When is it okay for a man to hit a woman?

Chris Brown vs. Rihanna

So I was walking through Henesys ingame the other day when I overheard two nubs talking about this incident.

"OMG DID YOU HEAR ABOUT RIHANNA?"
"YAYA OMG CHRIS BROWN BEAT HER UP MAN"
"i wonder what she did to make him beat her up"
"I HEARD SHE GAVE HIM HERPES"

I didn't think it was true myself (and apparently the herpes thing is just an unfounded rumor going around) but after reading a few articles online, what astonished me is how some people are responding. In particular, some people are saying that Rihanna must have done something or said something to deserve what happened.

Now obviously I do not have the entire story, because I wasn't there to witness what happened, but in my opinion, even if Rihanna did give Chris Brown herpes or whatever, that does not justify giving her a black eye and a split lip. In my mind, there are very, very few instances where it is "acceptable" for a man to hit a woman with his fists. Giving him herpes is not one of them.

Maybe I'm old-fashioned and sexist that way, but I don't think there is anything a woman could say to a man that would warrant him laying his hands on her. And maybe I'm extremely biased because my own father used to physically abuse my mother when I was younger, but there is nothing that Chris Brown can do or say to redeem himself in my eyes.

I know that my own experiences color the way I view this issue, so I am interested to hear what the rest of Southperry thinks. When is it okay for a man to hit a woman? Should men and women be treated equally in every respect, including this one? Does a woman who gives a man an STD deserve to be beaten? Should a woman watch what she says, and should a man be the one to "keep her in check?"

Im no pacifist, but violence doesnt solve anything really. But it is a natural reaction human beings have, and some have difficulty suppressing.

The concept of not hitting a female derived from chivalry, and while most would never admit it, chivalry is sexism.

Take from this what you will, and im sure it'll get a few females mad, but if men can be hit, then women shoould be too, im not advocating beating a woman, quite the opposite, im advocating people not beating other people alltogether, as singling out hitting a female as "wrong" is a form of sexism.

Ooops, guess I was wrong, I suppose I do have pacifistic tendencies.

Fact is, violence is a natural reaction people need ot learn to overcome, and singling out women as an exception to such an incidence shows a subconscious mentality that they are more fragile, and it is morally wrong to physically harm them.

Having a non-sexist view of this, I'd say the same circunstances that you would feel the "right" to hit another man as a means of punishment and with the intention to physically hurt.

Not that I know which circunstances those are, except personal defense I guess.

EDIT: @-above, I was discussing with a female friend of mine about chivalry too, she insisted that men had to give their place to women on the bus (for example) and that it was not sexism.

if an incurable dissease is no reason to slap someone around a little, then what is?

If she gave him an STD without his knowledge, she deserves jail time. Men have beat women for less.

why do you say a man to hit a woman? is it okay if it were the other way around? why not just say its not okay for people to hit people? what is wrong?

society has established itself in a way that makes everything seem soo fair. their arguement is like women's rights and stuff.

but i say

Equality only exists until people stop benefitting from the excuse.

after that, its just really messed up.

Never.
A man shouldn't hit a woman, and visa versa.

I derno about all that, but I wouldn't hit a girl or a woman even if they were hitting me. Depending. If it was my partner/spouse hitting me for whatever reason, definitely not.
If someone was trying to fight me against my own will, not totally sure. Probably would be just a "pin down" kinda thing.

Stick a weapon in my face and it's time to throw down (or run away). Unless I could pin them down again?
That's my philosophy, anyway. There's different scenarios, each one could call for a different course of action.

To the feminists out there; If a man cannot hit a woman, a woman cannot hit a man. Period. We're all equal under the same laws (at least in the U.S. we like to say we are).

Umm... Never?

I once spoke to several of my guy-friends about this (Yes, I'm a guy btw), and we agreed to never hit a women, regardless of the circumstances. Why? Because real men won't hit women. I hate guys that hits their girlfriends / wives, especially. That pomegranate really pisses me off.

I understand, people can have a bad temper, because I myself have a bad temper. But regardless of how mad I've gotten, I've never hit a women before in my life. I've punch my brother, yes, but if I had a sister, I wouldn't hit her, etc. Worst I did was 'shove' my mom away from me when she was trying to hit me. =X

I think 'real men' wouldn't hit females, that's just stupid and immorral. Sure, we should try to treat females like equals in terms of job opportunities, but that doesn't mean we can treat them like other tough muscular men out there. Females have less body mass-muscles and are physical weaker (proven). They're not punching bags. :|

Females have less body mass-muscles and are physical weaker (proven).

If there were a feminist here, she'd probably hit you.

If there were a feminist here, she'd probably hit you.

This is true though. >_> Maybe not to female bodybuilders, but it's quite true from the crap I studied and read. Females have more 'fat' in their body, so they can produce and carry a child. Guys have more muscles, 'naturally'. Which isn't to say a female can't be stronger than a guy, just by regular circumstances, no.

Isn't having sex with someone and not telling them you have an STD a crime? Lock her up.

PS, He shouldn't have beat her.

To me this is a question of power and skill more than gender.
I wouldn't approve of striking a man,woman, etc if they were weaker than me unless I was physically provoked and unable to resolve the problem otherwise.
...
Well really that is the only time I'd hit anyone.
But with weaker people it is easier to subdue them instead of strike them.

In the same instances it is okay for a woman to hit a man, or a man to hit a man, or a woman to hit a woman. That's another argument, though.

I say women should be equally treated in all aspects, but I also say violence like this is pointless, and the only violence that should be needed is in self-defense.

The only 'beating' a man should do to a woman, in my opinion, is mental abuse. Not in a horrible, disgusting way, but the way a woman does it to a man. Women have always complained about how they wish they had equal rights and treatment as males, but what do they do to us? They freaking own us. >_> They use us as a puppet to get whatever they want.

Never.
A man shouldn't hit a woman, and visa versa.

Agreed.

Chris Brown was an idiot for what he did and now half of everyone that liked him before are gonna be like "wtp?".

He ruined a lot of his reputation for even thinking about assaulting Rhianna.

(Off-topic, weren't they dating?)

ITT: Bawww and internet White Knights.

If some crazy bit'ch came after you with a knife, are you "men" gonna stand there and let her gut you like a freshly caught Koi? (dohoho) No, you're gonna slap a ho, and kick her into the ground until she's no longer a threat.

Now that I've already imploded the thread, yes, if Rihanna did give this Chris guy herpes, she deserved whatever came to her. I don't give a flying f'uck what's "immoral" or not. If some chick willingly gave me herpes you're damn right I'd be socking her in the face.

Equality, baby.

Ideally we would want situations result in violence being the answer. We, however, can't help it. Humans react to violence, humans are violent. We have had relatively very little time to evolve and certain things are still hard wired deep down inside our brains. One such thing is violence.

Personally, I think women should never get hit. Men the same. We should even outlaw certain brutal sports that promote violence. Games and anything else violent, too. This won't happen though, sadly. Well, at least in a proper manner.

If she knowingly gave him an STD, an incurable one at that, she should face consequences. We need harsher ways to destroy these things. Promoting safe sex practices just isn't cutting it. A little off shoot, but I think laws on frugs should be made harsher. Rehab can help, however, too many people relapse. Nonviolent force is the only way I think we can accomplish making out society a better place to live.

In addition, I don't see treating men and women differently is necessarily sexism. Biologically we have different body types and out brains think differently. As long as it isn't hurtful in anyway I think we should treat each other differently.