i would speak kindly and considerately to the fisty fella until he tried to connect his fist with my face then do my best to survive the onslaught

I never walk in a place where I am out of plain view of the public, so hopefully someone might come and help me out. Otherwise, I am afraid I would not be able to handle myself. I am 5'2 and 100 pounds.

Beginning in kindergarden,in the old days,I always managed to get into a few fights a year-and I think that one of the saddest changes in our culture is that fightin' just ain't what it used to be.Maybe you would lose and maybe you would have a rematch- and get even. Probably nobody who won ever worried about 'payback' by a drive-by shooting,me and my boys or a weapon;today getting into fights is very dangerous.So,today it's particulary important to make sure the fight is on your turf,with your rules and that you have the edge.

I can't count the times this has happened to me growing up. I thought this was normal. I guess I would just do what I always do. Leave, walk away, whatever. As long as no one touches me there's no problem. On the other hand if I didn't have a choice then he'd have to back up his sh*t.

if someone did this i would laugh and try to walk away but if i was unable to walk away id give them the surpise of their life

put the slippers to them

Nowadays I avoid the situation unless I am not given a choice. I I cant, the person better be ready to go all the way to hell with it.

Pull out my gun or knife. Then maybe they'll think twice.

If I couldn't diffuse the situation I'd defend myself.

Lay the smack down.

if i thought i could take them, i'd give it a go. if i thought i'd get my ass kicked...well, sometimes there's just no harm in running.

With who?

I woild laugh, and remind the person that i am a busy man. with no time for schoolyard antics. I have people to do and places to go!

Recite the Marquis of Qeensbury rules while kicking repeatedly to the head or crotch.

The natural human reflex is to defend yourself.

I've never heard of a fight referred to as fisticuffs, but anyway if it's somebody I don't know then they aren't gonna just walk out of the way if I ask them to politely. This person is obviously either messed in the head or they want my money - either way they have all intentions of doing me harm. I don't know if they are armed or how well they can fight, so I'd be looking to throw a couple cheap shots and get out of there asap. My first move would be to give them a quick jab to the nose. I don't care how big you are - if you get slugged in the nose you feel the intense pain shoot through your skull and you instinctively put your head down into your hands. Now that you've got the guys head down you have got options. You could run, but I'd want to make sure they don't get up and chase me. My next move would be to grab their head and slam it into my knee as hard as I could. Then they'd drop to the ground and I'd give them a few good kicks to the ribs, and I'd grab their wallet and be on my way.

If the above statement means that a stranger is attacking me then it would all depend on what kind of mood I'm in. If I was angry to begin with then I wouldn't be in the mood to express any sign of mercy to some jerk that probably doesn't deserve any.

Obviously the first reaction to an assault is to defend oneself.

I'm usually good at diffusing hostility, regardless of situation. If someone began throwing punches at me, I'd do my best to duck and ask for the person to stop. I'd take reasonable measures to protect myself without entering the fight. Whether irrational violence happens to yourself or another person, it's a favor to society to report serious assaults to the police. That might not always be considered the man thing to do, but keep in mind the violent individual may be a serial offender and possibly a domestic abuser. Think of it as saving the next persons from violence that could be twice as bad. Even if you decide the person is a harmless drunk, the person is due some professional counseling and a wake up call.

I would interrupt their attempts to incapacitate me with a vicious flurry of tempestuous blows to their jawbone.

Either let them attack me without retaliating so that they would be guilty of battery and I would be guilty of nothing OR run to the nearest ally of the side of right

With me, I assume. Shillelegh law time.

Do what I have to do to defend myself, survival of the fittest.

Depends--are we talking about a weakling or someone who could actually do damage here? If it's someone who isn't much of a threat, restrain the person and ask them what their problem is. If it's someone who could hurt me, then attempt to disable them at weak points (i.e., kick to groin, taking out the person's knees and/or elbows, blind them in some way, etc.) before they can do the same to me.