Is it ever OK to hit someone? (no troll)

TyreLever

Obviously in most circumstances, no. However I work in a place with thousands, and there are some characters. There are 1 or 2 that really grip my shoot and I can one day see myself lashing out, as much as I dont want to. If this ever happened, would I even have a leg to stand on? When is retaliation acceptable?

andygb

In short - no!
If you snap and hit someone, that will be assault.
If someone hits you without provocation, then you would be able to reasonably defend yourself.

TELLIT01

As andygb says, only to resist a physical assault or to protect/assist somebody else who is suffering an assault.
There is never any justification for hitting somebody just because they are winding you up. If it's in a work environment you may wish to inform your supervisor of a problem with colleagues, but don't take the law into your own hands.
Best result would be that you are simply sacked on the spot, worse one of the options in a downhill scale of prosecution and potential imprisonment in severe cases.

Ozzuk

No its not. And you know that. So its more a question of why are you feeling like this? Could stress be a factor? Stress can impact our ability to deal with situations and people, causing us to lash out when we normally wouldn't. Might be worth talking to someone before it becomes a problem.

If it isn't stress, and more a case that you really just cannot stand these people, then again, consider why. Assuming they aren't directly out to get you, then you are letting their actions impact you in a negative way. Try and work out why this is the case, what is really eating away at you and maybe by working through it you can see their actions don't really matter to you. Look for ways to minimise contact, or just try and get in the state of mind that they have the problem, you don't care and focus on yourself.

pop_gun

If you get into a fight with someone at work, makes sure you're alone with them. No eye witnesses means it's your word against theirs. Your employer will either sack you both, or keep the longest serving (of the two of you) so as to avoid a employment tribunal.

Be on the look out for another job in any event.

Comms69

TyreLever wrote: »

Obviously in most circumstances, no. However I work in a place with thousands, and there are some characters. There are 1 or 2 that really grip my shoot and I can one day see myself lashing out, as much as I dont want to. If this ever happened, would I even have a leg to stand on? When is retaliation acceptable?

Self defence is a defence to many crimes. It can be used in the defence of yourself or another. It must only use reasonable force (typically the same threat you face - so you cant stab someone who pushes you)


You can use a pre-emptive strike, if you feel your safety is compromise- if you think someone is literally about to hit you

agrinnall

Only if you are a professional boxer (or similar, MMA etc.), or possibly in the military or police.

As for your "no troll" suggestion, that's clearly not the case, no reasonable person would ever need to ask this question.

TBagpuss

As others have said, from a legal perspective, the only time it would be acceptable would be if you hit someone in self defence - in which case the violence you use must be necessary and proportionate to the threat you reasonably believed you were facing at the time.

From an employment perspective, even if you acted in self defence the employer may take the view that your behaviour is inappropriate - they don't have to judge by the Criminal Law standard and level of proof.

You can look at how these individuals behave and whether you have a valid grounds for speaking to your manager about their conduct - for instance, if they are deliberately bullying you .

However, if it is simply that you dislike them and they irritate you, you may simply need to focus on improving your own self control - consider talking to your GP, looking into anger management techniques and ways to deal with tour own feelings.

ohreally

Have you no self control, there’s a tongue in your mouth, use it.

Manxman_in_exile

TyreLever wrote: »

...really grip my shoot...

Errrr... Is that some kind of "euphemism"? I Really don't know what you mean! Try English?


If someone I didn't want to be "gripping my shoot" did so, I'd be complaining to the police first.


Thumping them would be secondary...

ReadingTim

I guess it depends on how you'd feel about someone slapping you for asking such stupid questions....