The Blog of Author Tim Ferriss - Latest Comments in Why I Started Punching Jerks Again

Re: Why I Started Punching Jerks Again

John — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 09:14:43 -0000

You said that Jericho "loosed a throat pony" into you face. Do you mean that he spat on you? If so, then he deserves a good kicking!

Re: Why I Started Punching Jerks Again

John Adams — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 17:37:58 -0000

I have, my whole life, had this policy of punching the Jericho's of the world. I do not make a habit of hitting other people and sometimes I think I've been chosen to send a message by the universe. Universe, I am your humble servant! But only if really necessary.

Re: Why I Started Punching Jerks Again

Matt — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 10:37:11 -0000

This reminds me of a time when I was very young when my Father brought the whole familly out to eat at one of the nicest resturants in town. There was this loud mouth on the other side of the room being completely rude and ruining everyone time. My father got up went over to the guy. Im not sure what he said, but the guy shut up fro the rest of the night. My father came back and told us that in the 50's every man in the place would have gottten up an thrown this jackass out the door on his face.

I learned an important lesson that day...the 50's rocked....guys need to start acting like men again.

Re: Why I Started Punching Jerks Again

Raina Gustafson — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 05:50:22 -0000

It's so funny that I thought of this post as soon as I got home...

I went out dancing tonight, and just happened to be getting some fresh air outside the club when a bartender dragged another guy out and across the street by his throat.

I ran after them screaming something to the effect of "Hey, what's going on?" multiple times. The bartender tossed the guy into a fence, but didn't throw a single punch. I'm sure if I hadn't been there, he would have beat the snot out of him.

Why? The guy tried to steal a bottle of alcohol from the bar. Ridiculously stupid? Yep. Worth offending an innocent bystander and loosing her business along with her friends'? Apparently not.

Interestingly, there were at least 12 other people witnessing the event -- men and women -- and not one of them objected to the situation in any way, shape or form. They just stared.

I interfered with no hesitation, without knowing what the provocation had been. I'm glad I did, even if only for the sake that it proves I'm not living an anaesthetized life. Reactionary in my own way, perhaps, but not anaesthetized.

Re: Why I Started Punching Jerks Again

Sven — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 09:10:47 -0000

Sometimes, violence is a necessity.

But sometimes, better just to walk away.

If it does reach a climatic violent level, better get to bruising and then cruising quick, because the police in America have become mighty fascist lately and quick with the tazer!

Don't be like the Bush administration, always plan an escape before you strike.

Re: Why I Started Punching Jerks Again

A.C. — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:43:07 -0000

I FULLY AGREE!!
Like most things, there is a time and a place where violence is not only appropriate, but a positive thing. If someone is beating the crap out of you, violence can be a self-protective virtue.
There are limits on what is and is not okay, and some assbags only respect that limit when you punch back.

Re: Why I Started Punching Jerks Again

Jorge R Fernandez — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 23:48:59 -0000

I want to know if you can meet with me in Puerto Rico send me a e-mail where I can send my phone number???

Re: Why I Started Punching Jerks Again

Jason — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 04:09:51 -0000

Jo.... pull your head out of the sand.
In a mind full of malice, there's no room for reason!
Asking nicely someone who is robbing you to stop won't make him stop. An elbow to the temple will however :)
I am not an advocate for violence, but there is a time and a place where verbal de escalation will not work. If you had spent time in the military you might have known this.

Re: Why I Started Punching Jerks Again

Jason — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 04:03:35 -0000

Mate.... Your damn right..!!
Over here in Australia, we dont see a lot of what your talking about because here, men are still men and if you behave like that YOU WILL get a punch in the mouth..!!!!
Good on ya for telling it like it is. God I hate do-gooders and advocates of political correction. Aaah I feel better now :)

Re: Why I Started Punching Jerks Again

Michelle — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 22:39:30 -0000

Is this the correct place to send a message to Timothy Ferriss? Please let me know. Thanks.

###

Hi Michelle,

It's best to see my "contact" page and choose the best person. For miscellaneous, best to email Amy.

Thanks!

Tim

Re: Why I Started Punching Jerks Again

Michelle — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 22:39:03 -0000

Is this the correct place to send a message to Timothy Ferriss? Please let me know. Thanks.

Re: Why I Started Punching Jerks Again

Chase — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 22:33:07 -0000

Man I was just telling my girlfriend about this the other day. Would they act like they do these days with the ever-present threat of an imminent beat down from other males in response to their douchebaggery? Probably not. It's the international language of "hey buddy, you've crossed the line ". Great article.

Re: Why I Started Punching Jerks Again

VCM - Tear it Down. AGAIN — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 11:16:55 -0000

If more parents laid a STFU on their kids, there would be less of a need to punch grown ups in the face.
If STFU is too harsh for your kids, why don't you start small with a hearty "HELL NO" when they ask to do someting ridiculous.

Re: Why I Started Punching Jerks Again

Joe — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 19:39:42 -0000

Reg,
I do believe esteem building is the core of intellectual and personal growth. Most of my students are well behaved having learned their manners in the home from parents that have provided a nurturing environment. Unfortunately the class bully never had that and acts out. Its called "negative attention getting" and needs to be dealt with effectively within legal limits to protect our children.
-jo

Re: Why I Started Punching Jerks Again

Michael — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 12:54:43 -0000

Tim - Love the post, very entertaining. And while I agree with the general sentiment, I want to propose a slightly different approach (one that should result in less injuries - excluding the jerks.)

Stand up for other people.

So, take it back to the beginning of the story, where the hippie is acting like a three-year-old. Now, imagine that everyone else in the bar stands up, turns to the hippie with intent and angry eyes, and a few people say something along the lines of, "Want a chance to take that back?"

Hippie option a: "Yes please, I'm sorry." (Sits back down, crowd waits a moment, then goes back to what they're doing.

Hippie option b: "[insert vulgarity/inanity here]." (Crowd grabs the guy and/or his friends if they involve themselves, pin his arms painfully behind his back, frogwalk him to the door, and plant a 50-lb boot on his posterior to chuck him through the door.

I understand that there will be those cases where someone with their mind unhinged comes back with an automatic and mows down the crowd - but let's face it, if they were that screwed up to begin with, putting up with them isn't going to change that. I really feel that if there were a sense of citizenship, a feeling that we're all stuck on the same boat and should take care of each other, not only do the jerks become the minority (as they should), but we're not forced to choose between ignoring blatant disrespect and fighting in our own defense. We should all take an interest in seeing that other people are treated with respect and consideration.

And who knows, maybe the hairy hippies will jump ship when they're ganged up on everywhere they go.

Re: Why I Started Punching Jerks Again

reyalP — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 02:16:51 -0000

Hey Tim,

I would like to start punching jerks in the face.

Actually, let me rephrase that: I'd like to have complete confidence that I could punch jerks in the face if I wanted without getting pummeled afterwards.

I'm even going to be sitting-in at three martial arts classes this week for this very reason.

[FWIW: From what you recommended on your David DeAngelo interview, I've decided to start with grappling, but I may take Judo instead of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (which you recommended.)]

In any case, I'd opt for your advice in The 7 Commandments of Blogosphere (and Life) Self-Defense before I started teaching people lessons for mouthing off.

Great post! Thanks!

Re: Why I Started Punching Jerks Again

Reg — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 14:43:14 -0000

Joe,
I know you are speaking hypothetically. Because good teachers don't use sarcasm on their students.

Re: Why I Started Punching Jerks Again

Joe — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 13:29:10 -0000

One way to deal (and probably the safest) is to maintain a psychological upper-hand. As a middle public school teacher in nyc (and where corporal punishment is outlawed) I've seen the worst of the worst behavior. You'd be suprised how much you can accomplish verbally and without using profanity. Sarcasm always works on a bully and good snaps impress the audience. Develop a sardinic wit and it will instigate the opposer to "throw the first punch". Self-defense will lead to a legal victory if things are taken that far.

Re: Why I Started Punching Jerks Again

George — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 00:59:40 -0000

This motivated me to elaborate on my blog http://talkingpoints4.blogs... . I agree with Tim's take as well as the Esquire author. At some point and time the bullies and self assured a holes need to come to the understanding the buck has to stop. I don't condone violence or a barbaric approach but if you don't relate to anything other than that, then at some point, you have to understand "
Today is not the Day and I'm not the one.

Re: Why I Started Punching Jerks Again

yaunjamesyaun — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 21:30:44 -0000

Case in point,just today this little boy was harassing my daughter. she came to me upset and i said to her "punch him in the face" she is four and the boy was about three, he would continually not let her pass on the playground. my four year old girl would not do anything but my two year old girl (the more aggressive one obviously) pushed him down about 20 minutes later and then he left both of them alone.

Re: Why I Started Punching Jerks Again

yaunjamesyaun — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 21:23:23 -0000

I'm not a good enough fighter to not hurt you is my personal favorite. then if need it.

Re: Why I Started Punching Jerks Again

Stephen — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 19:26:45 -0000

James, Jesus was a pacifist and pacifist strategies only work against enemies who have a conscious. I think it is a delusion to assume that people will feel bad if you simply ignore them. That's what happened politically and now the world suffers because of George Bush and his cronies (he is a bully that was suffered by liberal pacifists). In short, turning the other cheek is dumb if the other person doesn't value cheek-turning. Hence, the only way to make people listen in some last-resort situations is violence. Violence is the physical threat that keeps governments and society's functioning.

Re: Why I Started Punching Jerks Again

Alex — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 18:02:50 -0000

Tim,

Great post and timely. I just got back from 3 months in Europe and despite being at the bars almost every night I only had 2 or 3 people warrantlessly harass me. Then, last night - less than a week after getting back to the states and out for the first time since returning to Phoenix I got to enjoy one of those delightful Jericho experiences. While it’s not just an American thing, because of the babying it really does seem like it’s running rampant.

I'm 6'4, have a lighter build and I find that i'm perpetually harassed because of it. For some reason, simply because of my height people seem to think they can/have to prove something by trying to bully me. As a result I end up having to deal with at least two ego inflated puffballs each month pretending that they want to start a fight. The catch is, I don't back down and - go figure - with a lot of huffing and puffing they always end up tucking tail when they see I’m not going anywhere or scared of them. I prefer not to get kicked out of places or show up to work with a black eye and try and “be the better person” so I always let the situation diffuse, but its annoying having to deal with these jerkoffs and their posturing on a regular basis.

They've all proved time and time again that they're all talk and I’ve gotta say I’m not sure how much longer I can take it before I start bringing a taste of accountability back into the picture. It seems like that’s what’s really missing and behind it all. If these morons actually expected to get knocked on their asses, I imagine most wouldn’t dare leave their beers.

Barbaric? Not in this case. Perhaps just a necessary – but entertaining - evil.

Re: Why I Started Punching Jerks Again

Cyrus — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 17:11:57 -0000

An interesting problem. Does non-violence encourage a**holes to continue their ways?

Cyrus

Re: Why I Started Punching Jerks Again

Brandon S — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 16:56:40 -0000

The problem is American culture.

Here we are in 2007 charging people with assault who punch people in the face when defending their "honor" and yet the man on our $10 bill died in a gun duel to the death.

Our country was founded by rebellious "terrorists" to England, yet they are glorified "revolutionaries". I'd like to see something rise up against "mother America" today and see them labeled "terrorists" instead of revolutionaries. Say hello to military prison for attempting a current day Boston Tea Party.

The issue is culture. Our culture has no base. There is no nuclear family anymore. Honor is not taught to our young people. Respect to others is not taught either. We are self-gods and this is why we are the way we are in this country. As one poster noted, kids are taught they are better than others.

During this holiday season, I have said "Excuse me" while trying to get around folks in stores. NOT A SINGLE PERSON has ever said this to me this season. Where is the sense of respect for others in our society? Instead, I am cut off in the store just as I am cut off on the road. Nobody RESPECTS me or MY SAFETY. I pay the same friggin taxes to use the road, yet nobody RESPECTS my space. Americans are SELF SERVING.

I do believe in Tim's post. There are many stories in history of men defending their honor and it was normally a contractual agreement. But even in those days, there was a general sense of decency that existed that prevented these escalations. I feel that if I had existed in earlier times, I would have been able to politely ask somebody to quiet down if they were loud and they, out of respect, would oblige. Today, I would get treated like shit.

Instead of having honorable disagreements and "gentleman's" duels, we hide behind 3000lb metal weapons on the road and take out all aggressions on everybody trying to survive their friggin commute.

I seriously think evolution for man has hit its limit and is going in the opposite direction.