Punched in the face by a random jackhole

[NewOrioleWork]

Hm.

I had a similar thing happen to me before. Never met the guys, never saw them, didn't do anything, but they wanted a fight and I was there. The odd thing is, I had my backpack, wallet and mp3 player with me; they could have taken any of them but didn't, they just wanted to fight.

Every place has jerks, a--holes, etc. That could have happened anywhere. However, Baltimore particularly has a problem with nihilism. No one thinks of it in such terms: when we say, "nihilism" we usually imagine some pretentious professor or annoyingly pontificating philosopher, but nihilism is a serious issue in Baltimore. I've lived here all my life and see it everyday. Hope is hard to find here. A lot of people are growing up poor in desolate, violent areas with unreliable, uninspiring family members. Many in Baltimore feel like they have no hope for college or going away, and their only choice is between some bs bottom tier job (the decline of the unskilled labor market has had a horrible effect on the city) or drugs and gangs. Hopelessness weighs on people. Misery loves company. Those with nothing to lose with do stupid, reckless s--t just for entertainment.

As someone who has spent most of his life here and yet has traveled all across America and the world, I'll say that while that could have happened anywhere, unfortunately it has a much higher probability of happening here then elsewhere.

[Hank Scorpio]

Hm.

I had a similar thing happen to me before. Never met the guys, never saw them, didn't do anything, but they wanted a fight and I was there. The odd thing is, I had my backpack, wallet and mp3 player with me; they could have taken any of them but didn't, they just wanted to fight.

Every place has jerks, a--holes, etc. That could have happened anywhere. However, Baltimore particularly has a problem with nihilism. No one thinks of it in such terms: when we say, "nihilism" we usually imagine some pretentious professor or annoyingly pontificating philosopher, but nihilism is a serious issue in Baltimore. I've lived here all my life and see it everyday. Hope is hard to find here. A lot of people are growing up poor in desolate, violent areas with unreliable, uninspiring family members. Many in Baltimore feel like they have no hope for college or going away, and their only choice is between some bs bottom tier job (the decline of the unskilled labor market has had a horrible effect on the city) or drugs and gangs. Hopelessness weighs on people. Misery loves company. Those with nothing to lose with do stupid, reckless s--t just for entertainment.

As someone who has spent most of his life here and yet has traveled all across America and the world, I'll say that while that could have happened anywhere, unfortunately it has a much higher probability of happening here then elsewhere.

TGO - do you want to handle this or should I?

Ah, I'll do it. Thanks for the softball, N.O.W!!!!!!!

"Nihilists??? F*** me. I mean, say what you like about the tenets of National Socialism, Dude, at least it's an ethos."

[Bosibus]

So, on Friday night, I was walking to my apartment. I'm going down Baltimore St, about a block and a half away from 1st Mariner Arena. I pass a group of five or six guys (late teens, early 20s maybe) who are milling around.

"Hey, yo," one of them says behind me. I keep walking. "Hey, yo." He's right behind me, so I turn around.

"Hey, yo, let me ask you a question," he says, feigning as if he needs directions. "How do you get--"

POW!! All of a sudden, he punches me in my left jaw. Immediately I think he's going to go for my wallet. But he doesn't. He just stands there and stares at me with an obnoxious sneer. I'm trying to figure out what just happened. I'm thinking, "WTF?" (In fact, that's pretty much what I said out loud).

I start walking away. He starts to follow, as does one of his friends. They're blabbing about something, telling me to come back. Not being an idiot, I don't. After a few steps, they stop following. I head home without further incident.

So I ask you-- what kind of jackoff just punches a random passerby in the face? I mean, he clearly wasn't trying to rob me. Maybe one of his friends told the guy he'd give him $20 if he slugged the next person who walked by. But if that were the case, he'd probably just throw a punch and then run away, rather than continue to stand around.

Now that I think about it, my guess is that he was just trying to pick a fight. He was all juiced up or something, and thought, "I feel like fighting someone. Hey, how about that guy over there!" But seriously, did he really think I was going to fight a guy when, #1, I weigh 120 pounds and am built like Brandon Fahey, and, #2, he had five of his friends right next to him? What, do I have a death wish? I'm going to fight six guys at once, each of whom has at least 50 pounds on me? He learned a valuable lesson: don't ever pick a fight with ol' Paul Folkemer. Because I...will not participate.

(By the way, I hope this incident doesn't sour the non-city-folks' opinion of Baltimore. 99% of the time, you will not get randomly punched in the face.)

I live right there at Camden Court Apartments right across from 1st Mariner Arena. Not so sound racist but the African American Music Festival was at Camden Yards. I walked my dog about 11 o'clock and got approached twice by groups of late teens kids which decided to start talking smack, calling me white racist names, blah, blah, blah. Luckily, I ended up not drinking on Friday and decided not to talk back, instead I just kept on letting my dog poop on homeless people's beds in the grass.

But, I have been living there for 4 months and have yet to approached by something like this, not TWICE in one night, it isn't coincidence that this happened on the night of the African American Music Festival. Once people get into "groups" or "gangs" they think they become ten times tougher and only pick on the poeple they know they can either scare or get a reaction out of.

Trust me, I have no problem with African-Americans, have many friends that are black and I am probably one of the genuine, laid back guys you will meet. But incidents like this drive me up the wall because it is uncalled for for any human to do.

[Bosibus]

Actually..... that happened to me in Fed Hill when I was out one night with this girl I was dating. Some kid walked up to us and said something to her and then got up in my face for some reason. I figured he was just drunk and yapping right up until he punched me in the jaw. I was a little surprised - it didn't "hurt" really, but it really got my adrenaline flowing. His buddies were standing right there, so I wasn't about to get my @ss kicked by 3 random dudes. Then I pulled the dumbest line in the history of the world and said, "If you do that again, you'd better hope you kill me, kid."

lol...

Anyways, I wasn't about to escalate things. I ended up just walking away with the girl and wondering what would have happened if I had jacked him back.

In hindsight, I'm glad I didn't. Who knows if those dudes had knives or guns or what... but maaaaaaaaaaaaan, it was hard to swallow my pride.

That sucks. Maybe someone on this board is this guy...

About 2 months ago in Federal Hill I am at Mother's. I am with my fiancee at the bar getting a couple drinks and walking back to my group of 7 or 8 people. As I am walking, I see my idiot friend who thinks he is the biggest guy in the world yelling at this kid who was obviously oblivious drunk. Me, with a few beers in me decide to try to "Stop" the fight. I definetly had my bad-idea jeans on. I walk over grab push my friend away tell the kid, not in a nice way, to go away. Turn around to see where my buddy is and BAM!!!!!!!! Clobbered, my brand new beer goes flying into the crowd. Of course, my pride is pissed and I get pissed. The bouncer grabs me about 10 seconds later and tells me the cops need to see me, I am like "What!?!!?!" I didnt even do anything.

I go outside to see this kid who clobbered me bleeding from his whole eye. He is screaming to the cop that he wants to "kill" me. I am telling the kid and the cop that I didnt touch him. He keeps on telling the cop to let us around the corner so he can "kill" me. I laugh it off because his preppy face and shirt is now filled with blood as he is yelling at me, and he has no idea why. Come to find out, my friend he was initially arguing with hit him when he got outside. Great, I felt good because he got knocked. Not great, because the cop thinks I did it.

Since, the guy kept insulting me, insulting the cop, gave me his business card to call so we can "meet" up. Please. The cop got pissed at the kid, told him to clean up and leave Federal Hill. Luckily, the bouncer at Mother's saw the whole thing and let me back, I lost my beer though.

Needless to say, for about a week I had a yellow looking mustard stain on my chin. I had to see what he had though...most likely stiches, stupid punk.

[NewOrioleWork]

The trend in Baltimore is to operate in groups: very few people will risk messing one-on-one with someone. Official gangs are a problem, but unofficial groupings of people is definitely a bigger issue now then when I was growing up here (I'm 25). No one fights man to man these days. I tend to avoid places where I'm likely to run into groups of people, especially teens.

Black or white, you gotta be careful here: there's nothing to fear if there is nothing to lose. There's a lot of people in Bmore with nothing to lose. There are plenty of good, honest, harddworking people here who're struggling like me to deal with all the s--t this city throws at them. Unfortunately those people don't get attention and get overshadowed by the trouble makers: I mean, which has more impact on you, guy #1,297 who passed you on the street on the way to work without looking twice at you, or the group of kids who tackle you and roll you for your wallet?

Bos, just going from your description and my experience here as a Bmore resident, I'd say the kids were messing with you probably because they have little to lose. If they're just walking around at 11O'clock they're most probably city natives; I wouldn't necessarily say they were attending the music festival, as I've seen groups of kids wandering around downtown late at night before. Also they're young and stupid (most wars are fought by those 25 and under for a reason). And they're probably angry at their lives, alienated from the mainstream of American society, with few options that could lead to a successful future, and full of p-ss and venom and dislike whites on principle.

Oh, and never, EVER give the, "I have friends not of my skin color so I'm not racist" disclaimer. I don't know one non-white person who DOESN'T cringe at that trite, hackneyed and usually forced platitude.

[The Wedge]

The trend in Baltimore is to operate in groups: very few people will risk messing one-on-one with someone. Official gangs are a problem, but unofficial groupings of people is definitely a bigger issue now then when I was growing up here (I'm 25). No one fights man to man these days. I tend to avoid places where I'm likely to run into groups of people, especially teens.

This is neither a Baltimore thing, nor a new thing. This is human nature. Pack, or mob, mentality, depending on the number of people. The intelligence of a person is inversely related to the number of people he/she is with.

[Bosibus]

Bos, just going from your description and my experience here as a Bmore resident, I'd say the kids were messing with you probably because they have little to lose. If they're just walking around at 11O'clock they're most probably city natives; I wouldn't necessarily say they were attending the music festival, as I've seen groups of kids wandering around downtown late at night before. Also they're young and stupid (most wars are fought by those 25 and under for a reason). And they're probably angry at their lives, alienated from the mainstream of American society, with few options that could lead to a successful future, and full of p-ss and venom and dislike whites on principle.

Oh, and never, EVER give the, "I have friends not of my skin color so I'm not racist" disclaimer. I don't know one non-white person who DOESN'T cringe at that trite, hackneyed and usually forced platitude.

Touche, people have more "confidence" when they around others. Downtown was packed Friday because of the music festival and I believe this is the reason for the unusual groups that don't patrol this area.

As for the cliche, its a cliche for a reason, just because many people use it does not mean that it stands. I said this to show that normally I am a laid-back guy and don't make irriational tirades on message boards. If anyone feels akward for this comment, I apologize.

[srh523]

Ok Paul 1st off you and Jay Gibbons need to get on a workout program and put some meat on your bones.
2nd I have a good friend who knows Steve Blackman very well. (He has a gym here is Harrisburg) I can get ya in to a few MMA and submission wrestling classes then you should be good to go!

[Hank Scorpio]

Oh, and never, EVER give the, "I have friends not of my skin color so I'm not racist" disclaimer. I don't know one non-white person who DOESN'T cringe at that trite, hackneyed and usually forced platitude.

Yeah, this is definitely true... but I think that for most people (definitely not ALL people) it comes down to this : We all dislike jackasses, regardless of their color. Given the cultural expanses between races, there are truckloads of misinterpretations and tensions that will likely never dissipate on a macro level.

When it comes to race for me, it's simple. When I go downtown (or wherever) and see a black kid walking around with a dewrag, oversized white t-shirt and jeans around his thighs, I tend to think the same thing as I do when I see a white kid wearing the same thing... and that is, "I hope that kid has a good mother, a good father, a home, good friends and an education."

If I were religious, I would be the guy praying for everyone. For me, empathy is a powerful thing.

[The Wedge]

As judgmental as I am, I try not to completely "figure a person" by their clothes, especially in the young. I can only imagine what people thought of me by my clothing back in my youth. However, if that person is acting like a complete r-tard, that usually seals the deal.

[tywright]

You know there just isn't many places in the city where you can walk alone late at night...unless you're walking a pitbull.

I've been living in the city for over a year now and I witness at least one fight everytime I go out to the bars in Fed Hill or Canton so I'm pretty much desensitized by it. You just need to know who to avoid, what bars to avoid, and how to diffuse potential fight situations.

[Bosibus]

You know there just isn't many places in the city where you can walk alone late at night...unless you're walking a pitbull.

I've been living in the city for over a year now and I witness at least one fight everytime I go out to the bars in Fed Hill or Canton so I'm pretty much desensitized by it. You just need to know who to avoid, what bars to avoid, and how to diffuse potential fight situations.

Exactly...

[tywright]

I'll even supply a list of bars to avoid in Fed Hill on Friday nights:

Mad (Sad) River ...they have new management so it might be better, but I still won't go there
Mother's
Magerks

...and soon to be Ryleighs


Not a fan of Canton, so I'm not too aware of the bars to avoid, except maybe Coburns. That place is a breeding ground for meatheads from Dundalk

[Mashed Potatoes]

I'll even supply a list of bars to avoid in Fed Hill on Friday nights:

Mad (Sad) River ...they have new management so it might be better, but I still won't go there
Mother's
Magerks

...and soon to be Ryleighs


Not a fan of Canton, so I'm not too aware of the bars to avoid, except maybe Coburns. That place is a breeding ground for meatheads from Dundalk

No reason to avoid those bars on the miniscule chance you get punched for no reason. Avoid them because they're overcrowded on friday nights with underage kids.

Mad River happy hour from 7-9 is a great deal. 10 dollar charge for the bracelet, then it's all you can drink, and it's not too crowded yet.

[tywright]

No reason to avoid those bars on the miniscule chance you get punched for no reason. Avoid them because they're overcrowded on friday nights with underage kids.

Mad River happy hour from 7-9 is a great deal. 10 dollar charge for the bracelet, then it's all you can drink, and it's not too crowded yet.

Exactly...

And you're right Mad River is pretty good for happy hours, but once the underagers get let in then it's a madhouse.

I pretty much stick to the smaller bars now...and Ropewalk or Drifters