Is it cowardly to walk away?

[WarpKnight]

No, it's cowardly to bash up some random guy on the street with your 4 friends or whatever. The lone guy has no chance of winning.

What if I had my 4 buddies there, would they be so eager to start a fight? Probably not.

[Vargas]

It depends.

Being an adult (28 this Friday), if they are under 18 or even if I THINK they are I won't touch them. Last thing I need is some idiot parent trying to sue me because they failed as a parent and raised a jackass who can't take a punch they sorely deserved. Or if they're adults and look too much a match for me, or could do me serious harm I'd keep walking. Having pride and self respect is all fine, but I'm not risking a hospital bill over it.

Then again if I am in a foul mood and someone decides they want a piece of me, I'll happily play whack-a-mole with their face. Some days patience just frays a lot, lot quicker than others. I'm not a violence-prone person, and usually when some idiot zeroes in on me I just ignore them. I only snapped once, back in high school when some kid spat at me and I surprised the hell out of him by tossing his ass down some stairs.

[Palmatum]

And why isn't there a "Walk away, go home and get a baseball bat and go back to put them all in intensive care." option?

[King Shark]

And why isn't there a "Walk away, go home and get a baseball bat and go back to put them all in intensive care." option?

Because that's usually the one that gets you put in a cell with a 300 pound man that everyone calls Pooh-Bear.

[Deleted]

It's not cowardly to walk away by any means. That said, it requires a bit more of an analysis on the situation as to whether I'd fight them or not. I do a lot of endurance running so I'd probably sucker one and then sprint off just because I can, a lot of chavs around here and I have had fights with 2/3 before and even though I don't exactly lose, it's not enough of a win that I'd take my chances with 4 or 5.

[Adam Jensen]

my dads friend is a builder.

He's 6ft 7 and built like a brick shit house - you wouldn't mess with him. The one bit of advice he gave me that has always stuck with me:

'it takes a big man to walk away - it takes a bigger man to not look back.'

Reminds me of what Gandalf said to Bilbo:

Bilbo Baggins: I have... I have never used a sword in my life.
Gandalf: And I hope you never have to. But if you do, remember this: true courage is about knowing not when to take a life, but when to spare one.

[vindicatorx]

Is it cowardly? No. Would I walk away? Might try but I'm not running if they then continue I will beat the shit out of as many of them as I can before I go down.

[Adam Jensen]

It's cowardice.
But it may save your life

Not sure how people do not think its cowardice ?
It definetly is. Is it the right thing to do ? Probably.

It's not cowardice. Cowardice is not facing danger when there's a great need to stand up and fight. The situation described by the OP is not such a situation.

Fighting five aggressors head in is, if you are not Adam Jensen, Batman or Conan, recklessness, not bravery.

[Deleted]

Either I'm having a massive deja vu or Ive seen this thread at least twice before..

I dont really see why guys (and even some girls) worry about being "cowardly"? What does it mean anyway? Not doing stupid stuff and taking unnecessary risks? Walking away seems too obvious.. or maybe calling the police if they harass you..

[DeltrusDisc]

Why would anyone step down to the degenerates level?

I agree, not only am I not a fighter, I'm not because I don't like it. PEACE AND LOVE FRANDS. <3

[Chunkyman]

I love all the tough guys in this thread, it's always fun to read. Even if you're an experienced fighter or some lean beast, you're going to struggle with a gang of people unless they're in wheelchairs. Saying "oh yeah, I'd beat the crap out of all of them because I'm a 10 foot bodybuilder with a history in martial arts and pakistani torturing" isn't fooling anyone.

[Deleted]

I would walk away. Not because I am afraid but because fighting them wont do any good for anyone. But then there is certain times when you cant back down. Learn to pick your fights.

[VanillaO]

Go America all over everybody's ass.

[Palmatum]

Because that's usually the one that gets you put in a cell with a 300 pound man that everyone calls Pooh-Bear.

Still an option though.

I would.

[Bathory]

Yeah you think you can do B, but there's a big difference between thinking and doing. This isn't a movie.

5 on 1 isn't a fight, it's the reason they are waiting for to hurt someone so yes, I would walk away. If I was FORCED into the 5 vs 1, you're damn sure I'm not fighting "fair". Twenty limbs against my 4 and I'm supposed to take the "high" road. No thanks.

[ewhenn]

Well, considering I live in a country that allows you to carry a firearm, and I exercise that right, I'd let them make further aggressive actions while continuing to walk away, if they didn't stop, at that point I've fulfilled my legal obligation to attempt to avoid conflict, and by them pursuing me and assaulting me (spitting on someone is considered assault) I'm legally allowed to defend myself.

I'd blast as many of them as I could before they started to retreat, at which point I'm legally obligated to stop shooting at them.

[yurano]

I love all the tough guys in this thread, it's always fun to read. Even if you're an experienced fighter or some lean beast, you're going to struggle with a gang of people unless they're in wheelchairs. Saying "oh yeah, I'd beat the crap out of all of them because I'm a 10 foot bodybuilder with a history in martial arts and pakistani torturing" isn't fooling anyone.

There are some pretty debilitating one shot moves that anyone can perform. It all depends on how dirty you fight.

You disable them and start running.

[Truewiley]

It is only cowardly if you should fight and don't. Walking away from a meaningless fight with nothing at stake is prudent

[Bathory]

There are some pretty debilitating one shot moves that anyone can perform. It all depends on how dirty you fight.

You disable them and start running.

Yeah and how many of the mmo community can pull them off, let alone take a punch.

[endersblade]

Well, in my personal situation, I feel infinitely sorry for any group of 'thug' kids who think they want to start a fight with me lol...I have a lot of pent-up anger, frustration, and just a little psychosis, woe be unto the person who unleashes it.