imported post
protector84 wrote:
I agree that there is a lot of irrelevant armchair quarterbacking here. Questioning whether the OP should go to bars or not and silly comments about popcorn are irrelevant. When it comes down to the incident itself, there are two categories: what the OP should do or not and what the OP hasa legal right to do or not do.
The only "should" part that applies here is that it is a bad idea to use foul language or raise one's voice. Even if the other person is acting rude it is rare to get anything accomplished by screaming, cussing, or name calling.
As to legal rights in most states, certain procedures have to be followed. If the bouncer doesn't tell you explicitly to leave the property, you are not trespassing and it is as simple as that. Yelling or cussing is not "disorderly conduct" unless it is excessive, extreme, or the individual has already been warned to stop the behavior. So legally, at least according to most states the OP did nothing wrong but the bouncer did a whole lot wrong.
As to someone else's opinion here who stated that bars have fights regardless of the type of place, there is still a difference based on the establishment. Even the best of best bars I'm sure will have problems from time to time. Fights and other issues can happen anywhere even at church. As a general rule, though, at least in my experiences when you go to nicer establishment, these problems are far less common. Even fancy nightclubs may have a fight once in a while but you aren't going to have them on a daily and even hourly basis like some dives do. Nothing is perfect anywhere but simply add up the probabilities based on the location and other factors.
I agree; however, the point is, Jsmith88 oculd have done some things differently. It is one thing to be within your right to defend yourself but doing things such as mouthing off and pushing back when you apparently have the clear chance to simply walk away only caused the situation to get worse, resulting in a punch to his face, and him spraying someone.
Before you engage in any physical confrontation with anyone, you should walk away, or run away. If I am outside of a bar, and the bouncer pushes me, I have the tactical advantage of retreating. There is no reason for me to stick around and find out what the guy's problem is, to push back, or to wait for him to punch me in the face. It is one thing to look for a fight, it is another to wait around for one. Ok, because it is legal for me to use pepper spray in the state of North Carolina on anyone I perceive to be ANY physical threat to me but this situation was simply dumb.
To Jsmith88, don't take this personally from me. I mean no ill will in towards you through my comments. I will say that you never know how people are going to react. In Greensboro, police of arrested MANY bouncers for carrying weapons such as hnives and guns (and not all of them were handguns) while working at clubs, bars, and venues. Some people have been injured in incidents that could have been easily avoided.
I don't know you, but I would assume you do not deserve to be shot. That bouncer could have used something my dangerous on you besides a couple of pushes and a punch. And with six other unknown bouncers, it could have ended badly for your friends as well.
I can not stress this enough. Your life is worth everything to you, your truest friends, and your family. Walk AWAY! Leave it alone. Period.