under what circumstances, is it socially and/or morally acceptable to fight?

Question

to defend yourself? if someone verbally threatens you? if someone insults your mother? if you're drunk? or something else?

lolol
oh no, i think some people may have gotten the impression that I want to fight - I was just asking a sort of psychology question :D

trying to figure out if people think it's okay to fight for love, or their country, or their God, or something else.

you're right! i should've put it in the an ethics category. sorry, my question wasn't clear enough - to be specific, i meant physically fighting.

thanks for all the answers!

Answer 1

It is only socially and morally acceptable to fight back to defend yourself or someone from harm. There is no excuse to hit anyone first whatever reason it may be.

Words are just words. If you resort to violence when you cannot defend yourself through words then you're just plain immature. The greater your fighting skills the less you will desire or resort to violence as you may kill them in the process (internationally or accidentally).

As they say, great power comes with even greater responsibility.

And if ever it comes down to a fight, then fight for keeps and with everything you got.

Answer 2

In most instances, its better to rise above it and walk away. But there does come a time when your heart might not be in the same place that it was before and possibly there may be special circumstances looming up. Such as while this person is verbally threatening you, and he is lunging at you while he is threatening you. Or just making too many spontaneous movements. That would put the ball into my court to OK self defence. But this all has to happen in a matter of seconds. The best thing to do is do your best to avoid a fight. (Besides, nobody fights fare anymore anyway.) Get out of there. Now if they wont let you leave, then its time to get ready for the offence. When they start preventing you to leave, they are taking control of your life. You cant let them have that. This works pretty good when its one on one. But if you are surrounded, pull out the cell phone and call the cops. There is no law that says that you have to fight like John Wayne every time there is trouble. Call the cops even if there is just one person who wants to fight or is threatening you. Its against the law and you shouldn't have to fight if you dont want to.

Answer 3

I think it is morally acceptable to fight when a way of life, one's livelihood or life itself is threatened. Everything else is just words and actions. But when what is most important to us, our life and our ability to live and choose freely is threatened, do not take this lying down. If you can defend, then defend. Remember, defending is not so much fighting as it is protecting. You are actually speaking of two things here. The first, as just mentioned, is defending, or protecting and upholding what is important on one's own strength. The second is fighting, which is retaliating for an attack against one's self or others, and the only alternative is a physical (or verbal, etc.) revolt to stave off any further damage. Your question is a good one and we must always think of our actions in these two ways.

Answer 4

if your offender has engaged you in the fight. (or at least thats what the cops will tell you). They're right though. If you start the fight you're already losing energy and you want to preserve as much as you can so you can win the fight. Focus is key too. If you're just letting ur rage guide you, u are bound to not see things clearly. Outsmart the person that way. Ive seen a lot of ppl win over stronger attackers not only b/c of their technique but b/c they kept their head together.

EDIT: oh lol well of course if it's something they believe in. However if the cause isnt "just or acceptible" they still have that right. It just depends if they're willing to see reality for what it truly is.

Answer 5

this is a good ethics question!! maybe you should ask it in the philosophy category!

in my opinion, and i am no ethics master, I would say reacting physically is almost never acceptable unless your life is being threatened. i wouldnt initiate a physical confrontation unless absolutely necessary or if i thought the person would physically attack me. If someone verbally threatened me, i wouldnt...

it is hard to answer because people think of "fight" differently: ie, do u mean "to argue" or do u mean to fight phsyically?? when you say "defend yourself" do you mean defend yourself using words or using fists??
maybe you should be more specific, it is kind of vague.

Answer 6

Words are just that, words. Laugh it off, realize that the other is so uncomfortable with themselves or their decisions in life that they must mock the person they would like to be.

That being said, if they lay a hand on you (unwanted touching) you can call them out on assault and actually get the police involved or physically defend yourself.

Answer 7

The only fighting that is generally deemed socially and morally acceptable I think is a declared war by your country on another country.
Self defense would be another.
In answer to an insult to yourself or another is NOT generally accepted, but definitely accepted by most uneducated, lower class cultures.

Answer 8

I have never started a fight, but I have finished a lot of them!

Answer 9

If someone hits you first.
But if it is at all possible, be the bigger person and just walk away.
Try not to let anyone drag you down to their level.

Answer 10

"Violence is the last resort of the ignorant", said Mahatma Gandhi.
However, I have my shotgun ready if somebody breaks into my house. 'Nuf said?