๐๐ข๐๐๐จ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ค๐๐จ๐ฐ๐ง โ ๐๐๐ญโ๐ฌ ๐๐จ ๐๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ ๐๐ก๐๐ง โ๐๐๐๐ค ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ โ ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฌ
A FB friend recently sent me this video and asked what I thought, especially about the comments attacking the two younger guys involved. Most responses are, frankly, disappointing, labelling them as weak, โnot real men,โ and worse. Instead of joining that pile-on, I want to offer a more thoughtful and insightful breakdown.
๐๐๐ญ๐๐ก ๐ ๐ข๐ซ๐ฌ๐ญ, ๐๐ก๐๐ง ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ
Before reading further, please watch the full video. Please take it in. Then come back and consider these perspectives.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ
The location is stunningโbut dangerous. Narrow pathways, fencing, and the proximity to a rushing river mean one misstep could lead to serious injury or even death. Thatโs a critical layer to this entire interaction.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
We donโt know what started the incident, but the aggressor appears to be dealing with mental health challenges. This isnโt to label him, but to note his behaviour: abrupt, invasive, and physical. He shoves one of the young men several times. The man doesnโt retaliateโpossibly frozen in shock, and with the confined space, moving away isnโt easy.
๐๐ฌ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ
The aggressor leaves, returns (believing he was insulted), throws a bike, and ramps up his threats. One of the young men responds by saying โno,โ which is truthful but can provoke further aggression. Eventually, they shift to a more passive posture, with hands raised and apologizing multiple times. Still, the aggressor threatens to throw one of them in the river and starts ranting about a cougarโmore signs of instability.
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฏ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐ฏ๐๐ฌ?
Absolutely. In my view, they wouldโve been legally and morally justified. Would I have? Yes, particularly if I had a loved one with me, but every person reacts differently. And those reactions arenโt always under our control in high-stress moments. Many in the comment thread are playing โtough guy,โ but itโs easy to throw punches from a keyboard.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ค ๐จ๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ค
What if they had defended themselves, and the man was seriously injuredโor worse? Video helps in court, but what if there were no video? The narrative could easily flip to โtwo men attack lone hiker.โ I do not point out that having no video is a reason not to defend yourself, but rather to highlight what will be brought into the legal discussion afterward, because the conflict does not just end once it appears to be over. These are real-world consequences that should be explored when discussing.
๐ ๐๐จ๐ญ๐ ๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐จ ๐๐ญ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐
I donโt think the recording escalated the situationโthis appeared to be from a helmet cam that was already running. Still, the presence of video does help add context that many lack when commenting.
๐๐๐ญโ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ, ๐๐จ๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฌ
Unlike the reactive tone dominating the original thread, I hope this perspective offers something more thoughtful. These situations arenโt black-and-white. We need nuance, not name-calling.
๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง
In the end no one got hurt, and whether out of strategy or lack of knowledge on what to do, is that not a good outcome?
๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐โฆ
Videos like this are precisely the kind of real-world scenarios weโll be breaking down in the new Membership site Iโm launching alongside Richard Dimitri and Pam Armitage. Expect thoughtful analysis, practical lessons, and discussions that go far beyond the comments section.
Stay tuned. Itโs coming soon.
