I've sort of been thinking about how restrictive we are of violence today, while being extremely tolerant of speech.
I think maybe there's a natural balance to speech and physical consequences that we have stifled in the name of peace and order. We certainly don't want mass violence or anarchy. We want people who live in peace to be safe and those who are justifiably innocent to feel secure. We don't want to condone unfair fights, or extreme physical punishments, or permanent results due to temporary intoxication or instability.
But physical consequences can sometimes humble in a way that words never can. A quarrel is sometimes resolved when the participants invest more fully into it. Things can become clearer when more than words are on the line.
I wonder if we should find a way to incorporate a little more of a certain type of physical confrontation in our society in a way that is acceptable and beneficial to the growth and natural regulation of individuals, leading to a qualitative improvement of society as a whole.
there is some precedent for this. For example, in college Marcus Smart gave a shove in the chest to a man who was badgering him. The man later expressed regret, saying he would re-think how he behaves at games. Some physical contact brings another level of reality that can clear the mind and make you say, "whoa what the heck am I doing here spouting this stuff".
As an aside, the US is not like Europe. If fans here were allowed to say the things they say in Europe everything would break down...there'd be in-game violence, post-game violence, lawsuits up the whazoo, etc. etc.. Here in the US we have guns. Guns in public not being legal in Europe allows them to have some extra expression that can get out of control at times, but without the gun massacre, or if not massacre, a shooting/murder at the end.
I'm sure I"m in the minority, but I like that Serge Obaka went after Marquisse Chriss. Chriss was giving him the mobster stare down after Serge landed on his butt. I like it when that kind of punk one upping stare has consequences.