Retaliatory Violence Debate

Commenters debate the justification, proportionality, and legality of responding to verbal insults, scams, annoyances, or non-physical provocations with physical violence like punching. Analogies to assault scenarios highlight tensions between enduring harm and escalating to force.

📉 Falling 0.4x Politics & Society
3,805
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#335
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Keywords

SF IRL SBF assault punching face punch physical touching leave violence tony courage

Sample Comments

TX0098812 • Jul 18, 2021 • View on HN

Other people may do bad things, let's... beat them to it?

lauradhamilton • Jan 24, 2014 • View on HN

You can't just go around slapping people.

totalZero • Apr 22, 2021 • View on HN

I understood that. Just tried to phrase it nicely.The fact that someone is willing to punch you in the face doesn't make them more correct than if they were unwilling to do so.

A_Parr • Jan 16, 2020 • View on HN

You can say that about punching people in the face, too.

anoncowherd • Dec 17, 2013 • View on HN

I get the sentiment, but don't you think punching someone in the face is a bit too much?

yanderekko • Dec 14, 2022 • View on HN

What does this have to do with what I said? If someone had punched Elon on the street and I had said "hey maybe that's not cool", would you be posting this same reply? Must bad, therefore the gloves are off?

dwaltrip • Jan 31, 2025 • View on HN

I’m not sure I’m understanding.You’re saying it’s fine if someone punches you in the face?

TallGuyShort • Mar 15, 2018 • View on HN

Doesn't remotely make it okay to hit people or change what I said.

EVa5I7bHFq9mnYK • May 16, 2022 • View on HN

It's obvious. IRL, you could be beaten up.

Pica_soO • Dec 2, 2016 • View on HN

Only if C stops bashing us first- it started it.