When Is It Appropriate To Strike Another?

United States
March 30, 2022 8:12pm CST
Is there a time when it's appropriate to strike another person? If you are threatened and attacked physically, of course it's appropriate to strike in defense IMO. In your opinion, is there ever a time when striking another is an appropriate response when no physical threat is present? Is it ok to respond to hurtful comments by striking the person?
12 people like this
12 responses
@rebelann (112966)
• El Paso, Texas
31 Mar 22
Ahhh, Will seems to have opened up a whole new can of worms ...... I hope he has a fishing pole cuz this ain't goin away anytime soon. I don't like Chris, he's rude and not at all funny and in a way I can understand why Will slapped him but he could have handled it differently although then Chris would always think it's ok to be rude to people.
6 people like this
• United States
31 Mar 22
Chris Rock has made a living poking fun at people, often with jokes in bad taste. It's part of his act. I have seen several clips and he says ugly things all the time. I doubt he will change his style at this point. I think he could have made his point and made Rock out to be the only bad guy here by standing up and taking his wife out of the building. That would leave Rock embarrassed and alone on stage. He would have been shredded by his peers and the media.
2 people like this
• United States
31 Mar 22
@kobesbuddy Don Rickles made an entire career of doing that. Paul Lynde. Dean Martin Comedy Roasts. Chris Rock is no different.
2 people like this
@kobesbuddy (78871)
• East Tawas, Michigan
31 Mar 22
And being rude is never acceptable behavior. Trying to appear as funny, by insulting someone else with his remarks!
3 people like this
@1creekgirl (41747)
• United States
31 Mar 22
I guess it all depends on the circumstance. I don't guess legally we have a right to hit someone who didn't hit us first. I don't know whether Will Smith was right to hit Chris Rock or not.
1 person likes this
• United States
31 Mar 22
I would have wanted to slap a person that insulted my wife but you can defend the honor of your wife without physically assaulting the person. Smith could have walked up to Rock and demanded an apology or stood up, took his wife's hand left the building. I do not believe he was right to strike Rock. But then again, I believe the confrontation was staged for sagging interest in the Oscars.
1 person likes this
• United States
31 Mar 22
@1creekgirl Hahahah Here it is, four days later and people are still talking about the Oscars.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (41747)
• United States
31 Mar 22
@Vikingswest1 You could very well be right about being staged. I haven't watched the Oscars for many years, but now I'm seeing clips everywhere. I think they're all a bunch of narcissists pumping each other up. Well, until someone slaps someone.
1 person likes this
@tkonlinevn (6438)
• Vietnam
31 Mar 22
I consider it possible. I can hit someone if that person offends my parents and family.
1 person likes this
• Vietnam
1 Apr 22
@Vikingswest1 So what should I do in this situation? Offending them? Or calm down, then sue them for insulting my family? Haizz, it's hard to think calmly at such a time.
1 person likes this
• United States
1 Apr 22
@tkonlinevn I have to admit that I was unaware of the culture and how reputation plays such an important role in Vietnam. A quick search found that striking another for an insult is almost expected and insults left on Social Media are frowned upon by schools, employers and the community leaders. In your culture, swift retribution is the norm and it can damage a reputation to take no action if you or your family are insulted. I don't know if I'm qualified to know what your reaction should be.
1 person likes this
• United States
31 Mar 22
That's against the law here. You can go to jail and can be sued for damages if you assault someone in a case like that. I would still WANT to respond with a smack but then I'd be the one arrested.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472074)
• Switzerland
31 Mar 22
In self defense or to defend people who cannot defend themselves (elders, children, abused animals) I would say YES. I punched a girl for offending my younger brother when I was a kid, I think it was appropriate, she never did again.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472074)
• Switzerland
1 Apr 22
@Vikingswest1 - I think I would do the same now should someone I love be offended and could not react.
1 person likes this
• United States
1 Apr 22
@LadyDuck I may want to do that... but jail isn't very attractive to me and I wouldn't want to get sued for damages.
1 person likes this
• United States
31 Mar 22
When I was younger, I would have reacted the same way as Will Smith did. I actually did several times too. I still would in self defense or in the defense of another facing a physical attack.
1 person likes this
@cacay1 (83577)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
31 Mar 22
No, I won't. I better ignore to avoid trouble or revenge. There are many troublesome people this time we need to avoid.
1 person likes this
• United States
31 Mar 22
If you are defending a physical attack, striking is appropriate but it's better to avoid striking out in anger over an insult. Trouble and revenge can follow if you escalate the situation.
1 person likes this
@cacay1 (83577)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
1 Apr 22
@Vikingswest1 yes, agree.
1 person likes this
31 Mar 22
I'll respond this in two ways. If the whole thing was staged, there's really nothing to worry about because it's all pure acting. One is a comedian and the other is a top actor so it's like an aha! moment for all of us. Like gotcha! We have been duped and they are great actors with a capital G. If it's not staged at all, I think Wills could have reacted in a more classier way like what I would do in this scenario if I were him is to go up the stage, grab Chris' mic off him and roast him back with pun intended on the spot. Like take that, you busybody..and then go back to the audience seat like a quiet mouse.
1 person likes this
• United States
31 Mar 22
Or better yet, got up, took his wife's hand and left the building leaving Rock to be shunned by the audience and the media. He could have hit back harder without raising a hand.
1 person likes this
1 Apr 22
@Vikingswest1 That will be an epic move. It takes a man with courage to do that for sure.
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (139974)
• Roseburg, Oregon
31 Mar 22
Not normally but if you make a rude commend in front of millions of people it is ok.
1 person likes this
• United States
31 Mar 22
I don't think so. It's assault. Criminal and civil implications could follow. It may seem necessary to defend the honor of a loved one but it doesn't require a physical response. Smith could have voiced his displeasure, got up and walked out with his wife and left Rock alone on stage. Rock would have been shredded by peers and the media.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (108126)
• Marion, Ohio
31 Mar 22
It truly depends what they are doing
1 person likes this
• United States
31 Mar 22
Yes. The response should be similar to the transgressions.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
9 Apr 22
Yes, I want to slap you silly right now for asking that question No, totally uncalled for.
• United States
9 Apr 22
My wife asked if I was trying to start trouble with this lol.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
9 Apr 22
@Vikingswest1 And trouble you won't get for that.
@kobesbuddy (78871)
• East Tawas, Michigan
31 Mar 22
If someone verbally hurts me, I'd never hit them. If someone attacked me physically, I'd fight back with all my strength. Mostly, to get free and run away.
1 person likes this
• United States
31 Mar 22
I agree. Striking someone requires special circumstances. A threat. An attack. An insult does not require a physical response.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (78871)
• East Tawas, Michigan
31 Mar 22
@Vikingswest1 At times I say something, that's meant a different way. If someone misinterprets what I said, they might feel like punching me in the face. They viewed this statement wrong.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
31 Mar 22
I say it always depends on the situation as to how I would react. Of course we say no it is not appropriate but every situation is different. Hard to say. But I wouldn't plan to strike anyone for anything.
• Sidoarjo, Indonesia
31 Mar 22
There are divided opinions regarding this matter, but I personally don't think it's OK to punch someone in the face just because you don't share the same view as them...
1 person likes this
• United States
31 Mar 22
I would agree with that. I believe that striking out should only be done in defense or to react to a physical threat.