Like it or not, we are not that different from the rest of the animals. Attacks rarely happen out of the blue; because they are costly in energy and expose one to often unnecessary injury.
This is an invite to self-examination. What others choose to do is their burden to bear. But look at the things that put you “on the attack”. Take a few steps back and ask yourself what corner you feel you’ve been backed into? Is it a “real” corner; or just one of perception or of some game you are playing and might have forgotten you’re just playing a game or a “role”? Are you trying to protect something that in the larger picture, will not amount to much?
Then look at what you feel it is that has backed you into that corner. What “empowered” that outside influence over you so? We don’t have that much power over the “energy” an outside event or person might direct at us. But can we side-step it and let them ricochet around in that corner it/they tried to drive us to? Can we eliminate that “corner” in our lives so we might never be backed into it again?
If someone else is not already credited with saying this, I’ll originate it:
“The well-rounded person doesn’t need to fear being backed into a corner!”.
© 2026 – SoulSequel
27 responses to “Someone who is on the attack, is someone who’s been backed into a corner.”
“Fight or Flight” response? I’m greatly surprised that you recognize the scientific validity of such a thought process.
@Jear77
Your mock surprise is . . . cute!
But I understand where it comes from. I’ve shared over the years how belief in God does not conflict with my interest in science. They complement each other.
Science is a good tool but a lousy God! Valuing it does not require that I hold it on high or worship it is some kind of Almighty.
@griz Science, absent of God, is meaningless information.
@immortal_pirate
Without a focus of Absolute Truth (one of God’s appellations is “Spirit of Truth”) . . . it is just us proclaiming ourselves wise in the temporary context of this moment in time.
Because some “breakthrough” tomorrow might render many things we think and believe in this moment . . . as outdated.
@immortal_pirate Actually, nothing is absent of God.
@griz in regards to being backed into a corner, that’s not always true. Those who are needing or having consumed a fix – whether it is alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex, etc. aren’t backed into a corner so much as they are either purposely lowering their inhibitions with the fix or the need/ desire to consume it so they can give themselves permission to think things, say things, do things that they would NEVER do if they were in full control of their faculties.
@Jear77
You don’t see that as a kind of corner they get backed into?
@griz not really. If you do it to yourself — either out of stupidity/ foolishness (I want to lower my inhibitions ro have a good time), pride/ arrogance (i can handle this), or using the need for it as an excuse (i deserve this thing i am without, therefore these actions to obtain them are justified).
If you do it to yourself, the solution is amazingly simple. Stop the behavior, seek out a way to do without… or suffering the consequences of having.
@Jear77
I wonder if the corner that we create for ourselves — wheher actual or just perceived — is any less a corner that makes us feel trapped and likely to come out swinging?
One should always have an exit…
Always leave an exit open for others…
One only fights to the death when one has no exit.
@immortal_pirate
There are those also who seem to delight in such battles. It’s as if they live to generate them!
The winning — actual or perceived — becomes a point of personal validation.
But we could accomplish so very much more as a species, without this need to trounce others for our validation :shock:
@griz Try telling that to the Islamist that want to kill you because you are a Christian…
@immortal_pirate
The shortfalls of their religion is on their heads. Christ’s teaching allege that physical death is a “survivable condition”.
I handle an attack by going silent and under reacting. I weigh weather or not I need this in my “bubble”. If I don’t, I yawn and walk away, drive away, hang up, and get on with my usual life. Let that person spin in place, or find another target.
Then there are the moments in life where I caught someone and I could have an I-got-cha moment. I have to stand back and assess the damage. Again, I asses my need for playing gotcha. Chances are that I simply know this is what this person did and I put it in clear calm words before I exit and leave it there. There is no reason to hold that person in a corner of gotcha. Set them free to figure out things for themselves.
Then there is a situation where they are standing in a line blocking traffic and I see an opening. It will be a contest between their knee and nip joints and the power of my car engine. I am driving through!!! I don’t care about your protest.
@ladybarbara Like this…lol
@immortal_pirate
The “protest culture” has really gone too far. Not only are they a pain in the butt to others, over-using it for anything and everything is actually working against and weakening the response of the society to it through over-exposure.
More and more, protesters are there mostly for their own edification and less for the sake of effective social change.
I call it, “my corner”.
@luftballooneyegouge
Do you find yourself there often?
I spent enough time sitting in the corner at school they way it used to be. I’m not a big fan of corners!
@griz Actually, I’m not sure if I’ve ever really been in a corner, but I figure it has the advantage that you can’t be flanked, and there’s no diversion other than the task at hand.
like the way my son plays soccer, he is better on defense than attack :D we ‘fight’ if we feel the need, but we dont attack…
ya!
i start out in pretty much every scenario on the positive side (sleep and coffee intake according of course). but i caught myself being passive aggressive at work today, because of some craptacular behaviour via a coworker, to be sure, but i checked myself, sorted it out and moved on. we Can side step it. it isnt good for us to carry that crap!
@BelleMadre
Just because someone plops crap in your path doesn’t mean you’re obliged to step it! (And come up smelling like it!).
And the reaction that you never show to an instigator is to them at least, a reaction you never had.
It’s like a failed fishing expedition. It’s no fun throwing out bait that people won’t bite on!
@griz sometimes it is about exercising self control and that means watching your step on the proverbial side walk :D
@BelleMadre
Self control is a very great virtue.
Also a rare one. Most people are overly controlled by their feelings and urges: rather than being the one who controls these aspects of themselves.
@griz there are times when i think it is extremely important to control ourselves, but i think it is good to have a release, where we dont have to work so hard at it. im not perfect at this but i try. in balance anyway
i have what i call my “poker face” sometimes at work, but instead of a deadpan give nothing away stare, it is a somewhat crazed grin :D
@BelleMadre
Channeling urges and emotions is a valid method of controlling them. You decide where and how that energy is released.
It’s the difference between the emotion having you, and you having the emotion.
And most people who are being “had” by their emotions are deep in a psychological game of energy procurement.
The perfect psychological parry, is to give them nothing!
Self-control does not have to be Spock-lke stoicism! That’s actually very unhealthy.
It’s you deciding who/ what is in the driver’s seat and who/what is being “driven”!
I appriciate your call for introspection, @griz. You’re right, the instinct to defend is part of the survival instinct that we’re born with. The problem that I’ve noticed is in the things we consider to be a “threat to our survival”. Take road rage, for example. A person percieves that he’s backed into a corner and his survival is threatened because someone cut them off in traffic so it’s perfectly logical to run them off the road. Our survival instinct has become perverted in our minds to the point that we find threats in the most benign actions like simply changing lanes on the highway. I practice peace on the roadway and it’s taught me a lot. Before I blast the horn or deploy the middle finger, I take a moment to ask myself, “Why am I so mad?” “What do I hope to accomplish?” “What would happen if I reacted differently?” The mere act of asking these questions provides enough space in my mind to calm myself down and realize that MOST of what happens on the road doesn’t threaten my survival and I eventually let a lot more things go. It’s been a great lesson for me but I wouldn’t have learned anything if I didn’t ask myself the questions to begin with. We must all ask these questions of ourselves when we’re backed into a corner and feel compelled to defend or attack.
@TruthDistillery
There are movements afoot in our culture that celebrate the act of “being triggered”.
Ultimately, that celebrate us not being in control of ourselves; or celebrating things that justify us “losing control”.
And then trying to put the blame for this lack of our self-control . .
on others!
To call this merely perverse, is being too kind!