Which mentality is better to have?

[The Colonie Crusher]

OK guys, I had a debate with my friend yesterday about this issue: What mentality is better to have in life and particularly in fighting and street survival. I know each individual has his own unique personality but stay with me on this one.

He said that it's better to be somebody who doesn't take ANY shit from noone. To throw down over the stupidist things like if somebody stares at you or bumps you or if they cut you off in traffic. This kid acts this way too. He's kind of a good fighter but nothing special. He said that you should NOT be a bully but you should fight over every little thing. He said that will make people respect you and fear you. He also said you should not be humble and let people know by you are a badaas. He said that when you are always smiling and saying '"hi" to people that shows a sign of weakness becuase you're too soft.

I don't TOTALLY disagree with him but here's what I think: I SAY you should be humble and let little things go. You should also be friendly to people without trying to act the part of Mr. Tough Guy. HOWEVER, I feel that you should never be passive and stand your ground and I feel that when you do throw down you should go all out for the kill!!! Than people will be like "WOW I would've never thought that kid could fight!". And besides it's better if you ever go to court that way, you will have witnesses who say that the other guy started it.

So what is better, to be an intimidating shit talker with a short fuse who bust people up at the drop of a hat, or to be humble, cool headed, guy with a long fuse who absouloutly EXPLODES with rage when you piss him off.

I know this post is somewhat stupid but please I would like some comments.

[Edited by The Colonie Crusher on 12-03-2000 at 04:44 PM]

[Ryu (non-working password]

I'd say it's good to be nice and avoid trouble.
Compassion isn't weakness.

Besides, if someone wanted to fight me over nothing at all, and I was a bit crazy...I'd stab him in the face, or slit his throat. Or just shoot him.

And that's the truth. I wouldn't think twice about it....
if I was crazy.

Nope, this isn't a troll. This is why acting tough and fighting at the drop of a hat is a bad choice. Some people could give a shit about how tough you are. They'll just murder you.

Ryu

[Mr. Miyagi]

I agree with you about letting the little things go. Actually, to me your friend's mentality of starting something because he doesn't like the way someone looks at him sounds wrong. On the other hand, if you laugh at too many jokes about yourself and laugh if someone bullies you then you look like George McFly, which is not good either. There is a happy medium, where you show and generate respect. I don't think fighting is a last resort, filing a report to the authorities is more of a last resort. It's also different whether in junior high, high school, or an adult. In junior high you have to be aggressive. In high school and adulthood people are usually more mature and less assesine.

[The Colonie Crusher]

Yeah, but I'm talking about a 20 year old college student who frequents the bars. I'm starting to develop the 'noone gives a **** about me so why should I give a **** about anyone' attitude.

[Ronin]

No one has challenged me to fight since high school...except for one psycho who wanted to kill me because I flipped him off in my car (after he flipped me). I drove away from that guy, because he was obviously a nut, and like Ryu said, you don't screw with people who are unstable.

In high school I let everyone know I knew "karate", which was true. Only a few individuals messed with me, and most of them backed down when I came back at them. Consequently, I have never had to fight anyone.

The only drawback is that I'm not sure how I will react when and if things go down. However, since I am a peaceful sort of guy, the only REALLY bad things will probably involve weapons and I will run for the hills.

You should only fight hand-to-hand if you have no other options. This is what I have been taught, and this is what I practice. Life is not a game; mess with the wrong guy, and you end up in a box.

[estrangulo]

I agree with ryu. Starting fights is a very stupid thing to do, there is very little in life worth dieing for, and you never know what is going on in your opponents head. If you do have to fight, you don't have to destroy the guy to gain respect from others, you can gain plenty of respect by just beating him then leaving. This could also save you from having to watch behind your back every second for the same guy coming for more, if you leave him with a little dignity.
I hope this makes sence.

[Ronin]

I will say, that if you find yourself in a fight for your life, especially with weapons or multiple attackers, you must be prepared to KILL, maim, and bite, and never surrender.

But such a situation must be avoided at all costs. If you can't run away, fight.

[The Colonie Crusher]

Anyone gonna respond to this?

[edro]

1234567890

[fascistfury]

the best attitude that you can have is to always be flexible and pragmatic, when you can, and to always think before you act. always play smart, regardless of the situation. if you get locked into a specific pattern of behavior, then it is easy for someone to predict you and beat you. be flexible and smart...always keep people wondering about your next move...kind of like chess...learn to use the gambit. later!

[Bau13]

No offence..but your friend is a foolish man....
I'd watch out for him if I were you...

I have a friend who's almost exactly like that...always fighting over whatever..then one day he got in a fight with a bouncer at a club...needless to say it was broken up and he was kicked out...out of his frustration he punched through a glass window and ended up cutting his arm up so bad that he has lost partial use of his right arm...
You would think that after this he would change as a person....unfortunately...no.....why?...because he has the same attitude as your friend....like a bomb ready to explode at any second...

Be the cool headed guy with the LONG LONG fuse...

Even if someone starts trouble...talk your way out of it...or just walk away....if someone starts trouble for nothing..he's not worth it anyways..If its your image you're concerned about..grow the hell up! ...Get a medal or something for being known as a "tough guy"?

I like edro's way of freaking out his opponents...that line is cool..hehe "You better start now get all the hits you can before I DESTROY you..." classic...I have a buddy(he posts here too!) who used a line like..."ok..you wanna go?..lets go then...are you sure theres enough room here though?...cos I'm gonna wipe the floor with you..." ...the guy backed off!!- All depends how convincing you are though! If you train hard enough ..you WILL believe in yourself enough to say this..


Only fight if your life or someone elses depends on it...

[Joe Manco]

Your friend is an idiot. What is he, 17? And retarded? Or did he overdose on roids to improve his personality?

Can you imagine if everyone would get into a knock down, drag out fight every time they bumped into each other? What a clown.

And as you pointed out, he is nothing special as a fighter. Pay close attention to this: the toughest guys in the world are NOT those who fight over every little thing. Those are always the punks, when tried. The legitimately TOUGHEST guys are very hard to pi$$ off for real ... but when you do, watch out.

Yours truly,

Joe

[macdawg]

Lots of super tough and roughies toughies around here! Seriously this is stupid, if this kid acts like that he is gonna get the **** beat out of him before very long. I don't care if you Frank Shamrock if you act like that a guy or guys will kick your ass. People don't care.

[Bau13]

hell yeah...the toughest guys HARDLY EVER get into fights...
crazy or very insecure people ALWAYS get into fights.

[Tony10]

Playing escalato over any perceived or real offense is only going to end badly for your friend, period. Maybe getting his head blown off or stabbed to death over a road rage won't seem to great after all. Maybe beating the crap out of the guy who bought that last six-pack ahead of him will get him some jail time and a civil lawsuit.

Your friend's high school mentality of "letting everybody know [he's] a badass" will most likely not impress somebody who truly IS a badass, and will teach him a lesson.

What a bunch of piffle.

Some of the toughest, deadliest and scariest people I know--fighting ability-wise--are the ones you'd never guess.

Silent but deadly.

[Edited by Tony10 on 12-05-2000 at 09:49 AM]