Yeah, I'm a pretty big wimp when it comes down to it. Always try to avoid confrontation...but can be real dangerous if provoked in the wrong way (i.e. you fuck with my friends, you fuckin' with me)

Knocking me over is equilvalent to beating up a 6th grader, based on average weight.

It never hurts to roll into a bar with Busty, Yail and Loog behindst you. Nary a 6'2-er among'em.

That really sucks man. Although, I have to say I cannot blame you for actually being vocal to the guy. As you said, who'da thunk that he actually would've pulled the trigger on the punch. Also, I think that the passengers who didn't say anything to you (like a human might--"are you ok?" , or even possibly restraining him) are idiots. This is why if I'm ever on a plane/train or whatever and a terrorist is gonna do something, I'll probably be one of the guys who gets the hell up.

I can think of two things that are parallel that happened in my life semi-recently ago.

1. Guy is verbally abusing his gf in a restaurant, and no one is reacting at all. The guy reaches across and slaps the girl. No one even bats an eyelash. My friend and I go over grab the guy, and drag him out and push him to the ground, and tell him to go home or we were gonna have a tussle. It just kills me that no one cared that this guy could've been seconds away from wailing of this woman.

2. Two weeks ago, I'm out for lunch with some co-workers and this guy starts walking into me (literally) on purpose. He was staring at the girls at my table, and saying rude things as well. Upon running into me a couple of times I inquire if he has a problem, and if he wants to go outside. He quit it. Sometimes you need to call their bluff.

The funny thing is, I'm not a jump to conclusions guy. But I can wholeheartedly feel what you were thinking at that moment.

Sympathies, Aaron.

I can be pretty non-confrontational, myself, but boy would I like to get my hands around the neck of that old lady that caused a several-hour delay on the metro a couple months back.

thanks for all the encouraging words, everyone. rabbit, kudos on scenario 1 - i hope you made that douchebag feel twice as bad as he made the girl feel (and that he didn't ultimately take it out on her).

nope, she pressed charges on the guy, and the cops arrested him. He was lurking outside and we all saw him out there so we stayed in 'til the 5-0 arrived.

Aaron is my hero. Glad to know, though, that you weren't seriously hurt. Heroes have feelings too, ya know.

Glad you're okay and all, but dude, "ARE YOU OUT OF YO DAMN MIND!?!"

Not for nothing, but you got what you deserved. Its the NYC subway. You confronted a crazy person. While sitting down. You're just lucky dude didnt go all Bernard Goetz. As you mentioned, I dont think your fellow passengers would have really cared.

I wasn't sitting down, he didn't seem at all crazy - just an asshole on his way to work, "not for nothing" is a meaningless phrase that you overuse, my fellow passengers should have cared, and your concept of a scary NYC subway seems more inspired by The Warriors than reality.

Okay, sorry I missed the not sitting down...I misread you recollecting your self on your little sissy legs after getting bitch slapped by a perfectly sane human being for not keeping your smart aleck mouth shut on a train of concerned New Yorkers.

Bully to ya. You still got what you deserved, punk.

People in NYC, and particular those who take the NYC Subway, are programmed to ignore anyone who may act a bit out of the ordinary, and will not get involved to save anyone else who provokes or speaks to him or her. That's just the way it is.

That was what I was actually trying to convey OPA! You just explained it better.

I really hope you're joking.

yail - the guy didn't sound perfectly sane to me.

Yeah, A guy spouting off Arab Conspiracy Theory because he got nipped for holding the door deserves to have something said to him. He wants to throw a punch, then that's the price of freedom. But it doesn't make aaron wrong. Getting a punch sucks, but I'm not so terrified of it that I'll let people act like a goddam idiot anytime they want.

Yes, I have received a punch or two. Not much, but enough to know. Wrong is wrong. The price tag ain't that steep.

I got suckerpunched by a queermosexual once.

I'm with Squirrgle on this one.

But there's a time and place for that. I would never tell someone to shut up on the subway. Another place, perhaps. But the NYC Subway is not the place to police anyone who's unruly or saying things you don't like. You'll get hurt real fast by doing that.

I don't think the dude was normal, so you are lucky all you got was a smack. Bernard Goetz was probably the more likely outcome.

is there an echo in here?

Again, it's relative, hence the room for debate, but I reiterate: People don't just get to "cross the line" because it's (insert city scenario here). It's like ... "This is NEW YORK. I can just go spit on that guy because I want to." etc. No you can't. If you're a shithead, you're a shithead. Phsyics doesn't break down inside NYC boundaries. And as I mentioned, it's all relaltive... the guy's got a gun, or he says something minor, or is just annoying instead of beligerant, then no issue.

As Haq tells it, I would've been the one with the black eye had I been there. And I wouldn't regret it. It's not the end of the world.

Btw, shame on those on the subway for averting their gaze.