Poll: Do you believe in the "below the belt" rule?

[Drake the Dragonheart]

For me it all really depends on the scenario. Under "normal" circumstances, absolutely not if I can avoid it. (When the adrenaline is flowing sometimes unintended things happen) But in a life-or-death situation, yeah I am destroying my aggressor's junk if it will get me out alive or end the fight without me taking traumatic injury. Fortuitously I have never been in such a situation, and I hope that continues to be true.

 

[Caligulove]

Depends on the scenario, I guess.

Realistically, I can only seeing myself getting into some kind of fight after a night at the bar or getting mugged, possibly being outnumbered by some punks. In that sort of a situation, yea fuck it, I'd become a ball-kicking machine- anything to deal lots of pain in a short amount of time.

Though if it's some kind of "fair fight" or whatever the fuck that would be, like a gentleman's fisticuffs- then no. Seems like an unspoken rule that that is not allowed. Don't see how I would ever get in that kind of situation though.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

There are no rules in a real fight. Bite scratch kick and punch. Whatever it takes to win.

Organized fights like Boxing have rules that should be followed.

This is the only really valid answer. If you're fighting for your life, you do what you have to do; if you're in a sanctioned fight, then you follow the rules, but a street fight has no rules.

 

[timeadept]

I would be very surprised to find my self in a fight under these circumstances, I don't push silly arguments to the point of blows and I'm no where near stupid enough to try to have an intelligent discussion at a bar with someone who is obviously angry, probably intoxicated, and two to three times my size (i'm not exactly the burliest guy ever, so it's not hard to find someone who weighs twice as much as me).

But I have no problem with aiming low if someone's trying to go alpha male on me and forcing a fight. I'd probably pull out an eye gouge as well if i had more than my pride on the line, hell nothing is off limits at that point if i think it'll help my situation.

 

[Conn1496]

If it's to balance the tables, yes. If you can fight with honour, do it.

 

[blindthrall]

If they kick me in the balls first, I'll kick them right back.

 

[Les Awesome]

if it was some drunk in a parking lot i'd bust his balls

but in like a martial arts tournament never

 

[binvjoh]

I don't believe in the whole concept of honorable fighting.

Sure, it very noble and all, but when faced with a situation where serious harm could be done to you because you're unwilling to break some sort of moral line it all comes of as sort of, uh, mad.

 

[Naeo]

Generally, yeah. If it's a fight-or-flight situation I'll do what it takes to win. Or, if I'm defending myself from a legitimate threat, then yes, absolutely I'll pull every cheap shot in the book. But, if it's something like sparring or something that's mutual and not for the sake of beating the hell out of someone, then I'll not. It all really depends on the situation--if it's "oh god this guy is trying to beat me up what did I do" then fuck it, I'd pull out a knife or a lead pipe or whatever to defend myself. But I'm not gonna try and rip someone's balls off if, say, I were just sparring for martial arts or something (granted, I don't do any martial arts, but it's a hypothetical).

 

[thylasos]

Yes. I've never thrown a punch in my life (at a person, anyway), but I've defended friends, largely just by standing in front of punches, and if I'd had an opportunity to thwack the bloke in the nads and run off, I'd have done that. As it was, I've always been attacked by groups, and it would lead to retribution.

Poll's a bit odd, too.

I won't "do anything to win", but I'll kick a guy in the nads to get away from a violent nutcase.

 

[newwiseman]

The "below the belt" rule is really more of a gentleman's agreement and hearkens back to the days of honorable duals.

A street fight is rarely the situation to bring up ones honor, so anything flies. Just don't pull a weapon unless they do first (stupid don't kill people laws).

 

[PoliceBox63]

That's the option in a lot of take down moves I was taught.

 

[EmpressZombiKitty]

I was always taught to aim for the groin, shins or gouge the eyes(that's more reserved for rape). The groin would be my first area I'd go for, next to hair pulling. Then I'd whip out my pepper spray... This may be a girl thing, but I know I couldn't beat him with brute strength so, yeah.

If I was fighting another girl, I would probably fight a little more fair. I can throw a punch, so I'd try that route first. BUT, if she's some buff MMA looking chick...I may do the above.

 

[drisky]

Someone is trying to start a fight with me, won't listen to reason, and could easily break my skull. I give no apologies to what happens to him in those moments. But honestly I don't see myself ever getting into such a situation.

 

[Eldarion]

Kicking him in the groin is generally an acceptable tactic, if he made the mistake of leaving an opening I would be insulting the honor of the other fighter by not punishing him for it.

Even saying that though, I prefer not to. Its a cheap shot.

 

[flametoad9]

being a soccer player and fairly big in the few fights i hav been in i find it usefull to trip them and the run

 

[Chromanin]

I thought the "below the belt" rule was made for boxing, martial arts exhibitions, and other sporting fights. In those cases, yeah, that rule should be followed.

But anyone who says things like, "I only fight honorably," or "I believe in a fair fight," has never been in a real fight. I mean, if it's just some drunk idiot messing with you and would probably fall over if he took a swing at you, no, you wouldn't take that guy apart. If you feel threatened, though, you do whatever it takes to kill him or get away.

That said, I wouldn't go for the groin or advise anyone to do it except as a last resort because that isn't the best way to incapacitate someone. What you should do is carry a knife or some kind of weapon with you at all times, and I don't mean a swiss army knife. I mean a knife. Boker Great Knight is my favorite. I also carry a pair of Delta Darts with me at all times. If you're up against someone significantly larger than you are, there's no shame in pulling a weapon.

 

[Nieroshai]

That rule was to ensure fair fighting among gentlemen in honor-bound pugilism. In a society where assailants aim to wound or kill instead of intimidate or "rough up," going for the delicates is a perfectly honorable alternative to letting the gent politely ram your nose through your skull.

 

[Riddle78]

When you fight,it's to survive. In survival,there is ABSOLUTELY no holy ground. I'd punt em in the nuts. I'd do ANYTHING that gave me an advantage. Like,say...Throwing glass dust in their face. Or weaponizing my wardrobe (like wearing a cloth sash in place of a belt,and inside is a heavy weight)

 

[Blank Verse]

Win.