# Are you willing to fight dirty? If so, how dirty? If not, will you fight at all? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 28, 2013, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-willing-to-fight-dirty-if-so-how-dirty-if-not-will-you-fight-at-all/667422 "2013-08-28T18:11:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-willing-to-fight-dirty-if-so-how-dirty-if-not-will-you-fight-at-all/667422/121 "2013-09-02T15:53:28Z")
Stop it you two! Either that or fight dirty. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-willing-to-fight-dirty-if-so-how-dirty-if-not-will-you-fight-at-all/667422/122 "2013-09-02T18:14:47Z")
I believe my opponent already _was_ - since I hadn’t so much as breathed a word of approval for **the diego** ’s idea of retaliation for being stood up, far less intimated that I’d ever do or have done the like myself. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![JustinC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justinc/32/8083_2.png) [@JustinC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustinC)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-willing-to-fight-dirty-if-so-how-dirty-if-not-will-you-fight-at-all/667422/123 "2013-09-02T21:05:37Z")
I’d administer a swift but painful Chinese/Indian burn and, if still necessary, give him a wedgie. Then do a victory lap to the standing ovation I would likely receive for my physical prowess. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-willing-to-fight-dirty-if-so-how-dirty-if-not-will-you-fight-at-all/667422/124 "2013-09-02T21:08:59Z")
I thought Chinese burns were outlawed under the Geneva Convention? ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-willing-to-fight-dirty-if-so-how-dirty-if-not-will-you-fight-at-all/667422/125 "2013-09-02T21:46:03Z")
> [@SirGalahad](#): > > When things like this have happened to me, it was always one of two types of assailant: either a very good, experienced fighter trying to establish dominance in his territory (biker bar, street corner where he’s pimping, etc.), or it was someone on PCP, which is actually worse, because they won’t feel pain until later, so you could work really hard to mess them up, and unless you shut down their spinal column or break a leg, they don’t stop coming. > > Downside to going all chimpanzee on a good fighter is that, if he’s better and luckier than you, you turn a beating you might survive into a murder. Also, if you win, you’ll have to answer for every injury the attacker receives … every single one. They’ll count the injuries and recite them to you. You almost always have the legal responsibility to stop maiming someone when they are no longer a threat … if you can end the threat with a damaged knee or a solid head-butt, you look better to the judge and jury than if you bite off his ear, poke his eyes, and generally act insane. > > Obviously, I lived through my personal misadventures, but I have a ton of injuries that plague me in my old age. I never blinded anyone, and never killed anybody (that I know of), but for about ten years, I spent every weekend (and way too many weekdays) in biker bars and on related road trips. > > One thing, if you decide to commit to fighting dirty, you can’t go back … you’ll receive the same treatment to the full extent of you adversary’s ability. That’s a pretty scary thought. I saw this movie too. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-willing-to-fight-dirty-if-so-how-dirty-if-not-will-you-fight-at-all/667422/126 "2013-09-03T00:07:31Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > I believe my opponent already _was_ - since I hadn’t so much as breathed a word of approval for **the diego** ’s idea of retaliation for being stood up, far less intimated that I’d ever do or have done the like myself. :dubious: Normally I’d thank a man for rising to my defense but not when it’s against a woman; a somewhat confused one. ---
**Author:** ![SirGalahad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/71c47a/32.png) [@SirGalahad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirGalahad)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-willing-to-fight-dirty-if-so-how-dirty-if-not-will-you-fight-at-all/667422/127 "2013-09-03T01:57:26Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > I saw this movie too. If you want to be insulting, why not grow a pair and say it clearly? I’m pretty sure veiled accusations receive the same attention, or lack thereof, from the moderators. You’re not quite passive-aggressive, so may as well commit. As you meet people with different life styles and experiences, you will find new and interesting ways to advertise your particular degree of ignorance of man’s diversity and of your dubious character judgement. Since you seem to rely on films for your most profound life lessons, you may want to check out this website, the most thorough and useful self defense info I’ve found on the web and full of practical advise. While you’re there, feel free to let Marc know how you feel about his experiences … we grew up just a few miles from each other. > **[No Nonsense Self Defense - Reliable information for dangerous situations](http://www.nononsenseselfdefense.com/)** > > Answers about crime, violence, crime prevention, personal safety, and self-defense ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-willing-to-fight-dirty-if-so-how-dirty-if-not-will-you-fight-at-all/667422/128 "2013-09-03T04:45:59Z")
Great link SirG. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-willing-to-fight-dirty-if-so-how-dirty-if-not-will-you-fight-at-all/667422/129 "2013-09-03T06:31:04Z")
> [@the\_diego](#): > > Normally I’d thank a man for rising to my defense but not when it’s against a woman; a somewhat confused one. I’m not in it for the thanks, and your behaviour as described is … somewhat assholish … I merely remark that it’s relevant to the thread, in a way. ---
**Author:** ![MegaBee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f0a364/32.png) [@MegaBee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MegaBee)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-willing-to-fight-dirty-if-so-how-dirty-if-not-will-you-fight-at-all/667422/130 "2013-09-03T16:06:18Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > How dirty are you willing to fight? Will you gouge his eyes if necessary? Knee him in the balls? Bite anywhere? Bite a throat? Grab a convenient stick and hit him in the head? If there’s a line you won’t cross, what is it, and why? This isn’t a schoolyard brawl, and it’s not a competition for points. I’ll go for any target that presents itself, and I’ll use any advantage that the environment provides. I won’t try to kill my attacker, but he needs to no longer be a threat. ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-willing-to-fight-dirty-if-so-how-dirty-if-not-will-you-fight-at-all/667422/131 "2013-09-03T19:35:18Z")
I’m a tiny little out-of-shape girl who is seriously conflict-averse and very out of practice in her chosen (equally conflict-averse) martial art. All you people who are talking about holding back and just taking it if the crazy back-jumper just wants to “fuck you up” or going easy on him (statistically safe pronoun here) because you don’t know whether he means to kill you or not… Where the fuck are you learning this instant magical intent-knowledge? Last time I checked, you didn’t jump someone with no warning and start beating the piss out of them to ask the time or when the next bus was due. If someone attacks me with no provocation (that I am aware of) and no warning, then I’m not holding anything back. It will be whatever and however I can get away, whatever that takes. If he claims afterward in court that he wasn’t intending anything, then fuck that shit - how was \*\*\*I \*\*\*supposed to know that? I can only respond to what I’m aware of, and in this case, what I’m aware of is that McCrazy is trying to pound me into the dirt for no reason. Now, I say that knowing that any fight I get into as a woman, especially if I was “just” going to be raped, I’m likely to get my ass killed instead, or at the least beat all to hell, but I’m ok with that. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I just lay there and took an attack without giving everything I had to get free. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-willing-to-fight-dirty-if-so-how-dirty-if-not-will-you-fight-at-all/667422/132 "2013-09-03T19:46:15Z")
> [@Lasciel](#): > > I’m a tiny little out-of-shape girl who is seriously conflict-averse and very out of practice in her chosen (equally conflict-averse) martial art. > > All you people who are talking about holding back and just taking it if the crazy back-jumper just wants to “fuck you up” or going easy on him (statistically safe pronoun here) because you don’t know whether he means to kill you or not… > > Where the fuck are you learning this instant magical intent-knowledge? I’ve been wondering this as well. And it seems to me that an unprovoked violent attack such as I described in the OP _has_ to be interpreted by any reasonable authority as being part of an attempt to maim or kill. Anything else is victim blaming. ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-willing-to-fight-dirty-if-so-how-dirty-if-not-will-you-fight-at-all/667422/133 "2013-09-03T19:51:58Z")
To defend myself from a physical assault? Whatever it takes to get away. At the point he traps and hits me, I’m no longer concerned about his safety. How badly injured either of us end up is on him, not me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-willing-to-fight-dirty-if-so-how-dirty-if-not-will-you-fight-at-all/667422.md?page=6)