NationStates Jolt Archive

Could you claim self defense in a verbal "fight?"

Depends on the offensive words.

Do you mean attacking someone who verbally threatened you, and then claiming self defense?

Simply walk away, often its not worth it.

I think you could claim self defense in verbal form if someone came up and started telling you off and such. Though I can see it becomeing a two way fight too, in which case both are guilty of "verbal assaulting the other" It takes two (or more) to fight, one to start it, but one to continue it.

Though I don't think it could be claimed as self defense if it was a posted site or some said such, cause then you could just ignore it, by responding you are making an action in responce but still making an action.

Simply walk away, often its not worth it.
Yeah, most if not all fights aren't worth it.

So like if you reduce someone to blubbering foetal mass just through your dealy insults and then claim that it's not your fault because they started it... Hmm... I dunno... but I like your way of thinking.

OE did you flame someone?

Sure you could. I got in trouble for swearing at a kid once, and I told the princaple he started cussing me out and threating me first. I said that if he expected me to sit there and take it, he was wrong, I got to leave, and the kid got detention.

Yeah, most if not all fights aren't worth it.

Actually, alot of fights are worth something. We're not in Iraq now for nothing...


And every war fought throughout history wasn't because two countries were bored.

Legaly you are not allowed to kill unless put into mortal danger. Words are NEVER enough to kill someone alone no matter what. They could say I am going to kill you and your family and you are not allowed to kill them.

Assault is a differnt story though and if they have a weapon or there are more then one the story is differnt. I am not sure the exact laws on those but if someone threatens you you are allowed to hit them.

If someone threatens you and you believe they have the capacity to carry through with the threat or feel threatened, you may act in self defense

Marabal
Actually, alot of fights are worth something. We're not in Iraq now for nothing...
Of all the wars fought in living memory, I doubt you could have picked one less appropriate to make your point.

Actually, alot of fights are worth something. We're not in Iraq now for nothing...


And every war fought throughout history wasn't because two countries were bored.


What the hell are you talking about?

America got so bored at one point that they split a line down there country, gave one side blue uniforms and the other red ones, and then fought itself. How is this not getting really bored?

What the hell are you talking about?

America got so bored at one point that they split a line down there country, gave one side blue uniforms and the other red ones, and then fought itself. How is this not getting really bored?

Yes, and as we all know, America is the only nation to fight a civil war.

Could you claim self defense in a verbal "fight?"

No.

But, assuming that it is not a "fight" but you reasonably believed under the totality of the circumstances that the other person was threatening to do imminent, serious bodily injury to you, you could use deadly force to protect yourself in Texas.

For example, a stranger with gun/knife/ approaches you while you're fixin' to get into your car in a mall parking lot:"Give me your money or else!" Under ordinary circumstances, you could use deadly force.

If he had a knife and yelled at you from 50 yards away, you'd have to let him get really close before you blew him away.

Now, if that person was a 6 year old with a purple plastic squirt gun, he's off limits.

Could you claim self defense in a verbal "fight?"

You could but whether it would work as a legal defense or not is another story.

OE did you flame someone?

No, but I had fun trying to make a point by being totally irrational for a while... it didn't work.

The real reason I asked this question was that I was thinking about the fact that words can have a lot of power. There was a thread about some "bitch" who was basically really obnoxious to the poster for no reason, and I was wondering if that person could have totally lost it at the "bitch" without hitting anything or anything like that, and gotten off with the school authorities (I'm pretty sure it happened at a school) by claiming that it was self defense and that he was acting to protect his psychological stability, and that, if anything, his yelling prevented violence rather than embodying it. Plus I think it'd be hilarious to claim self defense in that situation because it'd basically be the same as saying "he started it" with more "mature" words and having it acceptable to arbitors who think themselves more enlightened, when really they're basically just the biggest kids in the sandbox.

What are you talking about? I'm an American. I'm entitled to preemptive verbal self-defense.

Bitches.

Yes, and as we all know, America is the only nation to fight a civil war.
Obviously. Dear God, the sarcasm meter is off the charts!

What are you talking about? I'm an American. I'm entitled to preemptive verbal self-defense.

Bitches.

For every swear you spout forth, I will kill you

Could you claim self defense in a verbal "fight?"

In the US, no. You can claim that someone "incited" you to fight them, using "fighting words". But that doesn't eliminate guilt. It usually is used to mitigate the nature of the offense.

For every swear you spout forth, I will kill you

See, I was just defending myself against foes like Longton, who seeks to destroy me and everything I hold dear. Such as preemptively calling a bunch of strangers bitches.

Thanks for validating my self-defense, bitches.

What the hell are you talking about?

America got so bored at one point that they split a line down there country, gave one side blue uniforms and the other red ones, and then fought itself. How is this not getting really bored?
Looky here, we got ourselves a history buff!

Why would you ever need to claim verbal self defence?
But, going along with it... if you claim that you acted out of fear for your psychological health, it means at that time you were able to recognize the attacks as a threat, thus negating their effectiveness.

See, I was just defending myself against foes like Longton, who seeks to destroy me and everything I hold dear. Such as preemptively calling a bunch of strangers bitches.

Thanks for validating my self-defense, bitches.
*stabs You Forgot Poland in the face*

Ha, pre-emptively defend yourself against THAT with words!

And may I just add:

Freeze, Mother Bitches!