Sometimes a man just has to what a man has to do, if that is what it takes, I Know feeling mate.

Personally, I think we have become a nanny state one way and another. There is no real effictive way to deal with these yobs, and all other similar problems anymore.

If kids were brought up with respect and mannners , instead of being dragged up and left to do what they want and when they want, some of these problem just wound,nt arise.
Ok , kids will allways get into trouble as they growup, we all got into trouble when younger, but kids today are a law to themselves, and there is little we can do about it (legally that is). We can,t even smack our kids now as punishment now.
The sooner kids learn respect and civil manners the better as far as I,m concerned. I rave on and on about this, but you get my point, if I had my way , I would round them all up, and shipp them of to siberia for some " attitude enhancement therapy" (hard labour) for a year or so. Probably woudn,t have much effect, since the damage has allready been done during there earlier years.
Just my thoughts.
Well you did your best mav under the circumstances.

R

What a facinating thread - been watching it develop all day with differing opinions where everyone's right!

I've only had to deal such confrontation twice, the first was when I was just 10 and the school bully surrounded by his mates were pushing me about. After a good 5 minutes of trying to ignore it and walk away, I turned round and gave him a free trip to the dentist, knocked him off his feet into the river... was really funny! And when his mum found out why he came home with a hand full of teeth he got a good hiding from her too. Never got any grief from him again, and he turned out to be a decent kid thanks mostly to the punishment dished out back home. So why can't parents smack their kids???

The second time was about 5 years back, and I'm not the biggest chap in the world so had to use an alternative method.
I can't remember why, but one of the locals started giving me some merde in the street one day, he was on his own but for some reason took a dislike to me (can you imagine!). I just wanted to lump him, but he was significantly bigger than me so didn't fancy my chances of walking away!

I resorted to a bit of training I've had - Used to be a WO with the Air Training Corps, so had the basic disciplinary training of a regular raf snco and was in charge of discipline at my squadron. I just squared up to this prat and gave him such a military style bollocking for disrespecting me that he was actually fighting back the tears!

I see the guy hanging out with his mates occassionally, and one time when I walked past them I heard him say to the others "Don't give him any s**t, he's ok"

Different methods, same result. And for the record mav... you did just what I wish I could do - vote mav for chief constable!

A Mattock is actually a sort of pick axe with a broad blade at one end. We used to use em when digging cable trenches.

From previous comments it looks to me like some people are questioning Mavs behaviour and reaction. Well let's wind it back a bit and ask what you would have said to your lad if he had come to you late evening and said "Yep Dad, me and some of the lads are gonna go down the street and turn it up loud like. Who gives a flying F@@k what they think, we're having a larf we are"
My response would be "Well don't come crying to me if you end up with a face full of bat"
Who's the antagonist in this situation - the lads who go out with what appears to be the full intention of annoying Joe Public, or the geezer who decides to fight fire with fire?

Been there done that. Do unto others as they would do unto you - only do it first.
Good on yer Mav.

The main problem is actually the parents who are not prepared to control their kids and teach them respect.I'm a village store manager and the worst people to deal with are the 'Daily Mail reading,Church attending,Volvo,BMW,Mercedes driving,school governor type of parent who absolutely refuse to believe their offspring has done anything wrong and then blame it on the kids from the local estate who are gobby but generally ok.Even when i have them on our digital CCTV system caught in the act,i'm accused of doctoring the tape!:mad:

Very interesting thread and I think many of us would either do the same, or would like to think we would do the same. I've had some ''interesting'' confrontations on one or two occassions and it's a great feeling to look back on over a few pints. By the way I'm no fighter, quite the opposite, but I and a few others felt at the time that the balance in a particular situation needed redressing and someone had to stand up and be counted. ( We did have the police on our side though but it was made plain to us that if we stepped outside the law that we forfeited our right to protection by the law )

However if you do allow your heart to rule your head and escalate a situation as Mav did then you also have to accept the possibility that they may return, possibly mob handed with knives or worse, firearms. They have the advantage in that they know where you live but you don't know where they come from.

What happens if you are out for the night and your wife/kids are on their own and the meatheads turn up? Forget the police as depending how busy they are you may not get a response for 30 or more minutes, if at all.

As for your confrontation Age, in my view you did the right thing by not winding your aggressor up any further. He could have stabbed you before you could react. It's not worth dying for a principle.

Mav I admire you for what you did and it seems to have worked out this time and doubtless your neighbours love you to bits but some guys locally did exactly the same, but in that case the lads went to the police and the guys ended up in prison.

Food for thought.

Phil

very true Philthy!
But LIVE by the sword and be prepaired to dye by it!!!!!!!!!!
all or nothing no half measures!

Maverick call the ball.......lol

Isn't it remarkable that we have this thread going at the same time as the "profanity on the web site" thread. Although ancient I have a 12yr old son and a 9yr old daughter and both are taking an interest in bikes and bike racing. I am trying to bring them up as people who will respect others but find this being undermined by some on this site who think that their personal liberty over-rides my attempts.

I have taken my son to the Silverstone WSB round for several years, camping throughout he weekend. Last year was the first time we encountered any trouble, a bit too much booze had had it's effect on a couple of fellows resulting in a lot of shouted obscenaties and threats of violence (not to me or my son, but we were in the midst of it).

I have to say that I was slightly fearfull of a good kicking, but I did approach the culprits and told them that I wasn't happy with this conduct, particularly since they were frightening the s**t out of both me and my son.

I'm so pleased to say that their response was total and abject apology. To be honest I was quite shocked by their humility. Perhaps there are others on this site who could learn from this.................

*whiffs the testosterone oozing from behind the door of this thread *


and runs away.....................:D

Actually was just wondering why none of the girlies had replied really :)

Some peope do respond to reason but some don't I am afraid. that is pretty much my experience, On one occassion I did get a wee bit of a kicking but I would rather that than watch him continue to abuse his girl friend. On two others, I got away with nothing physical happening.

I have never started a fight with anyone, and never would. I have always been calm and polite when suggesting someone ought to change their behaviour. On one occassion I just stood there and made sure the guy knew I was there so he could not get away with continueing to pull his girlfriend around like a sack of spuds. Eventually he walked off in the huff saying "you got all these white people staring at me now". I was with my girlie at the time.

I would not get involved over vandalism of property, but when it comes to people, like your son and daughter you have to stand up and say something. You should be very proud. I would be.