Avoided a confrontation today...did I do the right thing?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Avoided a confrontation today...did I do the right thing? (Page 1 of 2)

Posted: 9/6/2005 3:21:34 PM EDT

I was driving over to my buddy's house today to lift some weights in his garage, and I turned onto his street.

It's a typical mid-west, late 70's-era two lane, residential street, with sidewalks, and plenty of room to park along the curbs. There was a blue Thunderbird driving about 10mph along the right curb, practically scraping it, and the car kept getting slower and slower, but not stopping, with no turn signal lights blinking. The driver did this for over 50 yards.

There were no cars coming the other direction, and the speed limit was 25, so I started to pass him on the left, which was prefectly legal. As I'm passing him, he suddenly tries to turn into his driveway, on the left side of the street, and almost smashes into my Jeep. He lays on his horn until I was well past him and I see him yelling inside the car and flipping me off, and then I see 2 little kids in the car as well.

I wasn't sure what was going to happen, so instead of pulling into my buddies driveway I parked along the curb near his house, and waited in my car.

Then the guy backs out of his driveway, and starts flying down the street toward where I was parked and pulls up right behind me. All I had on me at the time was my Benchmade folder, and I really didn't want to get into a violent encounter.

The guys gets out of his car, and starts to head toward my Jeep, and in my rearview mirror I saw a folding knife attached to his belt.

So, I drove off.

I feel like a complete pussy, but I didn't want to get in a fight with this guy, especially in front of his two little girls.

I went to a local park and went running, and then came back to try and go to my buddies house, and this guy had dropped his two little girls off in front of his house, and was circling the block, looking for me!

Should I have called the local LEO's? Nothing happened, other than some jackass getting pissed at me because he can't drive.

Should I have waited until he got up to my window, and then jabbed him in the eye, 3 Stooges style?

Posted: 9/6/2005 3:23:59 PM EDT

[#1]

Never take a knife to a knife fight - there are no winners in a knife fight, even if you win. If you had a pistol, it would have been a different story.

Posted: 9/6/2005 3:24:11 PM EDT

[#2]

He ain't worth the trouble.

Posted: 9/6/2005 3:25:43 PM EDT

[#3]

I'd have called the cops on him, THEN gone to my friend's house. Then if he tried something, you've covered your ass.

Posted: 9/6/2005 3:26:18 PM EDT

[#4]

Of course you did the right thing. Everybody gets cut in a knife fight.

Posted: 9/6/2005 3:26:21 PM EDT

[#5]

You did the right thing, and you are 100x more mature than that idiot (and probably handled it better than most would have).

There is nothing "pussy" about walking away from a stupid and unecessary confrontation, and possibly risking injury (or criminal charges) over something as trivial as that.

Good job!

Posted: 9/6/2005 3:27:17 PM EDT

[#6]

Dude,

you need to represent

Posted: 9/6/2005 3:28:19 PM EDT

[#7]

IBTDDC (in before the draw down comment) You did the right thing. But you know where he lives so you can go back and egg his car to make yourself feel better.

Posted: 9/6/2005 3:28:35 PM EDT

[#8]

My friend back in the day got a ticket for passing on the left even when the guy was pulling over to let him pass.

Posted: 9/6/2005 3:28:37 PM EDT

[#9]

Knife fight = bad, bad idea. From the description of his driving and behavior I'm inclined to think he might have been intoxicated as well. You didn't do anything wrong, he needs to deal with it.

Posted: 9/6/2005 3:28:49 PM EDT

[#10]

This is called being an adult.

You did the right thing. It does not alway feel good.

Posted: 9/6/2005 3:28:58 PM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:
You did the right thing, and you are 100x more mature than that idiot (and probably handled it better than most would have).

There is nothing "pussy" about walking away from a stupid and unecessary confrontation, and possibly risking injury (or criminal charges) over something as trivial as that.

Good job!

hr

+1...great thoughts

Posted: 9/6/2005 3:29:43 PM EDT

[#12]

Quoted:
From the description of his driving and behavior I'm inclined to think he might have been intoxicated as well.

+1

Posted: 9/6/2005 3:32:48 PM EDT

[#13]

should have run him over
never take a knife to a car fight

Posted: 9/6/2005 3:33:24 PM EDT

[#14]

Being a pussy is really under-rated. A lot of guys showing how tough they are have died for really stupid shit.

case and pointhere

Posted: 9/6/2005 3:34:04 PM EDT

[#15]

Absolutely, you did the right thing.

You're vehicles weren't invovled in a collision, no need for a confrontation, especially since you didn't know what his state of mind was.

Posted: 9/6/2005 3:35:53 PM EDT

[#16]

I can see not wanting to whip his ass in front of his kids. Sounds like he has some "issues".

Posted: 9/6/2005 3:45:51 PM EDT

[#17]

One of the most satisfying feelings I have ever felt is walking away from a guy who wanted to start something while I had a weapon on me. I know that I could have killed him in less than a second if I wanted to, and he thought I was a pussy. That was the best part--the irony of him not knowing the truth.

Its not worth it. Why? So you can prove to your buddies neighbor that you're a tough guy? Who gives a flying fuck what that guy thinks. I wouldn't.

You done good.

Posted: 9/6/2005 3:48:34 PM EDT

[#18]

No one hurt, killed, and your not in jail = you did the right thing as far as I'm concerned.

Posted: 9/6/2005 3:48:36 PM EDT

[#19]

Quoted:
Dude,

you need to represent

If you listen to stupid like this, then you deserve to get cut. I don't care what anyone says, A confontation avoided is a confrontation won.

Edited to take out an insult that he deserved.....

Posted: 9/6/2005 3:49:28 PM EDT

[#20]

You should have let him follow you to a local carwash.

THEN draw down.

Posted: 9/6/2005 3:51:06 PM EDT

[#21]

What? You passed up a chance to gut a cocksucker infront of his kids... that would've been classic?

Really, though, you did the right thing. As was stated before, there are no winners in a knife fight...

unless your knife is a broadsword and your foe is wielding a Swiss Army folder.

Posted: 9/6/2005 3:52:24 PM EDT

[#22]

Nice work, it's the guys that DONT run their mouth and flip you off that you should worry about. I've never met a truly tough individul that would tell you, or act like that. I'll bet big dollars you could have kicked his ass, but what's the point?

Posted: 9/6/2005 3:53:40 PM EDT

[#23]

You made it home, no stops at the county jail, the hospital, or the morgue...

Mission accomplished

Posted: 9/6/2005 3:54:03 PM EDT

[#24]

I'd have been pissed at myself for a few minutes for driving off, too...then I'd remember I'm 30, not 15, and I don't have to act on my impulses.

You did good.

Posted: 9/6/2005 3:55:59 PM EDT

[#25]

Quoted:
Of course you did the right thing. Everybody gets cut in a knife fight.

+1
If I can avoid it, I'm never getting it a knife fight.

Posted: 9/6/2005 3:58:06 PM EDT

[#26]

yeah it was best to just leave,battery on the elderly is a serious charge in fact I believe it's a felony but dont quote me on that.he was just bitter because those kids switched his viagra out with P.E.Z.

good on ya.

Posted: 9/6/2005 3:58:10 PM EDT

[#27]

Stomping his ass into the ground would have accomplished what exactly?

Pfft...

People like that do a fine job of fucking themselves without your help.

Posted: 9/6/2005 3:58:31 PM EDT

[#28]

Quoted:
There were no cars coming the other direction, and the speed limit was 25, so I started to pass him on the left, which was prefectly legal. As I'm passing him, he suddenly tries to turn into his driveway, on the left side of the street, and almost smashes into my Jeep.

If you are already on your buddy's street and apparently close to his house, why are you passing? What's the hurry? What difference will those 4 or 5 seconds make in your arrival time? Why not drive defensively and avoid situations where your driving may be leagal, it stil can contribute to a crash, or near crash. You say you were passing legally, he was definetly turning legally. I would have been pissed as well. He didn't signal his turn? Did you signal that you were passing and give an audible warning?

You may be a bad driver. It sounds like it from your story but you did the smart thing by avoiding a violent confrontation. It wasn't worth the potential outcome.

Posted: 9/6/2005 4:02:17 PM EDT

[#29]

You are a total coward, you should of got out of your car and beat the living shit out of him . You should of beat him until one of his eyes popped out, then kick him in the teeth until you saw his jawline sitting on the ground next to him. You should of took your knife and cut off one of his testicles and hung it on his car rearview mirror. You are marked now, everyone here knows you have wimped out to a guy you don't know and what he's capable of doing.

But anyways you did the right thing, you walked yourself out of trouble and your here another day with us on AR15.COM. BTW, I felt like typing a horror story.

Posted: 9/6/2005 4:03:58 PM EDT

[#30]

Quoted:
Never take a knife to a knife fight - there are no winners in a knife fight, even if you win. If you had a pistol, it would have been a different story.

Been in two.
Not a scratch, not a hand laid on me. Second guy went to prison after I kicked the shit out of him.

I suppose the party line in our nonconfrontational society is to run and hide like a girl. Hell that is probably the smartest thing.

But sometimes good men have to stand. Stand up for what is right.

Posted: 9/6/2005 4:07:55 PM EDT

[#31]

Quoted:
Quoted:
There were no cars coming the other direction, and the speed limit was 25, so I started to pass him on the left, which was prefectly legal. As I'm passing him, he suddenly tries to turn into his driveway, on the left side of the street, and almost smashes into my Jeep.

If you are already on your buddy's street and apparently close to his house, why are you passing? What's the hurry? What difference will those 4 or 5 seconds make in your arrival time? Why not drive defensively and avoid situations where your driving may be leagal, it stil can contribute to a crash, or near crash. You say you were passing legally, he was definetly turning legally. I would have been pissed as well. He didn't signal his turn? Did you signal that you were passing and give an audible warning?

You may be a bad driver. It sounds like it from your story but you did the smart thing by avoiding a violent confrontation. It wasn't worth the potential outcome.

Why pass? Becvause the guy was pulled completely over to the right side of the street, against the curb, doing pretty near 5 mph. And yes, I did signal. And audible warning was not necessary. He was not turning legally...you can't legally make a turn without using your turn signals.

You would be pissed that you pulled all the way over to the right and continued driving this way for a good 50 yards, and then when someone behind you tried to go around, you decided to turn left (without notifying the person behind you of your intentions to turn) at the exact moment they passed you?
Wow.

Posted: 9/6/2005 4:12:10 PM EDT

[#32]

You did the right thing, F@#K the guy.......

Probably made him more pissed when you drove off.

Posted: 9/6/2005 4:16:44 PM EDT

[#33]

Quoted:

But sometimes good men have to stand. Stand up for what is right.

Please elaborate as to how that applies in this situation.

Posted: 9/6/2005 4:26:35 PM EDT

[#34]

He might have messed you up real bad.

1) He was pissed and surging with adrenaline
2) He carries a knife on him always
3) He couldn't afford to lose in front of his kids on his own block

It's probably best you ran away. Did you tell your friend about his neighbor?

Posted: 9/6/2005 4:31:35 PM EDT

[#35]

Quoted:
Quoted:

But sometimes good men have to stand. Stand up for what is right.

Please elaborate as to how that applies in this situation.

We'll never know. He was too busy running like a girl.
So the guy had a little knife on his hip. BFD. Probably a Leatherman tool anyhow. Yeah, I run every time I see on of those. They are scary.

The guy was irate, that doesn't make it an attack or a knife fight.
What everytime there is some confrontation possible we should run?
Maybe, maybe, if the guy actually pulled the knife....

Of course it helps if you are in decent enough shape to run faster than the other guy.

Anyway, it is MO that the scum of this Earth runs it because not enough good men are willing to stand and do ANYTHING. That is my point on this subject.

I'll also make a point here that some people do need an asskicking. The old adage, "no one deserves to be hit" is bullshit. Plenty of "people" need it. Plenty.

Posted: 9/6/2005 4:37:32 PM EDT

[#36]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:

But sometimes good men have to stand. Stand up for what is right.

Please elaborate as to how that applies in this situation.

We'll never know. He was too busy running like a girl.
So the guy had a little knife on his hip. BFD. Probably a Leatherman tool anyhow. Yeah, I run every time I see on of those. They are scary.

The guy was irate, that doesn't make it an attack or a knife fight.
What everytime there is some confrontation possible we should run?
Maybe, maybe, if the guy actually pulled the knife....

Of course it helps if you are in decent enough shape to run faster than the other guy.

Anyway, it is MO that the scum of this Earth runs it because not enough good men are willing to stand and do ANYTHING. That is my point on this subject.

I'll also make a point here that some people do need an asskicking. The old adage, "no one deserves to be hit" is bullshit. Plenty of "people" need it. Plenty.

I guess I am asking what you would have done in that specific situation?

Stepped out of your car? What would happen when he pulls a knife and lunges at you? What happens when he pulls his concealed 1911 and starts shooting? What if you get into a physical altercation, and he dies from a heart attack, or you just carried away in your beat-down of him - in front of two little girls?

There are all kinds of scenarios that can play out - and many of them can result in injury or DEATH of a person, and in considerable legal cost, felony conviction, etc - of either party.

Obviously, when principles are at stake, all of those risks might be worth taking. But in the case of a trivial traffic altercation, with no damage or significance? Please

.

The difference between sticking around and deliberately allowing a trivial situation to escalate is NOT a difference between being "tough" and being a "pussy". It is the difference between being stupid, and being smart.

YMMV - obviously different people fall into different categories.

Posted: 9/6/2005 4:41:43 PM EDT

[#37]

You went on your merry way. You did good.

Posted: 9/6/2005 4:54:07 PM EDT

[#38]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:

But sometimes good men have to stand. Stand up for what is right.

Please elaborate as to how that applies in this situation.

We'll never know. He was too busy running like a girl.
So the guy had a little knife on his hip. BFD. Probably a Leatherman tool anyhow. Yeah, I run every time I see on of those. They are scary.

The guy was irate, that doesn't make it an attack or a knife fight.
What everytime there is some confrontation possible we should run?
Maybe, maybe, if the guy actually pulled the knife....

Of course it helps if you are in decent enough shape to run faster than the other guy.

Anyway, it is MO that the scum of this Earth runs it because not enough good men are willing to stand and do ANYTHING. That is my point on this subject.

I'll also make a point here that some people do need an asskicking. The old adage, "no one deserves to be hit" is bullshit. Plenty of "people" need it. Plenty.

One day you will run into one of these idiots, and they will cut/slash/stomp/shoot you. Plenty of people do need an asskicking, but a percentage of those also carry weapons...

Posted: 9/6/2005 4:57:21 PM EDT

[#39]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:

But sometimes good men have to stand. Stand up for what is right.

Please elaborate as to how that applies in this situation.

We'll never know. He was too busy running like a girl.
So the guy had a little knife on his hip. BFD. Probably a Leatherman tool anyhow. Yeah, I run every time I see on of those. They are scary.

The guy was irate, that doesn't make it an attack or a knife fight.
What everytime there is some confrontation possible we should run?
Maybe, maybe, if the guy actually pulled the knife....

Of course it helps if you are in decent enough shape to run faster than the other guy.

Anyway, it is MO that the scum of this Earth runs it because not enough good men are willing to stand and do ANYTHING. That is my point on this subject.

I'll also make a point here that some people do need an asskicking. The old adage, "no one deserves to be hit" is bullshit. Plenty of "people" need it. Plenty.

I guess I am asking what you would have done in that specific situation?

Stepped out of your car?

Maybe. Depends. If he had a weapon is his hand then I would have been more concerned.

What would happen when he pulls a knife and lunges at you?

What if a meteor hit me?
What if I got hit by a bus?
Heart attack?
What if the failed part in my car, that GM has failed to tell me about burst into flames and I was burned alive before I could get out of my car?

Tehn I would deal with it.

There are all kinds of scenarios that can play out - and many of them can result in injury or DEATH of a person, and in considerable legal cost, felony conviction, etc - of either party.

Yeah, all kinds of things can happen all day long.

Run away! Run Away!

The difference between sticking around and deliberately allowing a trivial situation to escalate is NOT a difference between being "tough" and being a "pussy". It is the difference between being stupid, and being smart.

Maybe the option wasn't being tough. Maybe it was just being a man.

YMMV - obviously different people fall into different categories.

Obviously.

No offense meant by that either. We are all the sum of our life experiences. I have had to fend for myslef all of my life and I tend to stand my ground.

Nor was it my intention to denegrate the original poster. My POV is different than most so I felt the need to say so.

Posted: 9/6/2005 4:57:27 PM EDT

[#40]

The old guy is a ritard, doesn't he realize that you now know where he lives?

Posted: 9/6/2005 5:00:03 PM EDT

[#41]

You acted correctly. Your bruised ego will be fine in few days.

Posted: 9/6/2005 5:00:39 PM EDT

[#42]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:

But sometimes good men have to stand. Stand up for what is right.

Please elaborate as to how that applies in this situation.

We'll never know. He was too busy running like a girl.
So the guy had a little knife on his hip. BFD. Probably a Leatherman tool anyhow. Yeah, I run every time I see on of those. They are scary.

The guy was irate, that doesn't make it an attack or a knife fight.
What everytime there is some confrontation possible we should run?
Maybe, maybe, if the guy actually pulled the knife....

Of course it helps if you are in decent enough shape to run faster than the other guy.

Anyway, it is MO that the scum of this Earth runs it because not enough good men are willing to stand and do ANYTHING. That is my point on this subject.

I'll also make a point here that some people do need an asskicking. The old adage, "no one deserves to be hit" is bullshit. Plenty of "people" need it. Plenty.

One day you will run into one of these idiots, and they will cut/slash/stomp/shoot you. Plenty of people do need an asskicking, but a percentage of those also carry weapons...

**********************************************************************

Quoted:
Quoted:
Never take a knife to a knife fight - there are no winners in a knife fight, even if you win. If you had a pistol, it would have been a different story.

Been in two.
Not a scratch, not a hand laid on me. Second guy went to prison after I kicked the shit out of him.

I suppose the party line in our nonconfrontational society is to run and hide like a girl. Hell that is probably the smartest thing.

But sometimes good men have to stand. Stand up for what is right.

Posted: 9/6/2005 5:10:20 PM EDT

[#43]

It's always wise to avoid a fight like this. You whip him, you may face civil and criminal issues. You get whipped and you're whipped and you could have driven away.

R.

Posted: 9/6/2005 5:12:25 PM EDT

[#44]

Quoted:
You did the right thing, and you are 100x more mature than that idiot (and probably handled it better than most would have).

There is nothing "pussy" about walking away from a stupid and unecessary confrontation, and possibly risking injury (or criminal charges) over something as trivial as that.

Good job!

Well said...+1

HH

Posted: 9/6/2005 5:16:32 PM EDT

[#45]

ahem.. i am a pussy (run from situation where i'm pretty sure i will get hurt or perhaps spend time in graybar hotel with bubber until a lawyer, to whom i have just payed 100,000 to set me free convinces a jury that it was self defense). but i like to screw with people sometimes. since i dont have a lot of extra courage i do have a sense of humor.

now.. sounds like a honest mistake on your part to start it off. then it escalated. you was in car, he got out. no guns in sight. now i have actually done this before.. let him get up towards the door then put it in drive and pull away from him. let him approach.. even run towards you. continue this exercise, sort of like getting a cat to chase a ball on a string. laugh. guy calls you a pussy. laugh and say ' thats mister pussy to you'. sometimes these guys even calm down and laugh too. then you tell him you wouldna passed him if he had his blinkers on and was a honest mistake.

now sometimes they don't get out of their car and they chase you around. i like that too. you can stop dead in the road or find a circular culdesac or similar and get them to chase you around in a circle (i have actually had someone do this).

i know this is crazy stuff..

but you wanna advoid violence if you can. think of all the paperwork involved at least. is very hard to do and crunches a mans ego like crazy. but in the end its the cool thing to do. save the final solution for the rat backed in the corner and no way out scenario.

Posted: 9/6/2005 5:17:17 PM EDT

[#46]

Quoted:
This is called being an adult.

You did the right thing. It does not alway feel good.

i sure as hell know what that means, god adults never have any fun

Posted: 9/6/2005 5:22:40 PM EDT

[#47]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Dude,

you need to represent
If you listen to stupid like this, then you deserve to get cut. I don't care what anyone says, A confontation avoided is a confrontation ~~won~~someone else will eventually have to deal with.

Edited to take out an insult that he deserved.....

Not getting into a confrontation was smart.

Not doing something about this asshat was not.

You need a pistol. Having a pistol would have really opened up the possibilities to do something about the situation.
MOST important, would be that you wouldn't feel as if you had to immediately leave the scene for fear that if a verbal confrontation quickly turned into a "knife fight", you would be in a really bad situation.

I'm not going to second guess you too much here. I wasn't there, and I've had all the time in the world to think about what to do. YOU didn't.

I think you handled the situation about as well as you could have.

That being said, you will find no shortage of people here that claim nothing is worth the possibility of a confrontation. Because confrontations have the possibility of turning violent, and violence has the possibility of turning deadly, and the possibility of death means YOU COULD DIE...RUN RUN, RUN FOR YOUR LIFE...

I think people like that POS need every opportunity to break the law and go to prison. Behaviour like that is not rational, and indicates a disturbed person. If you aren't comfortable with that, then BY ALL MEANS, don't do it!

ETA: this is what I really like about the new "law" or clarification of it - in florida, saying that you can stand your ground and let an idiot be an idiot.

Posted: 9/6/2005 5:33:15 PM EDT

[#48]

You're a PUSSY!!!!

How will you be able to look in a mirror?? PUSSY!!!!

You should have you're man card revoked!!!! PUSSY!!!!

Just kidding, you did the right thing.......

Posted: 9/6/2005 5:34:53 PM EDT

[#49]

Quoted:
You're a PUSSY!!!!

How will you be able to look in a mirror?? PUSSY!!!!

You should have you're man card revoked!!!! PUSSY!!!!

Just kidding, you did the right thing.......

Posted: 9/6/2005 5:36:38 PM EDT

[#50]

No fight means you win most of the time. Any fight can turn into a killing so you have to ask yourself each time "Am I willing to kill this guy". The answer should be "No" most of the time.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Avoided a confrontation today...did I do the right thing? (Page 1 of 2)

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