I’ve hit people but only for professional reasons.
When does my adult life begin?
I bounced through university and for about a year afterward. Threw a number of punches, took a lot more. Got arrested once when I put someone in hospital, but the cops let me go without charges because the security cameras backed up that it was self-defence against a guy who’d smacked my partner with a Malibu bottle.
I’ve been in a few bar fights - I’m the sort of size and shape that someone who’s drunk wants to take on because I’m large enough to look impressive and fat enough to look soft. I once got beaten by about half of the St George Dragons’ first grade team - the only time I threw the first punch.
I also did about nine months of boxing training, mostly because I felt I needed to learn how to take a punch, and had a couple of amateur fights under assumed names because someone didn’t show up and the promoter - my coach - needed a superheavyweight to stand in throwing half-strength punches for three rounds so that he didn’t have to cancel a fight on the undercard.
Oh, and a couple of on-field punch-ups while I was playing football.
Nothing in about ten years, though.
Thank you for reminding me that not all films are entirely factual. I was growing concerned that a third death star might be built.
Your point however is pretty much what I said in the OP. Punches happen in real life, their frequency is probably exaggerated in films and the repercussions probably played down.
I’ve never done it. I actually don’t think I’ve ever thrown a punch in anger in my life. I’ve also never been punched myself. I’ve had three or four times in the last 10-15 years where I was ready to get into it, but the situation defused itself. I really don’t have a problem with physical altercations, but it’s so easy for something to go horribly wrong. One of my good friend’s brothers was killed that way–a bar fight where he fell funny after taking a punch and died. The person responsible was never apprehended. Best to avoid these sorts of situations, IMHO.
Only time I came close was when I back-armed (hard) a guy that thought it’d be funny to dry hump me from behind. (A “friend” of my husband, no less)
Nope. When I was a hs freshman (14/15 years old), we sax players used to punch each other on the arms during band practice. Anti-hazing rules the next year (and a new band director) put the kibosh on physical “violence,” and I’ve never punched/been punched since.
My husband helps no one when they’re sick. Can’t handle it. I’m pretty sure I had pneumonia; it felt like I was breathing thru a pillow. I was too hard-headed to go to the doctor so I stayed in bed and the kids were bringing me ice water. He came in the second or third evening (he’d been sleeping on the couch) and said “you’re okay, right?” I hauled off and socked him right in the jaw.
I’d do it again, too. And no, the dick didn’t fight back. 
aruvqan I have a feeling you have some memories I’d love to hear. 
Nope, no punching here.
Came close twice but no.
One was an ex-boss that disrespected my dead daughter.
One was waiting to see if my friend’s girlfriend’s ex (just parse it out) was going to throw the first punch in a bar.
I’ve been punched as an adult but it was an accident.
We were having dinner before a movie with friends and the everyone was a little bouncy for some reason that I cannot remember. A friend and I were swordfighting with the plastic swords out of our drinks when he somehow got past my guard and punched me in the jaw. It has become legend because I’d had a root canal that day and the freezing was just wearing off so what was probably a light tap hurt like hell.
Other than that I recall no punching incidents after I turned 18.
Punched a mugger in the side of the face and neck about three years ago; if he was going to get my money, he had to earn it.
Punched out a drunk at a party about a year ago; I was sat quietly in a chair, and suddenly this lout leaps on top of me telling me how much he loves me. Had to punch him to get him off me.
Female, 46.
About 20-25 years ago I worked in the credit department of a regional department store chain. I worked with a guy that kept needling me. It would be considered sexual harassment now, but things were different then. I told him to stop several times, but he kept on and on. Our supervisor could see what was happening, but she didn’t do anything about it. Finally I just lost it. I flew off my chair and was on top of him, dragging him to the floor. Then I was punching him. I’m a small woman, who at that time weighed about 105 lbs and was a little over 5’ tall. He was an average sized man. He didn’t get up until they pulled me off him, and was out for three days (whether from pain or embarrassment I couldn’t say). I wasn’t reprimanded, although he didn’t last much longer in the job.
I have a long fuse, but when I blow, I really lose it. It happens very rarely, which is good.
StG
Nope. Frankly, I find “not punching” someone to be part of the job description of an adult.
No, but I kind of provoked a stranger into punching me by acting like (well, being) a drunken idiot (shouting “hilarious jokes” at people in the street). Also I may not have been an adult then, I could have been anywhere between 17 and 19 although I think I would have technically been an adult.
That rather silly fight was the last time I can remember punching someone off the top of my head too (after he had hit me a few times) but it might have happened since. I’m not sure.
Sometimes there isn’t a reasonable alternative. Both of **Ms Bonds’**s examples strike me as entirely justified punches.
OK, what would you have done in my situation? I would have preferred that this guy had taken me at my word, and set me down. However, I’d seen him do the same or similar things with other women, and he almost never set them down until they were in tears. If I’m in a situation like that, where someone is going to cry…I prefer that the other person do the crying.
I have punched after being punched, kicked, and hit with an object, but I haven’t initiated the physical contact as an adult. Wanted to a bunch of times.
Once as an adult. I was out with three other friends celebrating the new year. Two guys came up to us, one of them wanting a smoke. As they walked away the one who wanted a smoke played the usual trick round here of claiming to have heard us saying something about him and came back demanding to know what was said. One of my friends said something to him and the guy started trying to hit my friend, who parried the punches but didn’t fight back. Suddenly I thought “there’s four of us, two of them, fuck this” and hit the guy in the face. He was so shocked and indignant.
Fair enough. As a male I haven’t been threatened in either of these fashions.