I was browsing old posts a bit ago and it struck me as really odd that the conversation when from one of respect and advice seeking / giving here:

http://www.fightingarts.com/ubbthreads/s...=2#Post15862434

to what we have in this thread.

One was a request for information, the other an application for sainthood.

Read the thread you dredged up from beginning to end, and then read this one from beginning to end. They are totally different, both in focus and intent.

I hope Speedy has a long and useful life, but if he sticks around in the pond, he'll eventually get wet.

I wasn't choosing sides, just pointing out the irony.

No problem... There's just a significant difference in the thrust of the discussions.

I think this was a good use of restraint and I think your training served you well.

yea goodjob speedy I thought it was a cool post because there are many times when people try to instigate fights and things almost get real bad because I am not good at rising above it, so props to you.
I am fully aware how new I am to this forum, but wrist I think you are a bit attacking for no reason. All you simply needed to say was, "It's good you were able to avoid the conflict but you should be more ready to fight in such situations, goodjob mate"
Find a better hobby than randomly lecturing kids half your age about how much ass you can kick

Fine, guys... you guys sit around and hold hands with gang members, and show them you can walk off from their violence. I'm sure they will follow your good example, and give up the gangster lifestyle.

What probably happened, for real, is that they had something else to do rather than kick Speedy's a$$ at the time. Along with all the training I've done, which is another sore spot with you guys, I also worked undercover for two years. There isn't much I haven't seen or been around when it was going down... both from gangs, drug dealers, and every other kind of scumbag out there. All they respect is the guy with the biggest gun... and turning around on them only offers them a bigger target.

I avoid violence at every opportunity, but I'm smart enough to know when it's going to be necessary, and I don't attribute that to martial arts training, but to living in the real world. The ability to use my training is where I have an advantage, and there are lots of times when I could unload on somebody but don't.

If you keep cruising around in gang territory, you'll eventually "get in touch" with them. If you're lucky, you'll live to go somewhere else... if not, don't say I didn't warn you. I'm just not going to nominate you for sainthood simply because you walk away from a fight. You might have only lived to fight another day because they didn't have a gun with them. The answer is to get out of the area where that situation will occur... much less where it is the "regular" occurance.

Like I said before, adults make those kinds of decisions. Bravery and walking away will get you killed, and a brave dead guy is just as dead. I grew up around gangs, and they don't respect your walking away, even if they don't take any action this time. They'll be around... and they have a shot at you any time that you are.