i don't usually do this but i'm calling someone out:

Quote Originally Posted by Woofcat
I don't get in fights because people know i carry a knife and that i will use it in a fight.
I can not stand this kind of shit. I come from a decent neighborhood, but nearby is that little place called the Bronx and motherfuckers coming out of there you don't mess with for the simple reason that they will not hesitate to pull a knife or even a gun in the middle of shit.

Personally i think this is the most chicken shit cowardly thing in the world. Weapon for defense is one thing, but discretion in using that is essential. I'm not saying that everyone should get their asses beaten if they go up against some 7 foot tall dude or a expert Shaolin monk.

There are three kinds of fights:
1. Friendly sparring.
2. Fights for survival.
3. Fights where at the end everybody is going to walk away.

This topic isn't really about the first kind. The second is the only kind of fight where i can honestly say 'anything goes'. I've personally never been in a situation where fighting was the best way for me to preserve my life. In fact, i've only really felt my life was in danger in two situations, both times because of people who escalate Fight Type #3 into type #2.

I'm talking about cocksuckers who pull a weapon when there is no need. I am firmly convinced that NOBODY is ever supposed to always win the third type of fight. Sometimes I win, sometimes they win, and sometimes a good ass kicking teaches a lesson.

But some people are either too stupid or proud or something to understand that escalating a fight can be much worse than just losing. You can lose a tooth, get a scar, get your shit stolen, but you walk away in the end.

Take this little story for example:

Running some errands in the Bronx (let your imagination figure out what we were buying) me and a friend overhear two guys yelling. One is this skinny wannabe tough wigger from the town near me, and he's arguing with this Latino dude. What looked like was going on was the kid was getting burned on a drug deal.

The kid is insisting that the Latino give him his money back and the Latino is saying that the product is good and that the kid should just shut the fuck up and go away. He won't return the money.

It's just the two of them and now I overhear them.

Latino: "Give it back or what? You wanna make something out of it?"

Kid: lots of cursing. "I can take you." (obviously this would not be true in a good old-fashioned fist fight and everybody knows it, but the kid isn't willing to lose the fight over the money.

Latino: "Just get out of here. I'd kick your ass."

Then the kid tries to grab the money from the Latino. They struggle a bit (me and my friend are making sure to stay away now, taking several feet back and waiting behind a parked car) and the Latino eventually pushes the kid away.

Kid pulls out a knife.

Latino goes: "Hey there big guy. What are you going to do with that little knife, eh?"

Kid: "Give me back my money."

Latino: "(you're) tough shit eh?"

Latino pulls out a gun. (and by pulling i really mean he just sticks it out of his coat a bit so only the kid can see. Down the street a bit I can't tell what happened but the kid goes white like a ghost)

Latino: "Now you give me all the rest of your money."

Turns out the initial amount was all of $70. Kid winds up losing over $150 and has to replace everything in his wallet.

What is the moral of this story? Sometimes the best fight is the one you lose but lose gracefully. I've walked away from losses feeling alot better about myself than some of the times I've won.