Was i wrong ?

[steve from staten island]

Be clear, you handed him the can and he accepted it? Correct or not? If so and then he threw the can at you, your options would be to take his plate number and call police as id call that assault, plus the fact that he threw a lit cigaret in your face should have gotten him arrested.
Everybody talks like a tough guy and id ask you would they start a go fund me page to help you pay for a attorney when you got arrested. You could of picked up the can called him a slob and deposited it in the garbage yourself and been done with it as someone else suggested.
You live in a state with liberal gun laws what if he pulled a gun on you? Kick his ***? Well he wasn't afraid of you, was he. What if he was good with his hands and knocked you out? You defend yourself when you have no options left.
The guy was a asshole but i still want to know did you hold out that can and he took it or did you attempt to force it on him by putting it towards him in a way he had to take it. Theres a difference.
You know one more thing, we do things when were younger without thinking about the consequences. How many older people have actually had a street fight? You have any idea how many people do hard prison time when a fight goes wrong? What about blood? Even if you come out on top your hands will be cut up and you can have the other guys blood all over you. Either way win or loose you run the very good risk of exchanging body fluids.
You do what you need to do in life to protect yourself and you never underestimate another person because that older man could have put you in the hospital very easily.
Don't see this as knocking you as I'm not. I dont know you but as a member here id hate to see you hurt or in trouble.

 

[Jcharger]

A lot of good points have been made so I will say little. In my opinion, you were not wrong letting him know that he shouldn't dump things out of his car. I have friends who have done that. The escalation shows he clearly has a problem. There aren't enough details of the exchange (expressions, tone) other than the point about raising the fist for me to know right or wrong in what followed. Once escalation starts there isn't much time for judgment about whether it can be defused or needs to be dealt with. I don't think I would have pointed the dropped can out to him (but may have picked it up and thrown it out) and commend you on that. I admit, I probably would have had the same reaction to the escalation even though it would not necessarily have been the right thing. He now has something to think about and might think next time he tosses another can out of his car.

 

[roadrunnerh]

First - I completely understand your position. However, I would say keep walking. It's not worth it. You aren't going to show some old guy the error of his ways.

 

[66 Sat]

Mate you did the right thing and should do it again. Too many people in the world nowadays scared to stand up for what's right. Most people just stand there and film it instead of helping. Keep up the good work!

 

[Brandy]

Hmmm.....Hard to say what's right here. Absent the events that followed the soda can on the ground I suppose that you couldn't have expected him to throw the can at you.
He obviously didn't want the can so I doubt that I would have tried to return it to him.
I WOULD have stopped and looked at the can, and then at him with my hands raised out to the side, as in "WTF". Whatever he did after that would dictate whether he got further attention. Things CAN escalate faster than many people can make decisions to deal with them. This usually ends up with all parties reverting automatically to fight mode. As he did. Now, the cigarette thing? He would have got that back in his face quickly. We would go from there.

 

[miller]

Been there, done that...usually winds up bad, no matter what you do. The coke guy, and his old lady are both ********. Nothing will change that.

And the judge thing, if it goes that far, usually goes bad, too. For the most part, don't think much, about them being 'right'. Reminds me of something that happened to a friend of mine, years ago. He was in a gas station...getting gas. Happened to notice another car at the pumps, a girl in the passenger seat he thought he knew. So, he stepped over to say hi. She was not who he thought she was, after tapping on her window, and said sorry. Well, her 'guy' was just coming out of the store, saw things, and started up on my friend...tough guy stuff. Pat tried to just explain things, but, no go.
The guy swung on Pat, missed, and Pat decked him, one punch and out. Cops called.
Pat had to pay court costs, and go through six months of 'anger management'! Never did sit right. Tough calls, what to do, when.

 

[Frank Mopar]

I would have said **** the can and kept walking. These days you never know. As you already know, nothing good comes out of these things. With that being said....

I might give him throwing the can at me as I started it but on the other hand, a cigarette flicked in my face and its on brother. Someones getting their *** kicked and it could be me. See first sentence

 

[Qbrozen]

I would have picked it up, informed him the world is not his garbage can, and thrown it out myself on the way to the door. If he responded like an asshole to my comment, I'd dump it on his hood on the way. But I wouldn't stop long enough for him to even get out of the car.

 

[not so famous bob]

I would have said **** the can and kept walking. These days you never know. As you already know, nothing good comes out of these things. With that being said....

I might give him throwing the can at me as I started it but on the other hand, a cigarette flicked in my face and its on brother. Someones getting their *** kicked and it could be me. See first sentence

A bunch of good points made here. It`s a wonder ur alive, might not be around these parts. If u could have stood the agrevation, u could always pour coke all over his car, and leave the can setting on top of it . He would remember the incident ! A-- holes need to be treated like a--holes.

 

[JB400]

Just remember actions speak louder than words.

 

[Frank Mopar]

A bunch of good points made here. It`s a wonder ur alive, might not be around these parts. If u could have stood the agrevation, u could always pour coke all over his car, and leave the can setting on top of it . He would remember the incident ! A-- holes need to be treated like a--holes.

Im alive because I choose to keep walking which is the best advice. IMHO

 

[Ranger16]

I think maybe the best thing to do would have been to say, I think you dropped this. I'll throw it in the trash for you. That way he knows he's been had and you come off non confrontational while he feels like a fool (if that is possible. Though it doesn't sound so from his response). This however is all said in hindsight, which we all know is 20/20.

 

[threewood]

Yep, I would have confronted him. If no one else confronts these *** holes then we have already lost. A nice black eye would have him second guessing pulling that **** again.

 

[Aarons Air]

Wow ! So many responses & points of view. It is a lot to chew on. Just wanted to say thanks to everyone for thier input.

 

[mr. b]

there are real ******** these days yesterday I saw a women on my property with her dog taking a **** I told her to take that dog and let it **** in her yard this my property and she told me fu you mother fr I will get my boy friend I told her to go a head and I will knock his teeth out he never came

 

[44070dart]

there are a lot of ******** in this world and you ran into one I agree .. BUT this is how people sometimes get shot in this country .. just not worth it over a can, if it bothers you, pick up the can, give him a look, throw it out and move on .. no shortage of idiots out there. Every time you drive 5 miles you will spot at least one cutting someone off or doing something stupid

 

[Kern Dog]

The great people that made this country are not the types that would have passively walked away. They were the types that would have taken a stand.

 

[Aarons Air]

The great people that made this country are not the types that would have passively walked away. They were the types that would have taken a stand.

I like the way you think !

 

[QuickBpBp]

I despise people for polluting like that. I do Property Maintenance and I have large areas along roads where I am always cleaning up garbage and glass bottles. When my wife and I take our dog for a walk I take a garbage bag with me picking up along the road sides so much we got another recycling container. I live here and drive past all these areas daily. I didn't put it there but it doesn't mean I have to leave it there.... I agree with others as far as saying something. I probably would have said something like "Don't worry I will throw your trash away for you" People are nuts these days so you never know what you are gonna get but it doesn't mean you need to accept people's disgusting ways......

 

[roadrunnerh]

Get involved when it's something serious and worth it, (like if he was beating his wife) not for a pop can.
Pick your battles / bigger fish to fry....
You said the guy was in his 60's! If you popped him good and he fell back and smacked his head and hemorrhages guess who's gonna serve some prison time?
- Over a pop can.