It should go without saying that I don’t want to fight someone. Still people seem to want to pick a fight with me.
I was walking down the street on a sunny day and I was right behind a police station. Police cars sometimes would drive by. Imagine my surprise when someone crosses the street and moves towards me. I move away from him but he hits my shoulder with his shoulder and then turns to want to fight me. I don’t know this guy from Adam, and I am not fighting anyone. I do the only logical thing to do: I run away.
He chases me for a while, but because I don’t wish to fight he gives up. I guess he is a lazy fighter. I go into my friend’s apartment building and I am safe.
I’d like to say that this is the first time that I have been challenged to a fight, but it isn’t unfortunately. Every few years in public some jerk seems to want to prove something to himself. It wasn’t the first time that I was assaulted in NYC but they were minor assaults and the police didn’t help me so what can you do? I wasn’t seriously hurt so you live and let go.
Now if you are a regular reader you will say “But you said NYC people were the nicest!” That is true. It is also true that there can be jerks among nice people. The fact is that every state where I have lived has had people who wanted to fight me. Perhaps I don’t go into safe enough neighborhoods or I look like I could be an easy mark. Maybe if I get a face tattoo I will look tough and these punks will stop. Although I heard that having a tattoo makes other people think you are in a gang, so it might increase. I don’t like tattoos, so I’ll take my chances looking weak.
Don’t misunderstand. I am not afraid of people who want to fight me. I don’t see the risk/reward of it. If I am being paid millions then I will risk my health fighting someone else but I’d most likely say no. I am not going to give a stranger a free fight and put my health and safety at risk for any reason. I don’t care if I look like the biggest coward to everyone, I have nothing to prove to anyone. Once you feel that in your bones, life becomes simple.