Almost got in a fight; walked away.

[FlexpertHamilton]

Yesterday I was going for a run to the gym after work and some guy was working on his bicycle right on the sidewalk. I dodged around him as his other biker friend was doing wheelies and almost hit me. I grazed his handlebar and he cursed at me. I continued jogging and suddenly about 100 ft later he rammed me with his bike for "hitting his $1000 bike". He didn't hit very hard but I fell to the pavement and scrapped my knee and elbow. He then started riding away before I even had a chance to respond.

Once I grabbed all the **** that fell out of my pockets and looked at my damage I realized I was totally fine. Then I turned back and started walking towards him. He just looked like a young skinny punk and he and his friend were probably around 20 and I wasn't scared of them at all. I asked myself: what is to be gained from fighting him? Why should I care about retards like him? So I turned back once more and finished my jog to the gym.

In retrospect I realize he could have hurt me much worse than he did especially if I fell into traffic. Now it's been eating me up and I'm quite angry which is a rare emotion for me. I think an appropriate reaction would have been to run back to him and knock him to the ground and throw his bike in the street.

Was I wrong for walking away? Or are my emotions just playing tricks on me now? I've never quite experienced a "delayed anger" like this. I'm not a pushover and I've only ever been in one fight in my life (with my sisters BF who knocked my Dad over), I only will fight someone if I feel like I'm in danger or those close to me. That was literally the first time in my life where someone provoked me in any way shape or form, so I was honestly pretty dumbfounded.

 

[Modern Man Advice]

Yesterday I was going for a run to the gym after work and some guy was working on his bicycle right on the sidewalk. I dodged around him as his other biker friend was doing wheelies and almost hit me. I grazed his handlebar and he cursed at me. I continued jogging and suddenly about 100 ft later he rammed me with his bike for "hitting his $1000 bike". He didn't hit very hard but I fell to the pavement and scrapped my knee and elbow. He then started riding away before I even had a chance to respond.

Once I grabbed all the **** that fell out of my pockets and looked at my damage I realized I was totally fine and I honestly just wanted to forget about it and go to the gym before it closed.

At first I started walking towards him about 100ft away, then I turned around and left due to indifference. He just looked like a young punk and he and his friend were probably around 20 and I wasn't scared of him at all. I asked myself: what is to be gained from fighting him? Why should I care about retards like him? Then I walked away and decided I'd let it go.

In retrospect I realize he could have hurt me much worse than he did especially if I fell into traffic. Now it's been eating me up and I'm quite angry which is a rare emotion for me. I think an appropriate reaction would have been to run back to him and knock him to the ground and throw his bike in the street.

Was I wrong for walking away? Or are my emotions just playing tricks on me now? I've never quite experienced a "delayed anger" like this. I'm not a pushover and I've only ever been in one fight in my life (with my sisters BF who knocked my Dad over), normally I only will fight someone if I feel like I'm in danger. That was literally the first time in my life where someone provoked me in any way shape or form, so I was honestly pretty dumbfounded.

It's called maturity/wisdom. Know when to pick your battles. Doesn't sound like this one was worth it, and probably would've caused you a headache more than anything. It takes maturity to recognize that when all the "blood is in your brain".

Good call.

Modern Man Avice

 

[Grounded eagle]

Yesterday I was going for a run to the gym after work and some guy was working on his bicycle right on the sidewalk. I dodged around him as his other biker friend was doing wheelies and almost hit me. I grazed his handlebar and he cursed at me. I continued jogging and suddenly about 100 ft later he rammed me with his bike for "hitting his $1000 bike". He didn't hit very hard but I fell to the pavement and scrapped my knee and elbow. He then started riding away before I even had a chance to respond.

Once I grabbed all the **** that fell out of my pockets and looked at my damage I realized I was totally fine. Then I turned back and started walking towards him. He just looked like a young skinny punk and he and his friend were probably around 20 and I wasn't scared of them at all. I asked myself: what is to be gained from fighting him? Why should I care about retards like him? So I turned back once more and finished my jog to the gym.

In retrospect I realize he could have hurt me much worse than he did especially if I fell into traffic. Now it's been eating me up and I'm quite angry which is a rare emotion for me. I think an appropriate reaction would have been to run back to him and knock him to the ground and throw his bike in the street.

Was I wrong for walking away? Or are my emotions just playing tricks on me now? I've never quite experienced a "delayed anger" like this. I'm not a pushover and I've only ever been in one fight in my life (with my sisters BF who knocked my Dad over), I only will fight someone if I feel like I'm in danger or those close to me. That was literally the first time in my life where someone provoked me in any way shape or form, so I was honestly pretty dumbfounded.

Some will definitely disagree with me,but I’d have definitely done something about it.At the very least talked to him about it, but probably taught him a lesson.If you let people disrespect you,you lose something as a man. I used to walk away from fights a lot too. One day though,some punk who was full of himself was counting on me to do just that. I kicked his ass.And it felt great.

 

[Pierce Manhammer]

Good job man, violence is only rarely the correct response. I’ve had situations where some dude watched me and my gf at the time standing at the bar together, completely into one another, for me then to go to the bathroom and the bastard is macking on her when I get back.

A sign of massive disrespect and my gf was clearly uncomfortable with it. I definitely wanted to swing but just said excuse me, inserted myself between them and started talking to her.

If you choose peace over conflict you always win. When the drunk he insisted on ordering her showed up I took it and drank it and motioned “cheers” to him. It could easily have been a fight.

 

[FlexpertHamilton]

Some will definitely disagree with me,but I’d have definitely done something about it.At the very least talked to him about it, but probably taught him a lesson.If you let people disrespect you,you lose something as a man. I used to walk away from fights a lot too. One day though,some punk who was full of himself was counting on me to do just that. I kicked his ass.And it felt great.

Yes that's how I feel, can't quite explain it. Talking to him would have been as equally pointless as fighting him, it's like arguing with a flat earther. I had just finished work and the last thing I wanted to do was waste my time with someone like that. All that said, it's not about pride or ego but maintaining your self respect.

Now I'm on edge and feel ready to fight anyone who looks at me funny. Not a good feeling.

 

[Chuck Taylor]

You did the right thing. You never know if somebody's packing. Swallow your pride and let sh*t like this slide.

 

[FlexpertHamilton]

Good job man, violence is only rarely the correct response. I’ve had situations where some dude watched me and my gf at the time standing at the bar together, completely into one another, for me then to go to the bathroom and the bastard is macking on her when I get back.

A sign of massive disrespect and my gf was clearly uncomfortable with it. I definitely wanted to swing but just said excuse me, inserted myself between them and started talking to her.

If you choose peace over conflict you always win. When the drunk he insisted on ordering her showed up I took it and drank it and motioned “cheers” to him. It could easily have been a fight.

I had something similar happen on a date, he took my seat at the bar while I was gone for 30 sec and started talking to my date. I just firmly said "I was sitting here man" and he left. Nothing else needed.

 

[EyeBRollin]

Fighting is not worth it in 2022. Too much to lose. People are over stressed, crazy, and packing weapons. You lose all fights. You can kick his ass today but either him, some goons, or the law will retaliate tomorrow.

The only time to ever fight is self-defense. Even then, seriously consider if escape is an option.

 

[Black Widow Void]

I will not make any new friends with my opinion, but here it is.

When people as you described behave in such a manner… it’s likely because they’ve not faced previous consequences for their actions.

I also apply this same theory to women. If previous men make concessions for their behavior, then we’re likely going to be subjected to less than favorable behavior when it’s our turn.

In most situations, we have a choice; we can be part of the problem or part of the solution.

 

[EyeBRollin]

In most situations, we have a choice; we can be part of the problem or part of the solution.

Is it worth losing your life over?

 

[Bible_Belt]

Too many cameras these days, you never know when you're being filmed.

 

[jimwho]

Yesterday I was going for a run to the gym after work and some guy was working on his bicycle right on the sidewalk. I dodged around him as his other biker friend was doing wheelies and almost hit me. I grazed his handlebar and he cursed at me. I continued jogging and suddenly about 100 ft later he rammed me with his bike for "hitting his $1000 bike".

You're a runner clearly not a bicyclist. I'm reading between the lines and sense disdain for someone on the sidewalk and on a bike. I dabbled in cross country running and in two strides I can easily be 10' feet around and away from anything. You on the other hand dodged one guy, and a guy doing wheelies you stayed close enough to "graze" his handlebar while wheeling and then just kept on going. Didn't you have plenty of time to size up a go around since you were running and seen them coming? instead of saying oops sorry man and wish I could wheelie like that (you know, to just be cool).

I've been a skater, skateboarder, shooter, mtn biker, offloaded, out-of-bounds skier, and everyone hates us and it's always someone on the same trail doing a different sport. Are you honestly sure you didn't give them the hate vibe?
Would like to hear their side of the interaction. I'm in trouble now, my Chrystal ball says blocked.

 

[FlexpertHamilton]

I will not make any new friends with my opinion, but here it is.

When people as you described behave in such a manner… it’s likely because they’ve not faced previous consequences for their actions.

I also apply this same theory to women. If previous men make concessions for their behavior, then we’re likely going to be subjected to less than favorable behavior when it’s our turn.

In most situations, we have a choice; we can be part of the problem or part of the solution.

I don't really know what you're implying, can you elaborate?

Too many cameras these days, you never know when you're being filmed.

It was right in front of a big hotel and there's tons of traffic and people around.

You're a runner clearly not a bicyclist. I'm reading between the lines and sense disdain for someone on the sidewalk and on a bike. I dabbled in cross country running and in two strides I can easily be 10' feet around and away from anything. You on the other hand dodged one guy, and a guy doing wheelies you stayed close enough to "graze" his handlebar while wheeling and then just kept on going. Didn't you have plenty of time to size up a go around since you were running and seen them coming? instead of saying oops sorry man and wish I could wheelie like that (you know, to just be cool).

I've been a skater, skateboarder, shooter, mtn biker, offloaded, out-of-bounds skier, and everyone hates us and it's always someone on the same trail doing a different sport. Are you honestly sure you didn't give them the hate vibe?
Would like to hear their side of the interaction. I'm in trouble now, my Chrystal ball says blocked.

He was right in the middle of the sidewalk next to a concrete circular bench while his friend was doing wheelies in the only gap I could have gone. My only other option would've been to run around the giant concrete bench or run into a highly trafficked road. So yes I have disdain for people who block sidewalks unnecessarily, he could have moved his bike 5 feet to be in front of the bench.

 

[FlexpertHamilton]

Too many cameras these days, you never know when you're being filmed.

It was right in front of a big hotel and there's tons of traffic and people around.

 

[jimwho]

So yes I have disdain for people who block sidewalks unnecessarily, he could have moved his bike 5 feet to be in front of the bench.

What about Grandma carrying her groceries? How about a Mommy teaching her kid how to ride a bike? You could have took a breather from the all important run to the gym and walked for ten yards. said hello and continued on with your great day. The guy retaliated from a selfishly snooty bicycle Berny.

 

[FlexpertHamilton]

What about Grandma carrying her groceries? How about a Mommy teaching her kid how to ride a bike? You could have took a breather from the all important run to the gym and walked for ten yards. said hello and continued on with your great day. The guy retaliated from a selfishly snooty bicycle Berny.

It's not a sidewalk on a surburb it's a busy, urban, area with a steep curb to the road, so to answer your question I have never seen what you described in 1.5 years of running that path.

I was in a hurry; not going to waste my time and be courteous to someone who has no consideration for others.

 

[Rainman4707]

I like modern mans repsonse

I think of this scenario a lot. My fear is that if i punch somebody, i could possibly injure them very badly.

If you did attack them, you could end up sharing a cell with a very fat man who snores loudly and stinks for the rest of your life. After missing your 7th christmas dinner...sitting across from the other prisoners, you will be thinking...was it really worth it??

I do worry that my street cred will go down if people hear that im easy pickings, but that fear shades in comparison to the former.