
Originally Posted by
Shaps
I don't condone confrontational violence, but there was a time when the threat of it was real. It kept us ALL in check. Say something stupid, fists getting thrown - and no you wouldn't go to jail for it (so long you didn't maul them). It was just a fight. Go home, lick your wounds, and not say whatever you said again. Lesson learned.
Now, to much litigation and we're supposed to be "evolved". Physical retaliation is historically a check on utter stupidity. Know that old saying, "play stupid games get stupid prizes"... that type of thing. The internet has emboldened people to speak before they really think of what the consequences are, because well... there are none anymore.
Again, I don't condone wanton violence... but the underlying sense of repercussions for ones actions used to permeate the social construct and keep us in check. It no longer does.
And yes I understand it's much more complicated than that, this is just one aspect of social interaction.