The Horse involved in brutal street fight on Friday
By The Horse
@TheHorse (238390)
Walnut Creek, California
January 22, 2018 8:21pm CST
I was hesitant to write about this, but I new I ultimately had to. I grew up on the South Side of Chicago, and knew early that when people started talking or acting "crazy," you give them space. If two people start fighting, including husband and wife, you don't try and "be a hero," because you just might wind up dead.
But the other day, I just had to intervene, and I'm glad I did. Two of my favorite kids at the preschool, both female and both 4-years-old, were having a heated argument about whether so-and-so was the name of one of the My Little Pony characters. Suddenly, and without warning, one of the participants bopped the other in the head! I waited (don't tell my boss!) until the victim had bopped the other back, and then intervened.
The initial victim was crying in a screaming kind of way, so I shooed the other away, and comforted the initial attack victim with hugs and gentle words. When it was determined that her feelings were hurt, but her body was OK, I let the other fighter into the discussion, and we learned that what had made both girls mad was that they felt the other was "interrupting."
I told them that I didn't like being interrupted either and that the only way they could resolve their dispute would be to have a "play date" and watch the My Little Pony episode in question together. They agreed, and peace was restored.
The sweet part of this story is what happened next. The original aggressor was doing some really good listening to the more upset child, and when another child came over and interrupted the more upset child, the aggressor said, "You're interrupting her! Please stop talking over her!" Both girls remembered today (Monday) that they have to have a play date to resolve their disagreement.
Have you ever intervened in a violent fight? When do you do so, and when do you back off?
11 people like this
13 responses
@sallypup (69255)
• Centralia, Washington
23 Jan 18
That's cute and yet not cute. Years ago I attended a 12 step meeting. A bunch of vulnerable women in there. A lady who had "issues" showed up, not participating the way the rest of us were. She also took out a pocket knife and cleaned her nails- I saw women starting to sit further away from her. She then began to loudly talk about her Dad physically abusing her. It looked to me like a bunch of the women were about to run out the door and never come back to another meeting and they needed it. I decided it would be best for me to say something to Different Lady like Can you please not interrupt and not say those things? She got up in a huff and didn't come back. The meeting settled back down. The lady was kind of known for doing such things. She needed help but freaking out the general population wasn't doing anybody any good.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (238390)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 Jan 18
I'm glad she didn't hurt anybody. The knife, and the implicit threat, probably gave her a sense of power that was taken from her by her father's abuse. But she was displacing on the wrong crowd---others who had been disempowered though abuse.
3 people like this
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
23 Jan 18
One punch each and that would have been enough for me too.
2 people like this
@thislittlepennyearns (68246)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
23 Jan 18
When I worked at a daycare, one of our five year olds had a biting issue and would bite the other kids.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (238390)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jan 18
@thislittlepennyearns Heh. Who is the winner? I got my tongue bitten once. I think it was a moment of passion. I never kissed her again.
@thislittlepennyearns (68246)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
23 Jan 18
@TheHorse There' a line from one of my shows that I watch that I was reminded of when I read your reply. "Biting is like kissing, only more fun because there's a winner." Of course it doesn't apply here, but its still funny.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169590)
• United States
23 Jan 18
I think they will have a lasting lesson, both of them.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (86939)
• United States
23 Jan 18
Hey, I saw that Girl Scout fight in Airplane! Those kids can do damage! 
Seriously, kudos to you for letting the victim retaliate before you stepped in. I won't tell anyone that you did the right thing. I think everyone won in the long run, including the girl who threw the first punch (she learned that people will hit back!).
Seriously, kudos to you for letting the victim retaliate before you stepped in. I won't tell anyone that you did the right thing. I think everyone won in the long run, including the girl who threw the first punch (she learned that people will hit back!).1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
24 Jan 18
No surprise, you did a great job with those kids!
It did not quite come to a fight, but I was at a party in my early 30s here in Oregon, when a very racist bully-type dude with some back up was quite rude to a tall athletic black guy I knew slightly. The black guy picked up a pool ball in each hand and they backed off. I was afraid that I might have to intervene on his behalf for a minute there and the numbers were not good.
@nanette64 (20363)
• Fairfield, Texas
24 Jan 18
Awwww how sweet is that and a very valuable lesson that you taught them @TheHorse . I was getting out of my car at the DMV when I saw a guy & girl walking towards their car. She had a huge black eye. As she was getting into their car, she said, "I hit a cabinet door." I said, "Yeah, I had that happen to me too and that's why I shot him."
@Hannihar (130150)
• Israel
13 Apr 18
@TheHorse
I am very impressed with how you handled it. You are very good. Too bad you were not here when I wanted to get my cat back from the people below me. She was in the bathroom with the door half closed and he was in the warm apartment. My cat was sitting on their porch outside from afternoon to all night and she would not let me in to get her. she went hysterical and was crying and he could not comfort her and she would not let me get my cat. The only solution since who I called could not help was to call the police. I did and they came and helped me, but, now I have a to find a solution and she cannot go out very long by herself or just go out when I go out. It is not fair to my cat but I cannot call the police again and I know I will not get her back if she is stuck down below. She can jump down outside but cannot jump up.Something is holding her back. Their porch is up high so could not get her.
