Back in the Day...

I once came to the conclusion that it is not my choice to be nice to someone or not. I still stand by this... it really is not up to me but up to the other person if they are worthy of being nice to. If someone is acting like a total tool then all bets are off and the floor is open for either direct or verbal combat. But this also, should be taken as a grain of salt for if we were all to act in such a reactionary manner then surely the person with the quickest wit will have their face kicked in by the end of the night. No, one must be cool as a cucumber and wait for social spectrums to ebb and flow so that a desired outcome shall be realized. To put this simply: if one wishes to bad mouth you or treat you in an undesirable fashion then it is clearly your objective to read the social situation. Sometimes it is best to stomp their ass then and there for their allies have little power and therefore little influence in the terms of blowback. Sometimes, and this is far more likely, they are surrounded by allies and so it is best to "kill them with kindness" and their allies will take note and of course your once all powerful enemy will be labeled as nothing more than a stupid or jealous bitch. The overall lesson is that there is rarely a moment when one must bloody their own hands for in the Art of War turning an enemies strengths into weaknesses is the true objective and the only viable solution to winning combat.