Wow, this has gone to a 2nd page without a consensus being reached? Fair one. This is a question that is integral in the highest levels of government or even international institutions. The question isn't necessarily about violence but it addresses the "use of force". Essentially, it's the same thing (just without the same connotation).
Basically, there is no right or wrong answer. It's a matter of opinion which is formed using an accumulation of factors, the most important of which is context.
Anyway, onto the actual question - When is violence (aka the use of force) necessary? When you have to defend yourself? Definately, or else you're not fulfilling your first instinct of survival. When you have to defend a friend? Well that's trickier. Does your friend need help? Will it be justified to help him? I mean, has he brought it on himself? If so, help break it up, but don't help him beat the guy up. If he has an argument with you for not beating the guy up, tell him why.
In cases were it isn't self defence, and a guy is "stepping on your toes"... my fucking word. That is the worst reason to fight someone. How do you mean stepping on your toes? Pushing you about? Being a dick? Being annoying? Imo non of these are worthy reasons to use force. The better option is use the authority figures that are set up to deal with this dilemma; police, bouncers, security, referee, boss etc.
The entire reason we use violence is to prove ourselves physically that we are superior. Now this is PUA 101 shit.
Proving something to someone, means you are
qualifying yourself to someone. So going to the authority figure means that you don't have to prove yourself physically to the guy, that now you now have the upper hand (authority) on your side, so he has to prove/ qualify himself. But he can't. So he leaves. You win.
Please not that noone was hurt, nor was violence used in the making of this hypothetical situation.
But let's get back to it. Should you use violence when someone's hitting on your gf? Fuck no. Unless the guy won't back off if SHE has asked him to. Infact, even then, do the above. Tell him to back off, then get the authority figure if you need. As for hitting the guy, no. Your only role is support for your gf to the point she doesn't feel threatened by the other guy/ abandoned by you. She takes the lead. If she wants to talk to this guy, let it happen. Talk to him yourself if it's appropriate. AMOG, without violence. What is important is that you arn't someone who feels the need to get involved to prevent something happening - that's a sign of insecurity, not of an alpha male.
Violence was an alpha male characteristic when physical force was what decided your place in the tribe. Out of my friends, the physically strong guy is not the leader. It's the guy who's got wit, intelligence, blah blah blah, but not the guy who beats people up at clubs.
But hey, what do I know, I'm just a 3rd year politics student, part time stand-up comic, datee of a hot partical physicist student 2 years younger than him, who qualifies himself within the final paragraph of his post...
