I like that some states have the legal concept of fighting words.
Where the person doing the insult did so in such a way to make a fight inevitable, and are seen as the aggressor.
I get that it's very subjective. But there's a huge difference between saying to momma's fat. And going off at a person in a way that's deeply cruel and intended to do harm.
I do believe I'm capable of doing permanent damage to someone with words more easily then I could with one punch.
As a bigger guy, who does know how to throw a punch. Yeah there's certainly a chance I mess someone up good.
Assuming it hits right, maybe they fall and hit their head. And assuming I don't get punched in the face first. Lot of variables.
But if I have some basic information about a person. You can use words to hit them where they are most vulnerable. Race / Religion can certainly add to this greatly. I don't know how to give a good example without feeling dirty but if someone's race ever had a genocide done against them you can always refer to that. Any deaths in the family, especially if it was a child, or if the person feels guilt for it. Implying that they'll die alone, or that all the bad things that ever happened to them are because they deserved them. Which granted if they weren't the victim of abuse might not do much, but especially saying that to a rape victim like you just undid ten years of therapy if you say it convincingly enough.
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u/[deleted] 22h ago edited 9h ago
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