me. Me, still doing karate at this point, immediately blocked the punch, swept his feet from under him and cracked him in the face. He rolled backwards over a wall and never said anything to me again. But that's the only time I can really remember fighting back. I'm not really sure how I'd react if I was in a group and one of my friends got attacked, as it's never happened. I suppose, like Furie said, it would just depend on the situation.
The only time I really remember fighting back was in about Y10 at school. This lad kept bullying me. Calling me names, pushing me about etc. Then one day, at lunchtime, he took things too far and tried to hit me. Me, still doing karate at this point, immediately blocked the punch, swept his feet from under him and cracked him in the face. He rolled backwards over a wall and never said anything to me again. But that's the only time I can really remember fighting back. I'm not really sure how I'd react if I was in a group and one of my friends got attacked, as it's never happened. I suppose, like Furie said, it would just depend on the situation.