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single24-Feb-2008lawLindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifierby votes38361.1%

  Should it be legal for people to consensually fight in public, without weapons?

Two people both agree to a fistfight, and they are in a non-crowded open space, where others might see them. Should this be a totally legal activity, not considered "disturbing the peace" or "disorderly conduct"?
By fighting, I mean spontaneous, non-organised events. I'm not talking about sports or spectator fights.

VotesAnswer
17No
10Yes
2I don't know
2Other

Comment Pages:     [ next ]     [1]   2  

UserComment
Galomorro Bronze Star Survey CreatorGold Qualifier
posted 25-Feb-2008 7:53pm  

No. Barbaric and uncivilized. Definitely peace-disturbing and disturbing for people to have to pass by -- especially a kid. What a horrible thing to have to witness.
JessicaWoman99
posted 25-Feb-2008 8:16pm  

No this should be against the law and not allowed at all and somebody can get seriously injured
dab Survey Central Gold SubscriberSurvey Qualifier
posted 25-Feb-2008 8:27pm  

If it's legal for some people to do (organized events in a ring) it should for anyone to do. I'm a big fan of "equal protection under the law".
ausfox
posted 25-Feb-2008 9:16pm  

No, I don't think so.
romkey Survey Central Gold Subscriber
posted 25-Feb-2008 9:18pm  

Whether or not it should be legal, it seems like a very poor idea. It's much too likely that bystanders will get involved.
Enheduanna Survey Central Subscriber
posted 25-Feb-2008 9:22pm  

No; not only is it difficult to determine that it's really consensual, but there's also no need to make it a public spectacle and subject others to dealing with it. Do it in private if you absolutely have to fight. Or go one better and just get the hell over it.
LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
posted 25-Feb-2008 9:46pm  

Yes. If people don't like it, they could just keep walking. If it isn't particularly loud, it is easy enough to ignore.
RGirl
posted 25-Feb-2008 11:49pm  

No, some one might get hurt and we all have to pay for their medical care. You hit some one just right and you can kill them or put them in a coma without intending it. That and it is just annoying.
LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to RGirl) posted 26-Feb-2008 12:14am  

People get hurt by engaging in all kinds of dangerous activities. Snowmobiles come to mind.
LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to Enheduanna) posted 26-Feb-2008 12:26am  

Bystanders don't need to know whether it is consensual or not. They don't have to deal with it, unless it was too loud or obstructing their path.
cloudhugger Survey Central SubscriberSilver Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
posted 26-Feb-2008 2:08am  

No. It represents a barbaric society.
LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
posted 26-Feb-2008 2:15am  

So, were most of the answers in the dueling survey not serious answers?

http://surveycentral.org/survey/28851.html

LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to cloudhugger) posted 26-Feb-2008 2:16am  

Even if it was still very rare?
justjulie
posted 26-Feb-2008 7:24am  

fight club...*smile*
i think we should allow whomever to duke it out, duke it out
jettles Survey Central SubscriberSurvey Qualifier
posted 26-Feb-2008 8:34am  

no
cloudhugger Survey Central SubscriberSilver Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to LindaH) posted 26-Feb-2008 9:58am  

If it was acceptable to publically brawl, it wouldn't be rare. And I doubt it wouldn't turn into a riot if the circumstances were right.
Enheduanna Survey Central Subscriber
(reply to LindaH) posted 26-Feb-2008 10:28am  

Maybe in your world. Not in mine. I know we just don't agree on this. I don't think that it's good for people to do dangerous, harmful, destructive things to each other. I also don't think you can be sure that it's really consensual. Maybe one of them has bullied the other into agreeing. Maybe one of them is only agreeing because he's afraid of the shame he'll suffer if he doesn't. There are all kinds of social pressures that could cause someone to "agree" to the fight. Someone could end up badly hurt. I think it's just a bad idea.
moviesnob Survey Central Subscriber
posted 26-Feb-2008 10:47am  

No. Just in hockey rinks should this occur.
LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to cloudhugger) posted 26-Feb-2008 10:50am  

Well, then it should be stopped before it gets that far. Two people with a bone to pick with each other isn't a bad thing. People who join the fray should be prevented from doing so. If I were to rewrite the survey, I would have made it a little tamer. I said 'fist fight' but I can see how that could be bad. I think pushing/shoving type fights that arise spontaneously are different from preplanned 'lets take this outside' type fistfights.
I'm not a fighter type at all, but I think 2 people who are going at each other should probably be left alone, if that's what they wanna do.
LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to Enheduanna) posted 26-Feb-2008 10:52am  

Okay. That makes sense. Check out the answers in the dueling survey. This one was inspired by the results of that one. Do you think the people answering 'yes' were serious?
docgbrown
posted 26-Feb-2008 12:50pm  

Yes, butting heads would provide an outlet many crave
RGirl
(reply to LindaH) posted 26-Feb-2008 3:10pm  

And they should be illegal too. *wink*
LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to RGirl) posted 26-Feb-2008 3:40pm  

I'm thinking... maybe we're not ready for knock down drag out fistfights. I do think that small scrapping (slapping and pushing, yelling) that spontaneously arises between a very small number (like two!) people should be more tolerated, though. (To a point!) I was in a breezeway where some guy was saying mean things to the woman he was with. Another woman yelled "Hey! Don't talk to her like that!" and this meddling sets the guy off into a cursing tirade. "this is none of your f---ing business, you b----!" This prompts a store manager to come out after the dude.

In my opinion, the intervention escalated the situation. She thought she was helping, she meant well, but she really didn't do anything at all. The whole situation would have gone better if she would have left them alone. This is one of the main reasons I go on about intervening. Sometimes, it's better not to.

And sometimes the situation is over, but people still feel a need to intervene. If someone pushes a buddy out of a restaurant booth and onto the floor, buddy gets back in the booth and slaps the guy on the back of the head, and then they go on eating peacefully, no harm no foul. Nothing to "stop them from doing"

sorry..... why do I feel so strong about it? me shut up now. *poker face*
cloudhugger Survey Central SubscriberSilver Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to LindaH) posted 26-Feb-2008 7:55pm  

It still represents a barbaric society. I don't condone violence. It sounds great to be able to just smash your fist into someone else's jaw, but it really isn't as glamorous as it is in the movies. Been there, done that, got the bloody t shirt. It isn't quite the same. There are alot of bad feelings afterwards and problems do not get solved that way. That's hwy we play sports...or chess.
bill Survey Central Gold SubscriberSilver Star Survey CreatorThis user is on the site NOW (5 minutes and 59 seconds ago)
posted 26-Feb-2008 8:24pm  

Hey, I'm the guy who wants to bring back dueling.
LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to bill) posted 26-Feb-2008 8:45pm  

Just going by the results of this survey, it seems like some of the people who answered yours weren't serious. I made this survey because of the results of yours. I can't imagine someone who favors dueling would be against fist fighting.
LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to cloudhugger) posted 26-Feb-2008 8:51pm  

You are right about fist fighting (punching). I still think it would be kind of cool if people could get away with milder fighting (push/slap/grabbing). Not that I engage in that sort of thing, but I do think that sometimes it's okay. The guy pushing his friend off a booth seat, for example.
My main beef is with people who want to stop a fight, when two adults engaging in it both wish to continue. Seems like: they are both consenting, they want this, they are hurting no one but themselves/each other. So, I see where you are coming from about it being bad, but I have mixed feelings. The consensual aspect.
Enheduanna Survey Central Subscriber
(reply to LindaH) posted 26-Feb-2008 10:11pm  

I think the people who just said "yes" were not serious. The ones who qualified their "yes" with some explanation may have been more sincere. But I don't think most of the people who said "yes" (in their comments at least) are the kind of people who would actually duel if it came down to it.
LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to Enheduanna) posted 26-Feb-2008 10:32pm  

Well, no, I wasn't thinking they would.
kcthedog Survey Central Gold Subscriber
posted 27-Feb-2008 1:23am  

Public displays of violence should never be considered all right. Violence should never be tolerated even between consenting adults, not in pubic! Sporting events even ultimate fighting is a different story. When you are in a ring there is a doctor available and I suppose some kind of guidelines if not rules. The public should have the expectation of civility and ration ability when out and about. Children are very susceptible to the negative influences that public displays of violence can create. Violence does not have a place in a modern civilized society. Question, is OK to have dogfights or cock fights? I think not, what makes it aright for humans to fight?
LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to kcthedog) posted 27-Feb-2008 2:10am  

The difference is that the humans have mutually agreed to it.
kcthedog Survey Central Gold Subscriber
(reply to LindaH) posted 27-Feb-2008 2:12am  

And we know humans are smarter than animals, right?
LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to kcthedog) posted 27-Feb-2008 2:13am  

Sure, in many ways.
verouge
posted 27-Feb-2008 5:31am  

They shouldnt even fight...
Peace, guys!
bill Survey Central Gold SubscriberSilver Star Survey CreatorThis user is on the site NOW (5 minutes and 59 seconds ago)
(reply to LindaH) posted 27-Feb-2008 6:31am  

Dueling is, perhaps, higher class.
kcthedog Survey Central Gold Subscriber
(reply to LindaH) posted 27-Feb-2008 8:50am  


Humans are supposed to have a greater intelligence than animals but often fail to display their mastery over the primates. I an a little confused as to why you or anyone would consider violence a viable option for a civilized society. A sport in a contained and controlled environment is different in so much as that the intent is not to injure or permanently cripple individuals. You are asking if people should be allowed to fight in public, the key word public. I would propose that the public domain is common ground for everyone and everyone should be able to expect civility and safety for their children and themselves. There could be no guaranty that the fighting would not, even unintentionally involve innocent bystanders. If this was private property out of plain site I am not sure that would make it acceptable but at least it keeps it clear of those who want no part of it. Even then the participants would still be accountable by law if someone gets hurt. Imagine two idiots, drinking or not, decide to duke it out. I know from martial arts that it can take only one blow properly placed to kill. It is not worth the risk. I keep coming back to the point that we are supposed to be civilized not barbarians. Back to the animals, they do not fight for entertainment, only for survival and defense, they cannot afford to become injured or weakened it would not be conducive to their long-term survival. I think humans should take note of that and consider how long we will survive if we continue fight amongst ourselves.
kcthedog Survey Central Gold Subscriber
(reply to LindaH) posted 27-Feb-2008 8:55am  

> People get hurt by engaging in all kinds
> of dangerous activities. Snowmobiles come
> to mind.

That is a far leap to intentionally hurting someone, there are jobs that are dangerous but they are jobs that need to be done and we apply all good diligence for their safety.
kcthedog Survey Central Gold Subscriber
(reply to LindaH) posted 27-Feb-2008 8:58am  

> So, were most of the answers in the dueling
> survey not serious answers?
>
> http://surveycentral.org/survey/28851.html
>
>
THIS WAS MY ANSWER TO THE ABOVE SURVEY.


In today’s society we have laws and legal avenues to settle disputes the shedding of blood over honor is a far reach but possible in extreme situations, but to ‘bring dueling back’ is stupid!
kcthedog Survey Central Gold Subscriber
(reply to justjulie) posted 27-Feb-2008 8:59am  

> fight club...*smile*
> i think we should allow whomever to duke
> it out, duke it out

And who cleans up the mess? * rolls eyes *
kcthedog Survey Central Gold Subscriber
(reply to LindaH) posted 27-Feb-2008 9:03am  

> Well, then it should be stopped before it
> gets that far. Two people with a bone to
> pick with each other isn't a bad thing. People
> who join the fray should be prevented from
> doing so. If I were to rewrite the survey,
> I would have made it a little tamer. I said
> 'fist fight' but I can see how that could
> be bad. I think pushing/shoving type fights
> that arise spontaneously are different from
> preplanned 'lets take this outside' type
> fistfights.
> I'm not a fighter type at all, but I think
> 2 people who are going at each other should
> probably be left alone, if that's what they
> wanna do.


There are no referees at a street brawl to stop it before someone gets hurt.
kcthedog Survey Central Gold Subscriber
(reply to LindaH) posted 27-Feb-2008 9:05am  

> I'm thinking... maybe we're not ready for
> knock down drag out fistfights. I do think
> that small scrapping (slapping and pushing,
> yelling) that spontaneously arises between
> a very small number (like two!) people should
> be more tolerated, though. (To a point!)
> I was in a breezeway where some guy was saying
> mean things to the woman he was with. Another
> woman yelled "Hey! Don't talk to her like
> that!" and this meddling sets the guy off
> into a cursing tirade. "this is none of your
> f---ing business, you b----!" This prompts
> a store manager to come out after the dude.
>
> In my opinion, the intervention escalated
> the situation. She thought she was helping,
> she meant well, but she really didn't do
> anything at all. The whole situation would
> have gone better if she would have left them
> alone. This is one of the main reasons I
> go on about intervening. Sometimes, it's
> better not to.
>
> And sometimes the situation is over, but
> people still feel a need to intervene. If
> someone pushes a buddy out of a restaurant
> booth and onto the floor, buddy gets back
> in the booth and slaps the guy on the back
> of the head, and then they go on eating peacefully,
> no harm no foul. Nothing to "stop them from
> doing"
>
> sorry..... why do I feel so strong about
> it? me shut up now. *poker face*

I want to slap you silly girl! What are you thinking?
kcthedog Survey Central Gold Subscriber
(reply to LindaH) posted 27-Feb-2008 9:07am  

> You are right about fist fighting (punching).
> I still think it would be kind of cool if
> people could get away with milder fighting
> (push/slap/grabbing). Not that I engage in
> that sort of thing, but I do think that sometimes
> it's okay. The guy pushing his friend off
> a booth seat, for example.
> My main beef is with people who want to stop
> a fight, when two adults engaging in it both
> wish to continue. Seems like: they are both
> consenting, they want this, they are hurting
> no one but themselves/each other. So, I see
> where you are coming from about it being
> bad, but I have mixed feelings. The consensual
> aspect.

Do you allow your children to slap and smack each other?
cloudhugger Survey Central SubscriberSilver Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to LindaH) posted 27-Feb-2008 9:08am  

maybe if the public parks had little indoor arenas where these small consencual dog slaps could occur. They would be private, monitered, and the loser would have to pay the rental fee.
LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to bill) posted 27-Feb-2008 11:38am  

*laughing out loud* One way to look at it, I guess.
LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to kcthedog) posted 27-Feb-2008 11:40am  

In public, people who 'want no part' of something can walk the other way, turn their eyes. I guess fist fighting is a bit difficult, though.
LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to kcthedog) posted 27-Feb-2008 11:41am  

I agree.
LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to kcthedog) posted 27-Feb-2008 11:43am  

So? They are adults and they consented to it. If they get hurt, it is their own fault, and no one else has any responsibility to keep them from hurting each other.
LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to kcthedog) posted 27-Feb-2008 11:45am  

That was my favorite post in this thread. I haven't changed my mind about the intervening lady in the breezeway, or about people pushing each other out of a booth.
I've reconsidered allowing preplanned punch fights, though.
LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to kcthedog) posted 27-Feb-2008 11:48am  

Not usually, but they are kids. (I let it slide sometimes) There's a big difference in parents telling their kids what to do, and adults telling other adults what to do. If two adults are having a slap fest in a parking lot, who should care?
LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to cloudhugger) posted 27-Feb-2008 11:50am  

I want to know why people don't like to see it. Seems easy to ignore, if not mildly entertaining to me. Are people afraid of it, or are they horrified?
justjulie
(reply to kcthedog) posted 27-Feb-2008 1:20pm  

the ones who duke it out
LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to kcthedog) posted 27-Feb-2008 3:11pm  

Picture this scenario:

You are at a soda fountain, standing behind a slowpoke who is holding his cup under each type of soda, taking his own sweet time trying to decide what to drink. You know what you want, so you reach across him for some ice, and move your cup toward the root beer. The guy quickly puts his cup under the root beer and stares at it. You suspect he's doing it on purpose.

You could ask him nicely to let you ahead of him, but wouldn't you feel like he deserves to be pushed aside?

In cases like that, it should be allowable to push him. Non-injurous 'violence' is okay some cases.
kcthedog Survey Central Gold Subscriber
(reply to LindaH) posted 27-Feb-2008 3:20pm  

It is a public domain, if they want to fight without getting arrested take it out of town or to private property.
kcthedog Survey Central Gold Subscriber
(reply to LindaH) posted 27-Feb-2008 3:21pm  

Good! I thought we were not going to see eye to eye at all on this particular subject.
kcthedog Survey Central Gold Subscriber
(reply to LindaH) posted 27-Feb-2008 3:24pm  

> So? They are adults and they consented to
> it. If they get hurt, it is their own fault,
> and no one else has any responsibility to
> keep them from hurting each other.

Your comment stated and I quote "Well, then it should be stopped before it gets that far." Who is going to stop them before somebody gets hurt? Not to mention the medical liability.
kcthedog Survey Central Gold Subscriber
(reply to LindaH) posted 27-Feb-2008 3:28pm  

Where did basic civility go to? Common courtesy, manners and kindness. Still no guaranty that the escalation will not cross the line.
LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to kcthedog) posted 27-Feb-2008 3:31pm  

I just think it's one of those things that shouldn't alarm people. I'm not alarmed by it, so to me, it doesn't 'disturb my peace'. I just can't understand why it should bother others, unless it's outrageously loud, or things are getting broken, or they are in people's way.
I think we still have a lot of rights in the public domain. (Never mind the fighting, but I don't think being in public makes us responsible for everyone else's comfort.)
kcthedog Survey Central Gold Subscriber
(reply to LindaH) posted 27-Feb-2008 3:32pm  

They obviously are acting like children and should be treated as such! The basis of your question is that this is taking place in a public forum, nobody has the right to encroach on the safety of others in public, and people acting violently in public are doing just that!
LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to kcthedog) posted 27-Feb-2008 3:34pm  

It should be stopped when others start to join the fray and turn it into a big brawl. I guess it depends on the intensity of the fight. Out of control fistfights should probably be stopped (or at least tamed).
I think 'medical liability' is a silly reason to disallow consentual injury and dangerous practices. If we can't do what we want because other people are afraid of the medical bills, then the system of paying for medical care needs to be changed. But that's a whole other issue.
LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to kcthedog) posted 27-Feb-2008 3:38pm  

I'm all for courtesy and kindness. I'm not a fighter type at all. I just think that if people choose to be discourteous to each other, it doesn't really hurt the people around them. No guarantee it won't escillate, but there's no guarantee a small spat or argument won't escillate either. I'd say "wait and see" if it does. If it doesn't no harm no foul.
Let's kick it down a few notches... should anyone intervene if two people are launching insults in each other's faces? Should that be legal?
LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to kcthedog) posted 27-Feb-2008 3:41pm  

I guess it just depends on how mild it is, and how much control the participants are still maintaining. Sometimes it can pose a hazard to bystanders, but sometimes it doesn't.
kcthedog Survey Central Gold Subscriber
(reply to justjulie) posted 27-Feb-2008 3:43pm  

They 'are' the mess!
kcthedog Survey Central Gold Subscriber
(reply to LindaH) posted 27-Feb-2008 3:47pm  

You have no guaranty that this idiot who has already shown a disregard for common courtesy is not a psycho and might whip out a knife or a gun? Besides two wrongs do not make a right!
LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to kcthedog) posted 27-Feb-2008 3:50pm  

There's a certain satisfaction in giving someone a well deserved shove out of the way that you just don't get from kindly asking them to move. Sometimes being nice about it is unrewarding.
kcthedog Survey Central Gold Subscriber
(reply to LindaH) posted 27-Feb-2008 3:50pm  

> I just think it's one of those things that
> shouldn't alarm people. I'm not alarmed by
> it, so to me, it doesn't 'disturb my peace'.
> I just can't understand why it should bother
> others, unless it's outrageously loud, or
> things are getting broken, or they are in
> people's way.
> I think we still have a lot of rights in
> the public domain. (Never mind the fighting,
> but I don't think being in public makes us
> responsible for everyone else's comfort.)

Not responsible for their comfort but responsible for making them uncomfortable.
LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to kcthedog) posted 27-Feb-2008 3:53pm  

How do you feel when you see two people (that you don't know) fighting mildly (no fists, no extreme force, just yelling and mild shoving)?
kcthedog Survey Central Gold Subscriber
(reply to LindaH) posted 27-Feb-2008 3:53pm  

IMO you just destroyed your whole argument! Again 'who' is going to do the stopping?
LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to kcthedog) posted 27-Feb-2008 3:55pm  

I think it depends on how loud it is, if it's in their way, etc. I don't know though. It doesn't alarm me, and it's hard for me to feel sorry for bystanders that are alarmed. (I am never the one fighting!) I can just witness it easy. It's not hard on myself at all.
LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to kcthedog) posted 27-Feb-2008 3:56pm  

I don't know. I guess someone could call the police. A security guard, someone who knows how to stop it. IF it gets out of hand. In my opinion, a small fight, two participants, scrap fighting without weapons or extreme force isn't 'out of hand'
kcthedog Survey Central Gold Subscriber
(reply to LindaH) posted 27-Feb-2008 3:57pm  

Words are words and can be as harmful as a slap in the face even worse. But you can ignore verbal abuse much easier than some taking a swing at you.

Question; have you ever been in a real fight, fist or otherwise? A knock down drag out?
LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to kcthedog) posted 27-Feb-2008 4:00pm  

Sibling scrapping, schoolyard scrap fighting. No knock down drag outs. I've never wanted to. I don't think I'd like it at all. I would not want to participate in such a thing. I'm no fighter.
kcthedog Survey Central Gold Subscriber
(reply to LindaH) posted 27-Feb-2008 4:02pm  

> I guess it just depends on how mild it is,
> and how much control the participants are
> still maintaining. Sometimes it can pose
> a hazard to bystanders, but sometimes it
> doesn't.


Sometimes! Depends! Control! Are you suggesting that we sometimes depending on their control make it legal? How can random acts of violence be controlled? Who determines to allow the legality, at what time, based on what level of control?
LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to kcthedog) posted 27-Feb-2008 4:04pm  

I have no idea. That's why I have mixed feelings about it. "Random" acts of violence on unwilling victims should not be legal. There's a lot of gray areas.
kcthedog Survey Central Gold Subscriber
(reply to LindaH) posted 27-Feb-2008 4:12pm  

> There's a certain satisfaction in giving
> someone a well deserved shove out of the
> way that you just don't get from kindly asking
> them to move. Sometimes being nice about
> it is unrewarding.

So you are willing to risk your own potential safety to shove this knucklehead. What if you were with your children? Is that a risk you still want to take? Or how about setting a bad example for your kids? You obviously never lived in LA, or New York City where you have no clue what kind of a nut you are dealing with.
kcthedog Survey Central Gold Subscriber
(reply to LindaH) posted 27-Feb-2008 4:13pm  

> How do you feel when you see two people (that
> you don't know) fighting mildly (no fists,
> no extreme force, just yelling and mild shoving)?

I do not like it, it bothers me.
kcthedog Survey Central Gold Subscriber
(reply to LindaH) posted 27-Feb-2008 4:14pm  

You are not everybody, not everyone 'thinks' like you do.
LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to kcthedog) posted 27-Feb-2008 4:15pm  

No. I highly doubt I'd shove the dude. I would merely feel like it. After getting my drink civilly, I'd leave the situation with an unsatisfied feeling, wishing I would have popped him one. I would not blame a person for shoving him, though. I'd be on the pusher's side in that situation.
LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to kcthedog) posted 27-Feb-2008 4:16pm  

I know. I can't help thinking that people who are alarmed are overreacting.
kcthedog Survey Central Gold Subscriber
(reply to LindaH) posted 27-Feb-2008 4:18pm  

> I don't know. I guess someone could call
> the police. A security guard, someone who
> knows how to stop it. IF it gets out
> of hand. In my opinion, a small fight, two
> participants, scrap fighting without weapons
> or extreme force isn't 'out of hand'

If you are calling the police it is because it 'is ' illegal! Geeeezzzzzzzzzz!
kcthedog Survey Central Gold Subscriber
(reply to LindaH) posted 27-Feb-2008 4:18pm  

> Sibling scrapping, schoolyard scrap fighting.
> No knock down drag outs. I've never wanted
> to. I don't think I'd like it at all. I would
> not want to participate in such a thing.
> I'm no fighter.

But you would like to watch it?
LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to kcthedog) posted 27-Feb-2008 4:19pm  

Yeah, and if it isn't illegal, no one should stop it!
kcthedog Survey Central Gold Subscriber
(reply to LindaH) posted 27-Feb-2008 4:19pm  

> I have no idea. That's why I have mixed feelings
> about it. "Random" acts of violence on unwilling
> victims should not be legal. There's a lot
> of gray areas.

And that my dear is why we have laws.
LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to kcthedog) posted 27-Feb-2008 4:22pm  

I wouldn't derive pleasure out of watching it, but it doesn't particularly disturb me either.
kcthedog Survey Central Gold Subscriber
(reply to LindaH) posted 27-Feb-2008 4:23pm  

> No. I highly doubt I'd shove the dude. I
> would merely feel like it. After getting
> my drink civilly, I'd leave the situation
> with an unsatisfied feeling, wishing I would
> have popped him one. I would not blame a
> person for shoving him, though. I'd be on
> the pusher's side in that situation.

So ‘you’ never felt that it should be legal to consensually fight in public, you just wanted to create a good controversial survey. Well you succeeded!
LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to kcthedog) posted 27-Feb-2008 4:24pm  

A lot of those laws have gray areas, too. Sometimes people aren't sure whether to charge someone, or what to charge them with. I guess this is one of those 'depends on the situation, depends on circumstances sort of things. Some people get into tiffs, walk away from it without the police being called. Those are the kind of things where the police don't need to be called.
kcthedog Survey Central Gold Subscriber
(reply to LindaH) posted 27-Feb-2008 4:26pm  

> I know. I can't help thinking that people
> who are alarmed are overreacting.


How do you determine another’s level of reaction to say it was an over reaction? You have no idea what personal issues they are dealing with. Maybe they were abused and have issues about violence.
kcthedog Survey Central Gold Subscriber
(reply to LindaH) posted 27-Feb-2008 4:28pm  

> Yeah, and if it isn't illegal, no one should
> stop it!

You are going around in circles!
LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to kcthedog) posted 27-Feb-2008 4:28pm  

I have really thought it should be. I have mixed feelings about the rougher more forceful forms of fighting, but I still see mild pushing/slapping among people who know each other as nothing to get police involved in. And just because I do not and would not be a fighter, that doesn't mean I think scrap (mild) fighters should get charged with anything.
kcthedog Survey Central Gold Subscriber
(reply to LindaH) posted 27-Feb-2008 4:30pm  

> I wouldn't derive pleasure out of watching
> it, but it doesn't particularly disturb me
> either.

You need to see a particularly violent fight and then when you do you might realize that violence begets violence, it benefits no one.
LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberGold Star Survey CreatorSurvey Qualifier
(reply to kcthedog) posted 27-Feb-2008 4:32pm  

But that should be none of strangers' concern. That's an internal issue they need to deal with themselves, with a counsellor, friends and family. As you pass through a public place, you shouldn't have t