Because agreeing to settle by fight proves you're not scared to fight. It shows that even if another person can beat you, they're going to have to work at it, a

Because agreeing to settle by fight proves you're not scared to fight. It shows that even if another person can beat you, they're going to have to work at it, and risk damage in the process. Loosing a fight is much better for a reputation than declining to fight. I am speaking on behalf of the thinking of kids I used to teach in a rough neighborhood. I've never lived with such dynamics myself.