How do I deal with scaring someone?
So I had an altercation with some random person on my walk home... For the purposes of this post let's call him Tommy. TommyTookTooMuch.
I don't want to write a whole story, but let's just say, Tommy acted completely inappropriately towards my partner, and I escalated pretty strongly. I don't think anyone would object to how I handled things, I just don't want to write a whole story about how I'm a violent but heroic champion who defended my lady.
Anyway, I reacted strongly because I'm my mind, that was the natural progression. You don't act like that to someone without expecting a violent reaction.
Anyway, I shove him strongly and throw my bag off and start shouting some generic loud 'come at be bro, I will break your face' stuff. He manages to steady himself and I shove him again, causing him to drop five of his 12 cans of cider.
At this point I reaffirm my offer of violence and expect him to post up.
He... Doesn't. Instead, he looks at me with this face of absolute fear, and starts doing some weird movement, trying to work out how to recover his dropped cans while his hands are full, and whilst trying not to get closer to me.
It was pathetic... and very disarming.
I was ready for mortal combat, Tommy looked like he was about to cry... Though that might have just been the dropped cider.
Anyway. My issue is, I would do everything exactly the same a second time round. I acted appropriately for the circumstances as far as my partner and a bystander was concerned.
But the look of terror on his face... It's got me a little messed up. I've been physically intimidating before, but... I dunno, I don't like how it makes me feel.