Is personal violence ever justified?

I've been thinking about things in my life, as well as things in the US and the media. This isn't connected to any particular event or issue, hence no link. Instead, I'd like to hear your personal views on violence... the violence of everyday people.

Have you ever initiated violence against anybody? Why did you? Looking back, do you still think it was a good idea at the time or do you regret it?

What situations could occur, what could a person say or do, that you feel would justify violence on your part? Are you the kind of person who will punch somebody just for a dirty look and thinks bar brawls are fun, or are you a pacifist, refraining from all violence? What do you think of pugnacious/pacifist people?

Lastly, what do you think/feel when you hear of A attacking B? Do think more or less of A, more or less of B?

Do you feel violence is ever justified, and if so, when?

 

I never initiated but I will finish it. Of course people make up stories then that I overreacted or crap like that. And violence is justified plenty of times.

 

I only kill other killers.

 

Some people deserve to be punched in the face.

 

Yes, when I was young, I punched a kid in the face and broke his nose for just grabbing a toy out of my hand when I was playing with it. It was his toy and his home, but I didn't want to be there and at that age, I was a bit of a jerk.

A person would have to threaten myself or my family directly, or threaten another individual on the street. I would take it upon myself to use force, if necessary, to protect myself, my family, and others from harm.

No, on both accounts.

Violence is sometimes justified, but it is often not. Even when one might have good cause to utilize violence, it is often not the last resort and unnecessary.

 

Only in extreme rage. Destroying someone's hopes and dreams is always much more gratifying.

 

I've never initiated violence, at least not since I was a small child. The closest I've come would be in 10th grade when one guy found my verbal criticism annoying and for about a month threatened to hit me if I didn't shut up. I don't respond well to threats, so I only got bolder. Eventually I pretty much gave him no choice but to go through with the threat. He said he was going to punch me in the mouth if I ever spoke to him again, so I just stood there in the middle for class and repeated "ok" every time he said it. After waiting a while for him to go though with it I started to turn away and sit down, and he then punched me on the side of the head, partially on the cheek and partially on the ear. It knocked my glasses about 5 feet away (I believe one lens fell out, but it was easy to fix) and made my ears ring for several minutes, but hurt less than I expected. My natural response was of course just to laugh at him. He didn't seem to know how to react. He briefly threatened to hit me again but I turned the other cheek and said I didn't care and I clearly meant it so he just sat down. Most of the class seemed impressed with my audacity, but the teacher (who was in the room) never noticed. I suppose I was being kind of a jerk before the incident, but I don't regret it. It actually greatly elevated my mood. Over the next couple days almost half of the football team asked if they could beat him up for me, but I said no. I never told on him, but a week or two latter he hit another guy who went straight to an administrator to tattle so he got kicked out of school for the rest of the year anyway.


Oh, I may have also tried to hold some people back a couple times when they were being too rough around girls. Mostly I could just use a stern look though. It is almost impossible to make me angry except by mistreating women (or sometimes children or the disabled), and it is an anger characterized not by loss of control but by unusual clarity and determination. I could see myself using actual violence in defense of others once simply restraining the real aggressor fails.



A violent disposition is a sign of great immaturity and both mental and moral weakness. Pacifism is ideal, but is too often used as an excuse for cowardice. A pacifist need not back down from his position or sink to the level of violence.


I tend to think less of aggressors, and of those who may not have initiated violence but escalate it. Preemptive attacks are ok though when it is clear that not attacking would cause greater harm, especially to innocent bystanders.


I'd tend to not even accept using violence even in self defense, but if it is the only way to protect a loved one then it is necessary.

 

Too often. Most times it was unintentional though - I was in a bad depressed mood, and I regret those times. Of the rest, it was mostly against school bullies, and I regret those as well (makes me look even worse, not only because people saw me as violent but also as a loser as well since I can't fight).

In an emergency, that is, a friend or close family member (in fact, anyone, really, but I'd be more concerned if it was happening to someone I'm close to) on the receiving end of physical violence, or something grossly unjust, and if that person felt a violent response was appropriate.

I'm not quite pacifist, but I'm definitely leaning in that direction. I greatly respect pacifists.

Depends on the situation.

 

I've never initiated violence against anyone,even though some flat out deserve it. I will always try to walk away and aviod it. If pushed into a corner I will do What I must, however distastfull it may be.

 

I thought if your in the US you'd carry around a gun with you than violence never happens. You just whip out your pistol and say "GTFO maaan!" than he'll run away or whatever than violence is avoided and you can get on with your life .

 

Personal violence is often justified. I got into a number of fights at school, but only after someone had attacked me or my property. It was a rule that left me open to plenty of insults, but I can ignore them.
Even when I could ignore someone attacking me or my things I wouldn't. That's the point of a rule.

I also once threw someone in the river because he'd thrown in a pair of shoes that were not mine, but which I had told him not to throw into the river on pain of going to fetch them.
He tried to climb out, so I took his legs out with an oar and prodded him back until he swam over and retrieved them.

I found that keeping my word and sticking to rules were the perfect way to get through school life.

 

I have just defended myself.

Attack me or a family member, friend or innocent party.

In between.

Pacifism reminds me of extreme dietary restrictions. Noble perhaps & well intentioned & perhaps you can live your whole life by your ideals but there are some circumstances where you refusal to use violence (or eat some fish) may harm you. Sometimes you have no other choice & sometimes violence in the best choice (defending a woman from being assaulted for example).

Less of A, the same of B (perhaps less of B too if he instigated). Assaulting a person shows a lack of self-control & the ability to resolve a situation with your wits alone, it also shows an insecure personality.

In self-defense &/or to prevent future violence (especially against innocents).

 

I'd lost more fights than I won them. Usually I can be quite a tough person to handle with when another person start the fight, since I never back down from one.

That said. I have to say that is all over since I rarely go to parties or places where I would possibly get in trouble. Kinda got wise a little.

-Lord Hetero

 

Being comfortable with interpersonal violence is very important to my job. It was part of the curriculum, actually, and we fight all the time.

 

I think most things can be justified in a certain situation. That includes violence, either initiated or responsive.

Disclaimer: it does not include abuse or rape.

 

I like to fight fire with fire.

Does this lower me to their level? No, because I know better but refuse to limit my toolbox.

 

Yes, twice.

I punched a kid in the face in elementary school for holding me against a fence. His move wasn't violent, but it scared me. I don't regret that.

The other time was stupid. I slapped a boyfriend for laughing at me for yelling (over the phone) at an ex-girlfriend who had the nerve to call him at my number after a cheating incident. It was not a move I planned out. It just sort of instantaneously happened and I do regret it. Pride is a stupid excuse for hurting someone.

I'd act violently in self-defense and in the defense of anyone innocent who was being attacked. I think I'd be more inclined to act violently against someone who was hurting
a child than anyone else. I'm not at all a pacifist, and I think pacifism is silly, because it generally means sitting by while innocent people are hurt.

Often. In cases of rape, attempted murders, even theft. I think people have a right to defend themselves and their property. I also believe they have a duty to protect their families and neighbors.

 

There are a couple of times in which I've initiated violence. Most of them were in school, and usually in response to certain things I just couldn't abide. I remember in Year 2 seeing a classmate pusing around a Kindergartener, so I punched him in the face as hard as I could. I'd never hit anyone before, and had no idea what I was doing, so I just swung as hard as I could. I broke the guy's eye socket. I think it was a good idea, but regret hitting him so damn hard. Fortunately, no-one ever picked a fight with me after that, until high school, so maybe it was good that I hurt him so bad.

In high school, I caught a guy openly leering at my junk in the toilets, so I decked him too. I don't really care if someone's gay, but there's a certain etiquette involved in looking at a person's appendages in the bathroom. I don't regret hitting him, though I do regret kicking him a few times while he was down. He really ticked me off.

Other than that, it's mostly pre-emptive stuff. Some guy gets in my face, I headbutt him. No-one ever expects a short headbutt. It doesn't hurt much, but the element of surpirse makes up for it. I don't regret most of those situations.

If someone was harming or harassing myself or others. If they threatened to do so, it would depend upon how seriously I took the threat. My youngest brother threatens to stab me on a weekly basis, but I haven't had to him him for it. A crazy guy on the street, him I'd pre-empt.

I enjoy a good fight, but only if there's rules. I would have loved to wrestle in high school, but we don't really do that here. I won't start a fight without good reason, but I won't refrain from violence when it's necessary. I think pugnacious and pacifist people take things to the extreme. Violence is never preferred, but sometimes necessary.

Depends on the reason for the attack. If A is unprovoked, I think less of him/her, if B deserves it, I think less of him/her.

It's justified plenty of times. If someone is causing harm, or threatening harm, or in defence of self and others. Also, sometimes Sam needs a little reminder that I expect dinner on the table when I get home.

 

I beat up one guy because he was groping up on my date inappropriately.

I ended up seriously over doing it though.


All of my other fights I didn't start.

 

There's a way another guy can grope your date appropriately? We should go out together sometime.