[user104658]

Originally Posted by Liam-

White people can murder people in ‘self defense’ but heaven forbid black people defend themselves against violent racists

‘Angry lefties!! ’

Neither is defensible, neither was self-defense. Self defense is action you have to take to stop an immediate and active attack. Going in swinging on someone who has backed down is retaliation. If someone is hitting you and you hit back to make them stop then you're defending yourself. If someone punches you in the face and then a few minutes later you walk over and punch them in the face, you're both guilty of assault.

[Liam-]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Neither is defensible, neither was self-defense. Self defense is action you have to take to stop an immediate and active attack. Going in swinging on someone who has backed down is retaliation. If someone is hitting you and you hit back to make them stop then you're defending yourself. If someone punches you in the face and then a few minutes later you walk over and punch them in the face, you're both guilty of assault.

‘Other passengers stand between the arguing parties and try to defuse the situation, while encouraging the two black commuters to leave the bus.

They do, but more angry words are exchanged before the pensioner jumps to his feet and appears to swing at the black passengers.

He is then punched several times, leaving him with a black eye and a bump on his head.‘

They were leaving, he got up to them and swung at them, they didn’t ‘go back’ to him.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Liam-

‘Other passengers stand between the arguing parties and try to defuse the situation, while encouraging the two black commuters to leave the bus.

They do, but more angry words are exchanged before the pensioner jumps to his feet and appears to swing at the black passengers.

He is then punched several times, leaving him with a black eye and a bump on his head.‘

They were leaving, he got up to them and swung at them, they didn’t ‘go back’ to him.

I watched the video with my eyeballs, I didn't need a synopsis, he was nowhere near them when they approached on the attack. I'm not justifying what he said or did, throw the racist old arsehole in jail for his final days, whatever... throwing your hands around is never the right response unless you absolutely have to. You "being raised" to respond to violence with violent retaliation doesn't really put a dent in that.

[Ammi]

...not wishing to open a whole can of worms/..type thing...I know that some older people can have quite prejudiced views on race as well as other things and it can never be excused as a generation thing because it was prejudice back in the day and remains prejudice...but since the referendum/result...it feels that those prejudices are much more vocal, rather than staying within the head and thoughts...which if they have to be felt and could never be changed, is the best place for them...