# I guess I still have it
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-i-still-have-it/665291
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [August 4, 2013, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-i-still-have-it/665291 "2013-08-04T02:16:17Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 5
### Author:  [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2013, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-i-still-have-it/665291/81 "2013-08-05T06:14:47Z")
Wow, some interesting replies here, all from people typing from the safety of wherever they are without being threatened and outnumbered. It’s easy for them to be “brave” and to judge **ducati** ’s actions.
Good going, **ducati** , you handled this very well.
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### Author:  [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2013, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-i-still-have-it/665291/82 "2013-08-05T06:24:22Z")
How do you know I’m not threatened or outnumbered where I am? I will have you know that the area I live in has the highest rate of black on black soft drink spilling in the country. Let’s just say, I never sleep with my back to the door.
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### Author:  [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2013, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-i-still-have-it/665291/83 "2013-08-05T06:28:10Z")
Threatened / outnumbered: yeah, that was a little presumptuous of me and I really meant it’s easy to be brave from a keyboard.
Keep facing that door and dodging those soda cups.
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### Author:  [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2013, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-i-still-have-it/665291/84 "2013-08-05T06:37:40Z")
But, echo, I’m confused. Isn’t the OP the tough guy? Isn’t he the one who comes off as brave here? How has any of his critics come off as brave or tough guys? This question is for Chimera too. I am missing something.
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### Author:  [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2013, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-i-still-have-it/665291/85 "2013-08-05T10:42:26Z")
> [@echo7tango](#):
>
> Wow, some interesting replies here, all from people typing from the safety of wherever they are without being threatened and outnumbered. It’s easy for them to be “brave” and to judge **ducati** ’s actions.
Screw that. Anyone who has spent more than five minutes on this board knows that threads like this tend to be a mixture of attaboys and disapproval. And anyone bragging about “still having it” after taking down a kid deserves an eyeroll or two.
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### Author:  [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2013, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-i-still-have-it/665291/86 "2013-08-05T11:03:54Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#):
>
> Right, because as we all know, men are just cannon fodder. They’re there to fight, not eat. I, too, am disappointed that other people…err, I mean just the men…didn’t jump into an altercation that they didn’t start, didn’t ask for, and didn’t want.
This wasn’t WWI trench warfare. If they could be arsed to stop shoveling food in their maw long enough to stand around and record it, they could have lent a hand.
But I understand how these things can be confusing. Nobody knows who started it and which side is right. Best to just stand there and gawk.
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### Author:  [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2013, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-i-still-have-it/665291/87 "2013-08-05T11:15:50Z")
> [@monstro](#):
>
> Screw that. Anyone who has spent more than five minutes on this board knows that threads like this tend to be a mixture of attaboys and disapproval. And anyone bragging about “still having it” after taking down a kid deserves an eyeroll or two.
Yeahbut, you can’t disagree that these kids (can we stop calling them kids, unless they were under 18?.. how about, yutes?)… these yutes needed a not so subtle lesson in humility and how to behave in society.
It’s a little unfortunate that cops had to be called. I wasn’t there. Difficult to judge if that was necessary or not.
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### Author:  [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2013, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-i-still-have-it/665291/88 "2013-08-05T11:44:03Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#):
>
> But, echo, I’m confused. Isn’t the OP the tough guy? Isn’t he the one who comes off as brave here? How has any of his critics come off as brave or tough guys? This question is for Chimera too. I am missing something.
It’s the morally superior judgement thing. “You did something I wouldn’t have and disapprove of, so I’m going to push you down so I can stand over you and look down on you. That way I get to feel superior for half a moment when really, I’m a weak minded fool who wouldn’t dare speak up if someone walked up and stole my coffee out of my hand, because that would be “confrontation” and that would be wrong!”
See also;
> [@Phnord Prephect](#):
>
> and if the OP hadn’t brought any there wouldn’t have been any.
Which is, of course, gross ignorance of the duty and capabilities of Law Enforcement and the expectation that no one has any right to speak up about anything that happens around them. :rolleyes:
Something something evil something something good people doing nothing.
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### Author:  [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2013, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-i-still-have-it/665291/89 "2013-08-05T12:16:05Z")
> [@ducati](#):
>
> … I turned around, looked at Sk8terboi #1 and said “That’s enough. You’re done.” I got a slight nod from S1, a snicker from S2, and nothing from S3, whose back was to me. I nodded back, and assumed that was it. …
Umm dude, if you had “it” this is where your story would end.
CMC fnord!
Who’s “being a bouncer at bachelor parties that went ‘south’” stories all end the same way . . . we walked out.
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### Author:  [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2013, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-i-still-have-it/665291/90 "2013-08-05T12:53:08Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#):
>
> How do you know I’m not threatened or outnumbered where I am? I will have you know that the area I live in has the highest rate of black on black soft drink spilling in the country. Let’s just say, I never sleep with my back to the door.
Do you sleep with a loaded Big Gulp? I would if I lived in your neighborhood.
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### Author:  [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2013, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-i-still-have-it/665291/91 "2013-08-05T13:17:06Z")
Deep down, I heartily applaud applaud the OP’s actions. I think there are a number of young folk (probably always have been) who seem to believe they can act however they want absent any consequences. Well, these schmucks encountered some consequences.
But I also know someone who had to defend themself against assault charges for taking a couple of steps towards someone in a parking lot. No contact was made, but the other guy said they were fearful of their safety, and the cops agreed to write it up. Just saying, in today’s society, you take ANY such actions at your peril. The OP is fortunate that he didn’t end up facing some kind of charges - justified or not - of his own.
Fortunate he didn’t injure the little shit. Could face a civil suit. If he has martial arts or law enforcement training, that might add to his potential exposure. You really took a big risk, **Ducati**. I suggest you might have gotten lucky this time.
Also - I call bullshit on the “reasonableness” of the OP’s initial comment. That was a hardass attempt to assume authority and intimidate. No two ways about it. And I speak as one who has been guilty of saying such things. You might be able to convince yourself that that was a better phrasing than, “Excuse me, would you please keep the profanities down. There are families here.” Followed by involving the manager. But IMO you would be wrong.
Final thought, calling a firm “bullshit” to folk who defend the young people by saying things like, " The OP didn’t like the way they looked or talked." Look however you want, but if you choose to flout minimum standards of common decency in public, limiting others’ ability to enjoy that public space, then I hope there are consequences.
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### Author:  [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2013, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-i-still-have-it/665291/92 "2013-08-05T13:45:03Z")
Hard to know what “it” is in the context of the OP. Fifty years old and still brawling, if only when threatened after you escalated the situation. I gather your sister still wears braces and boots? Someone upthread suggested that you could have asked the staff to handle this, and I agree.
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### Author:  [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2013, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-i-still-have-it/665291/93 "2013-08-05T15:36:17Z")
> [@Spud](#):
>
> I understand you, but I think that just like I’m not authorized to speak for all white people maybe you aren’t authorized to speak for all black people. Do you really think that because you said on this message board it is now ok to call a random black person a nigger?
Right, so now that I believe we’ve established that it’s not a good idea to go around calling black people nigger, a few words. No, it’s not a nice term, and I certainly am not a fan of being called that, but if someone does address me as such, I just think the person’s an asshole and am done with it. I’m not any more upset than I would be if someone called me any other name, and I’m certainly not offended by general use of the word at all, in any context, period. That’s ridiculous. Apparently there’s this notion floating out there (or perhaps this only exists in **Chessie** ’s head) that even if you say nigger in a clinical environment, or discussing something that requires use of the word, black people are going to faint in a rage.
So if a professor says it in a lecture, or a friend uses it in casual conversation, I don’t even bat an eyelash, and I don’t think anyone does. Now if a friend of mine calls me a nigger in earnest, then we’re not friends, and fuck that guy. I think what tends to upset black people when they hear the word nigger is being regarded as a nigger, and not so much because someone spoke the word. If you kind of know this guy, and one day when he think you’re out of earshot you hear him calling people niggers, you’re like “WTF? Dude, I thought you were cool.” Or in situations like **Glazer** ’s example, where people will call you a nigger out of anger. It underlines latent racial tension, and is a reminder that to some smiley white folks, black people are niggers and the minute you mess up, you’ll be reminded of this. Not good times, but yeah, is the word nigger so terribly offensive in itself cannot be uttered at all? Of course not. This isn’t to say you should just walk up to Bob in accounting and go, “Good morning, nigger.” Unwise.
And yes, I acknowledge I’m not the spokesperson for the coloreds, but I’ll go ahead and arrogantly state that I know more about black people than folks who aren’t black. No, black people aren’t a monolith, bla bla bla.
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### Author:  [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2013, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-i-still-have-it/665291/94 "2013-08-05T16:05:26Z")
My original point which I obviously didn’t present well is that cracker does not even register on my radar as an insult. You could just as well have called me a cookie, or a biscuit… it has no meaning to me.
If you call me a fool… I will be slightly insulted. If you call me a jerk… I will be slightly insulted. If you call me an asshole… I’ll try to figure out how you know me. If you call me a cracker… I’ll just laugh.
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### Author:  [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2013, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-i-still-have-it/665291/95 "2013-08-05T17:26:42Z")
> [@TriPolar](#):
>
> I have a lot of problems with the OP’s actions here. First in selecting Steak 'n Shake to eat at…And kids were crying already, who eats at a place like that?
Yeah! Take 'em to the Texas Roadhouse, fer crying out loud.
Or anyplace where I don’t eat.
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### Author:  [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2013, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-i-still-have-it/665291/96 "2013-08-05T18:44:54Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#):
>
> No, it’s not a nice term, and I certainly am not a fan of being called that, but if someone does address me as such, I just think the person’s an asshole and am done with it. I’m not any more upset than I would be if someone called me any other name, and I’m certainly not offended by general use of the word at all, in any context, period. That’s ridiculous.
May I ask a personal question: how old are you?
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### Author:  [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2013, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-i-still-have-it/665291/97 "2013-08-05T19:04:34Z")
1. Why? Do you suppose this is a generational thing?
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### Author:  [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2013, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-i-still-have-it/665291/98 "2013-08-05T21:08:04Z")
> [@Spud](#):
>
> My original point which I obviously didn’t present well is that cracker does not even register on my radar as an insult. You could just as well have called me a cookie, or a biscuit… it has no meaning to me.
>
> If you call me a fool… I will be slightly insulted. If you call me a jerk… I will be slightly insulted. If you call me an asshole… I’ll try to figure out how you know me. If you call me a cracker… I’ll just laugh.
Yeah, same here. I can’t think of a less offensive sounding word than “cracker.” It’s just silly. Even “cupcake” has a sexist connotation that’s worse than “cracker.” It would not occur to me to take offence at such an utterance.
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### Author:  [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2013, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-i-still-have-it/665291/99 "2013-08-05T21:32:05Z")
What about honkey? Is it as humorous as cracker? Because every time I hear honkey, I crack up like a little kid laughing because someone said boobies.
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### Author:  [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2013, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-i-still-have-it/665291/100 "2013-08-05T21:35:08Z")
> [@ducati](#):
>
> There must have been 9 people with Iphones held up and recording!
Awesome! So you can link to a video of it so all these skeptics implying that you’re just making up a pathetic self aggrandizing story will have to eat their hats.
I’m a relatively young man, but in my short experience on this planet I’ve learned that unsolicited tales of fist fights or casual sex tend to be exaggerated.
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