The Underscore Archives

On 3 Jun 2008, at 11:37, Josh Sims wrote:

> Why not retaliate?

Um, because (assuming you mean retaliating by physical violence) it'd  
get you into legal trouble?

> I know two wrongs don't make a right, but It's got to the point  
> where they
> really do need to be taught a lesson!
>
> If it was highly publicised, each 'gang' would hear about it and  
> would be
> less inclined to attack.

Just the oppsite, I think: they'd be galvanized into fighting for  
some vague sense of territory, instead of just mucking about for  
giggles.

Thing is, to win a conflict like that you need to be willing to do  
what the other guy won't. That means if he comes with a bat, you come  
with a machete. He comes with a machete, you come with a gun. And you  
use it. No hesitation, no quarter.

Are you prepared to beat one of these punks to death? Because that's  
where it will go — at a minimum.

OTOH, if you were to go with a large enough group and simply *use*  
the bike path after hours, it might well discourage the hoodlums.

ck