Pugilism

It occurred to me today that I've never been injured in a fight that I was smart, or cowardly, enough to walk away from. Heck, I'll own not being the bravest person you'll ever meet. Pain and I don't get along.

But I do think that there's something to be said for really asking oneself if a fight, physical or otherwise, is really worth it before getting stuck in. Mainly, because no matter how the brawl, or shouting match, comes out, it's always a lot easier to lose than to win. Both sides are much more likely to look like fools than to come out looking like champions. Especially when the point of the fight is to be seen fighting. "At least I fought," has never struck me as a particularly good justification for a fight, but I understand that I may be in the minority on that. But for me, a fight is only worthwhile when there's something more tangible to show for it than simply having been in a fight.

That is, for the most part, a side effect of the conclusion that there are better things to be done with the energy spent fighting. (Or even protesting, for that matter.) The world we have now is a side effect of myriad individual choices, often made with no real consideration of what others were doing. The world can change in much the same way.

But I think that for many people, fighting feels less costly. Someone can pick a fight, and call attention to themselves, and be lauded for being on the side of Right and Justice without having to pay much else. And maybe that's why people fight so often; the individual ROI is better than I give is credit for.