Anathema
Crotchety Olde Man
I do not fight with actions, sir. Instead, my best shot is to reason with adversaries. Not all of them are brainwashed with fictions created in bong world. Vocabulary is my weapon. I learned this tactic from my high school phys ed teacher, Ms. Eddy. She disallowed swearing and name calling and spent one classroom day challenging the whole class to write down adjectives that would send a message and get results. And that ended all swearing for the duration of the six semesters I spent in that high school. The words on the list had to have at least 7 or more letters in them. I haven't thought of Ms. Eddy for years, but she certainly left a good habit in my life. Funny how powerful the written or spoken word is. Who woulda thunk a superior language lesson would come in a PE class...
Thst is a very honorable and exemplary way of looking at things. Your PE instructor was apparently quite an educator.
I too prefer to settle disputes with language, logic, and reason. Violence should always be the absolute LAST option in any dispute; but by taking the option out of the equation entirely; you remove a very valuable tool in keeping things from reaching that level.
If an opponent knows you will not use violence, then that option becomes a threat they can use against you in “negotiations”.
Wynonna reminds us in the song Rock Bottom:
”... I keep a clenched fist under this hat in my hand
Cause only the strong survive...”
I wish you the best. May your string of good fortune in avoiding situations where words may fail you continue.