Oh by no means did I want to convey that you should give up the right to defend yourself. I meant that if you can defuse the situation in a non violent way in t

Oh by no means did I want to convey that you should give up the right to defend yourself. I meant that if you can defuse the situation in a non violent way in the case where you deem the assailant worthy of a second chance you might as well take the high road and try that first. However, if the risk is well beyond the benefit of helping the person, or your first advance towards a pacific defuse of the situation proved nill, go ahead and come out with guns blazing. It's not that I'm going to stop protecting myself, but that next time I want to make sure it's not some scrawny kid that wasn't really even thinking of hurting me who really just needs 5 bucks to get a meal today.