You and I are at a party or bar. We start talking and get in an argument that gets heated quickly. You see that I’m 5’6", 130 lbs, and have some toned muscle, slightly built up, in my chest and arms. You also know from our conversation that I’m a soldier. Do you fight with me?
Assume you’re in your twenties and male. I want to know how much my being a soldier compensates for my small but healthy build in the perceptions of others. Do you think of soldiers has highly capable brawlers? If so, why? Because you think I can punch harder, or my technique is strong, or I have the willpower, or what?
Basically, how does knowledge of my service change your evaluation of my kickassery?
Unless they’re specially trained, military personel aren’t any better at brawling than anybody else. Nothing about joining the military makes you magically able to fight. At most, it might put you in decent physical condition, but Basic Training is not a Shaolin Temple.
[Shrek]Do ya think he’s “compensating” for something?[/Shrek]
As for the OP, I don’t think I could be provoked by anyone strongly enough to get into a fight in a bar or or at a party. IOW, I’m not a fucking idiot. In other circumstances where I were insanely provoked, like my family is being threatened, then I don’t care if you’re Chuck Norris.
First, I would try to contact your squad leader. Failing that, I would advise you that the UCMJ still applies, failing that, I may not kick your ass, but I would make you regret the experience.
Seconded. Even in my 20’s I had 40 pounds and six inches of height on you, plus martial arts training and growing up drinking with cowboys and oilfield trash.
If you are pissed enough to get into a fight with someone their career choice hardly ever comes into account. The fact that you are a soldier would certainly have an effect in determining who wins the fight, but i seriously doubt it would matter much in deciding wether theres a fight or not.
I don’t get into bar fights anymore. If you tried to start something with me I’d excuse myself and walk away. I’d do that with the biggest Marine or the smallest pencil-necked idiot hopped up on liquid courage. Now, if you followed me, it wouldn’t matter how big you are or what sort of fighting training you may have had, I’m not going to lose.
So no, I have no regard for soldiers’ abilities to fight. No matter what happens it makes no difference.
The son of a neighbour of my parents is a Royal Marine and about your size and shape. A few months ago he and another Royal Marine who was just back from the Middle East went to a local pub for a quiet pint. Another patron told them that somehow they had drawn the ire of a group of yobs in another corner of the pub and that the two of them would be attacked when they left. When the two of them left, the yobs were waiting for them. Big mistake: the two RMs switched into combat mode and sent the pack of them running: “I’m a Royal Marine, I’m just back from ****, and I’m going to rip your throats out.” (I imagine the language was rather more colourful). And then they just walked home.
If you could get me angry enough to fight you, I probably wouldn’t care if you had special forces training. I’m not really afraid of an asskicking, so the threat of your training or willpower or whatever wouldn’t bother me to much.
Just sitting here reading the thread, in my right mind, I would say that you can probably kick my ass, even though I’m a lot bigger and stronger than you. I’m not a brawler at all.
When I was in my 20’s, I was in great shape and did martial arts training. I would have welcomed the chance to “work out” with a soldier. I was stupidly fearless back then.
Leaving aside the fact that I would never have a fight in a bar and answering the OP - Size, background doesn’t really come into it if the decision has been made to get into a fight - a bit like Airman doors says. If the situation is grave enough to call for the hands and feet, then there is no room for second guesses like ‘He looks big, or mean, or skilled etc.’
For those with a more ‘recreational’ attitude to fighting - The fact that you’re petite could give people a lot more to think about than the fact you’re a military man. If such a small guy is acting aggressive and looking for a fight a lot of guys might think ’ this chap must have some skills to be asking for a fight with me - maybe I’ll refrain from snapping him in half’. At 5’6’’, 130 and thinking about bar-fighting, you’d better have some skills…
FTR, I’m not actually interested in fighting anyone over anything. My house was being burgled by my roommate’s disgruntled ex boyfriend and he seemed to back away when I showed up. I’m wondering if it’s because he knows I’ve been in the Army or something. Probably he’s just a…ahem, wimp…to begin with.
At my lightest I have 3-4 inches and 50 lbs on you. No, I wouldn’t hesitate to kick your ass if you started something just because you were/are in the military. I wouldn’t start something in the first place either though.
Even at my lightest and most in shape, I’ve got 8 inches and 45 pounds on you. I wouldn’t ever start something with you, but if you were looking for a fight I’d care way more about the size factor than the military training factor. I know quite a few guys from the armed forces who I could destroy in a fight if the situation came to it, so I know there is no magic involved in being a military man.
I’ve fought three different marines, a ranger, and someone that claimed (and likely was) ‘a frog’. I’ve fought a shrimper that was likely carved out of stone, and was sincerely looking to end my life, 5 douche bags in polo shirts at the local fair, a couple handfuls of bullies that went soft once the hitting started, and a close friend that was so hopped up on drugs that he likely would have laughed off a direct tazer encounter. I also fought two drunken, but good natured Los Pepes.
I won’t go into which fights I won or lost, except to say that I was never concerned with fighting any of them, except for the one who taught me the most basic lesson in fighting:
