# Would you fight a soldier? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 7, 2008, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-a-soldier/455516 "2008-07-07T03:42:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-a-soldier/455516/1 "2008-07-07T03:42:58Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-a-soldier/455516/2 "2008-07-07T03:45:45Z")
[QUOTE=IntelSoldier] Basically, how does knowledge of my service change your evaluation of my kickassery? [/QUOTE] Not much, unless you’re carrying a carbine over your shoulder. ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-a-soldier/455516/3 "2008-07-07T03:48:28Z")
I’d do what I always do - count visible scars and check if you have any army-buddies close. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-a-soldier/455516/4 "2008-07-07T04:08:17Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-a-soldier/455516/5 "2008-07-07T04:12:30Z")
[QUOTE=IntelSoldier] I want to know how much my being a soldier **compensates** for my small but healthy build in the perceptions of others. [/QUOTE] [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. ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-a-soldier/455516/6 "2008-07-07T04:23:46Z")
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. SSG Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![whistlepig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/73ab20/32.png) [@whistlepig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whistlepig)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-a-soldier/455516/7 "2008-07-07T04:27:31Z")
[QUOTE=Frank] Not much, unless you’re carrying a carbine over your shoulder. [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-a-soldier/455516/8 "2008-07-07T04:29:01Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-a-soldier/455516/9 "2008-07-07T04:48:50Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-a-soldier/455516/10 "2008-07-07T04:50:08Z")
I’d get you a stool so you could see over the bar, and then we wouldn’t have to fight anymore. Okay, seriously now - I wouldn’t want to fight you. I’d be worried that the _rest_ of you might show up at any minute. I keed, I keed! I wouldn’t fight a soldier in a bar. I wouldn’t fight anyone in a bar - got drinking to do, dammit. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-a-soldier/455516/11 "2008-07-07T07:50:44Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-a-soldier/455516/12 "2008-07-07T07:55:40Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-a-soldier/455516/13 "2008-07-07T10:22:31Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-a-soldier/455516/14 "2008-07-07T10:55:24Z")
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… ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-a-soldier/455516/15 "2008-07-07T11:24:17Z")
[QUOTE=Airman Doors, USAF] 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.** [/QUOTE] These sort of online statements always impress me. Any chance of explaining why you are so certain? If you are implying you have a firearm and a willingness to use it, this isn’t exactly a “fight” is it? From my own experience, fight outcomes tend to follow the saying, “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog!” ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-a-soldier/455516/16 "2008-07-07T11:39:51Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Madd\_Maxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Madd\_Maxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madd_Maxx)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-a-soldier/455516/17 "2008-07-07T13:11:50Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![wasson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/4da419/32.png) [@wasson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wasson)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-a-soldier/455516/18 "2008-07-07T13:28:47Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-a-soldier/455516/19 "2008-07-07T13:54:17Z")
Does anyone know how to knock together an online Arm Wrestling sim? I’m sure it would go down quite well in here! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Euthanasiast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Euthanasiast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euthanasiast)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-a-soldier/455516/20 "2008-07-07T14:09:43Z")
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: Fear the one who is _afraid_ of you. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-a-soldier/455516.md?page=2)