rojo wrote:
Wow. What does it say about our society that instead of trying to stop the fight, in the year 2021, everyone's first instinct is to grab their phone and give play by play for twitter.
It's like people almost think it's virtual and not real.
My dear website owner/moderator: yes, and no. In real self defense training the people next to the fight would actually exit the area, not try to 'stop it' as that could make you an accessory to a crime if it's your friend that does the a** kicking. As someone who trains others in martial arts and basic self-defense I tell students/trainees that if you can avoid, avoid. If you can walk away, then apologize (even if you're not technically in the wrong) and walk away. If you can stop it by recruiting witnesses then do so. (By speaking calmly and loudly, "I don't want to fight you. I do not wish to hurt you or to be charged with a crime. I will not be an easy target." This puts the onus on the more aggressive person by showing them this could end in legal trouble for both as there are now unrelated witnesses who will testify that you plainly said you didn't want to fight. That almost gets you off the hook if you have to hit, grab, strike, etc the other person, even if you have to do it first because you felt physically threatened.) I have often found that this is most difficult for young men between the ages of 15-25 or so because the testosterone is flowing and most of them haven't a clue about real world violence, its legalities and consequences. You have to learn to suppress your ego, your attitude, and be polite, seek to avoid trouble, and plainly state that you do not wish to engage an aggressor. That is not weakness...that is the law.
In social fighting, for ego posturing, it is often the presence of the audience/friends that lends to the escalation of the fight as both participants don't want to 'lose face.' If the audience walked away, a large majority of the time the fight will not happen. And there is no greater self-defense technique than simply apologizing and walking away. If the aggressor after that point continues, you have a LEGAL right to be proactive and defend yourself up to the point of creating an out or way of escape. (In other words, if you strike the aggressor it is to be only enough to inhibit them so that you can escape or seek help: this is true for most self-defense laws in most states). So yes, it is insane the audience wants to film this, but no, they should not have tried to stop it because that is not their responsibility, although I understand what you're implying.
For all the keyboard warriors on here...if you haven't had real self-defense training or a crash course of the laws in your state ('stand your ground laws', or 'castle doctrines', etc) then please consider that a life skill worth developing before you get into your mid to late 20's. It will be a skill you will never regret spending a few hundred bucks for. You don't need a lot. Even 1-2hours a month under someone with legal knowledge, deescalation techniques, etc, and at the very end, basic physical skills to quickly end a threat can help you in ways you can't imagine avoid problems and consequences like in this conflict.