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
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

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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.