# How hard should I be allowed to hit this guy? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 1, 2015, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-should-i-be-allowed-to-hit-this-guy/726693 "2015-08-01T00:12:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Inna\_Minnit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Inna\_Minnit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inna_Minnit)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-should-i-be-allowed-to-hit-this-guy/726693/21 "2015-08-01T01:18:24Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > I kind of agree. But it feels weird that people should be allowed to hit other people without those people being allowed to hit them back. Which is exactly why he hit you back. You are a lawyer and you think assaulting (or is it battery, I always forget) random people is a good idea? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-should-i-be-allowed-to-hit-this-guy/726693/22 "2015-08-01T01:18:29Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > That’s the main problem. If I hit him the way he hit me, he’s not getting up. I’m way bigger than him. Which is why I didn’t (and probably won’t) hit him back in a serious way. Well, if you hit him again, seriously or not, I personally won’t think it weird if he smashes a bottle over your head. If you get hit with a criminal charge, and by some means your posts in this thread are introduced as evidence (indicating an intent to assault) and you get convicted and lose your law license, that won’t be weird at all. Stupid and sad, but not weird. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-should-i-be-allowed-to-hit-this-guy/726693/23 "2015-08-01T01:20:44Z")
John Wayne said it best in the shootist: > [@](#): > > _ **originally posted by John Wayne:** _“I won’t be wronged. I won’t be insulted. I won’t be laid a-hand on. I don’t do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.” ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-should-i-be-allowed-to-hit-this-guy/726693/24 "2015-08-01T01:29:23Z")
OK, I still think people are misunderstanding a few basic facts in the last few posts, so let me lay things out as clear as I can. 1. I’m not a practicing attorney, nort have have I been - I have a law degree but never sat for the bar and don’t intend to; I did a joint JD/MBA and went the business route 2. I have no intention of hunting this guy down and assaulting him - one of the main reasons that I didn’t retaliate when he hit me is that I have no interest in a legal battle - I’m just upset because I got punched in the face earlier tonight - it isn’t fun 3. When I hit him - it was really, really un-aggressive - I don’t know how to put this in ways I haven’t before - the best comparison I can give is that it’s the same strength I would hit a guy on the shoulder at my job - which is to say that it absolutely wouldn’t leave a bruise or hurt for more than a few seconds . Yes, it was in the stomach but the damage intended or caused by it was zero, absolutely zero. I don’t know how to convey this to people who don’t josh around - but a lot of punches really don’t do anything at all - they’re noticeable - but they don’t hurt, or barely hurt at all. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-should-i-be-allowed-to-hit-this-guy/726693/25 "2015-08-01T01:30:57Z")
You guys sound even to me. You hit him at the strength of your choice. He hit you back at the strength of his choice. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-should-i-be-allowed-to-hit-this-guy/726693/26 "2015-08-01T01:32:09Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > OK, I still think people are misunderstanding a few basic facts in the last few posts, so let me lay things out as clear as I can. > > 1. I’m not a practicing attorney, nort have have I been - I have a law degree but never sat for the bar and don’t intend to; I did a joint JD/MBA and went the business route > > 2. I have no intention of hunting this guy down and assaulting him - one of the main reasons that I didn’t retaliate when he hit me is that I have no interest in a legal battle - I’m just upset because I got punched in the face earlier tonight - it isn’t fun > > 3. When I hit him - it was really, really un-aggressive - I don’t know how to put this in ways I haven’t before - the best comparison I can give is that it’s the same strength I would hit a guy on the shoulder at my job - which is to say that it absolutely wouldn’t leave a bruise or hurt > for more than a few seconds . Yes, it was in the stomach but the damage intended or caused by it was zero, absolutely zero. I don’t know how to convey this to people who don’t josh around - but a lot of punches really don’t do anything at all - they’re noticeable - but they don’t hurt, or barely hurt at all. We understand this perfectly. It just doesn’t matter, and we don’t care. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-should-i-be-allowed-to-hit-this-guy/726693/27 "2015-08-01T01:34:04Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > We understand this perfectly. It just doesn’t matter, and we don’t care. I accept that this is true for you, but disagree that it is true for all. eta: well, at least until my clarification ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-should-i-be-allowed-to-hit-this-guy/726693/28 "2015-08-01T01:38:47Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > You guys sound even to me. You hit him at the strength of your choice. He hit you back at the strength of his choice. I don’t agree that it was an even thing. I hit him in way that was meant to cause zero harm - it literally could not have hurt him in any but the weirdest of circumstances - it’s the way friends mess around with each other, at most 2 or 3 seconds of a sting. He, on the other hand, tried to freakin kill me. ---
**Author:** ![Emiliana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@Emiliana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emiliana)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-should-i-be-allowed-to-hit-this-guy/726693/29 "2015-08-01T01:39:31Z")
The tattoo artist plays a curious role in this story. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-should-i-be-allowed-to-hit-this-guy/726693/30 "2015-08-01T01:39:55Z")
Seriously, you said in your OP you were basically unharmed. So let it go and don’t hit anyone else. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-should-i-be-allowed-to-hit-this-guy/726693/31 "2015-08-01T01:41:31Z")
I’d consider yourself lucky. I don’t care how hard you meant to hit him or did hit him. If you took an unprovoked swing at me, you’d likely be picking up your teeth. I’m certainly not going to give a guy who just punched me another chance to take a swing at me. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-should-i-be-allowed-to-hit-this-guy/726693/32 "2015-08-01T01:41:57Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Seriously, you said in your OP you were basically unharmed. So let it go and don’t hit anyone else. Like I said, I’m not going to. Definitively will not. Am still pissed 🙂 and think it would be justified, even though I just wouldn’t. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-should-i-be-allowed-to-hit-this-guy/726693/33 "2015-08-01T01:44:40Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > I don’t agree that it was an even thing. I hit him in way that was meant to cause zero harm - it literally could not have hurt him in any but the weirdest of circumstances - it’s the way friends mess around with each other, at most 2 or 3 seconds of a sting. He, on the other hand, tried to freakin kill me. Clearly he doesn’t have friends like you nor does he want friends like you. I tend to agree with him. I don’t need people who think taking play swings at me is a fun game. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-should-i-be-allowed-to-hit-this-guy/726693/34 "2015-08-01T01:48:10Z")
> [@Emiliana](#): > > The tattoo artist plays a curious role in this story. Actually, yes. I don’t know him, but my friend Jordan - who has known Brett for around 4 years (i’ve only known him for about 6 months) - has known the tattoo guy, Mike, for a several years. The tat guy, Mike, is huge. Like 6’5" and probably 280 of solid muscle. As soon as Brett hit me, he said something to the effect of ‘stop that shit’ - don’t actually remember what exactly. Me and Jordan left. He asked Brett to stay - no idea what transpired between them when I left, but Jordan said that Mike had dealt with Brett before. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-should-i-be-allowed-to-hit-this-guy/726693/35 "2015-08-01T01:48:40Z")
Maybe Brett hit you with 1/10 strength and if you keep it going he’ll hit you so hard you’ll be able to see the curvature of the Earth. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-should-i-be-allowed-to-hit-this-guy/726693/36 "2015-08-01T01:50:20Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > Clearly he doesn’t have friends like you nor does he want friends like you. I tend to agree with him. I don’t need people who think taking play swings at me is a fun game. Still think you’re overestimating play swing, but I hear you. Some people want no physical contact at all. I never read him that way, and still wouldn’t. We’re talking about someone in their mid-twenties whose primary hobby is drinking. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-should-i-be-allowed-to-hit-this-guy/726693/37 "2015-08-01T01:51:22Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Maybe Brett hit you with 1/10 strength and if you keep it going he’ll hit you so hard you’ll be able to see the curvature of the Earth. Nope 🙂 Been in enough fights to tell the difference. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-should-i-be-allowed-to-hit-this-guy/726693/38 "2015-08-01T01:56:16Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > I kind of agree. But it feels weird that people should be allowed to hit other people without those people being allowed to hit them back. That’s not what happened. You hit him and he hit you back. Now you want to hit him again. What do you think he’ll do next? ---
**Author:** ![Waymore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Waymore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waymore)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-should-i-be-allowed-to-hit-this-guy/726693/39 "2015-08-01T01:57:44Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > So, I went out today after work and drank for a while. I ran into a couple of friends and friends of friends. One of these guys was a dude named Brett. When me, Jordan, and Brett decided to leave a bar we were at, all was good. After I spoke with the tattoo artist, all was good. At this point, I punched Brett in the stomach jokingly, like 1/10 strength, nothing anyone should care about. He responded by punching me in the face as hard as he could. He then said 'never punch me in the stomach." I responded by looking at him in sheer amazement. I’ve never had anything remotely similar happen to me before. My friend Jordan says Bret has shit like this happen all of the time - and his roommate Kevin has literally knocked him unconscious by slapping him in the face. But here’s the thing, I just looked at him after he hit me - it drew a little blood from my gums, but it was weak as shit - it did no real damage at all. And we left because it was weird as hell - with these tattoo artists around and shit - but I basically unharmed. I felt a little like Israel. So, in your opinion, how hard do I have the right to hit the next time I see hm? Because I want to knock him into the middle of fucking next week. You sound weak bro. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-should-i-be-allowed-to-hit-this-guy/726693/40 "2015-08-01T02:00:57Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > That’s not what happened. You hit him and he hit you back. Now you want to hit him again. What do you think he’ll do next? Like I said, I don’t intend to hit him again (I’d just like to at the moment). As to what will happen next, my guess is very little. Probably my friend JJ or Jordan playing peacemaker, if anything at all. My best bet is him being there when I get the tattoo in two weeks and buying me a beer afterward. And them me buying him a shot. And then words. And then hugs 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-should-i-be-allowed-to-hit-this-guy/726693.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-should-i-be-allowed-to-hit-this-guy/726693.md?page=3)