Is poking someone's forehead with your index finger (in an intimidating manner) also assault?

[Liliesxoxo]

My friend and I saw this fight between two young college girls, ages 18-20's.

They were arguing over a desk or something. This was an idea of how the fight went:

Girl 1: ''Leave me alone, back of ''*****'', bye''

Girl 2: ''Don't start. You want to get smacked right now. Then she pokes her forehead with her index finger in an intimidating manner while at the same time saying ''Not another word''.

Girl 1: Shoves her and is screaming ''Don't touch me, you ''*****'', ****** put your hands on me''

Fight starts and goes on. They both destroyed each other. Girl 1 said Girl 2 started it when she got physical by poking her forehead. That was assault to her. Is that assault too?

yes

no

[DaveJord]

Technically, yes its is assault. But also the person accused of assaults could clam self defense if the other women was being aggressive and made her feel that she was in threat of harm or lose of life. So she had a right to defend herself by poking, pushing or shoving her.

Its called escalation of force... you start with the most passive use of force and then escalating as is required.

[Liliesxoxo]

Both girls had different views. Girl 2 said the poking was just a way to put Girl 1 in her place, as a way of saying ''Don't mess with me, I ain't scared of you''. Girl 2 said Girl 1 then started the fight by shoving her.
But Girl 1, that shoving was a response to Girl's 2 ''getting in her face with the intimidating poke'' so therefore Girl 2 started the fight by touching her first. Her shove was more like a ''get away from me, back off, get off my face'' type, then girl 2 charged at her and girl 1 fought her back.

[DaveJord]

Right but in court if they were charge they both would clam self defense.

[Sandeeppingping]

Girl 1 is right if that's what actually happened, people need to be smarter, once you get in people's face and call them names, that alone, is you provoking a fight, not only that but then you actually touch that person? the moment that physical barrier is passed by it's too late you asked for it, light shove poking forehead patting my shoulder, doesn't matter

[Liliesxoxo]

yeah girl 1 felt intimidated and her shove was more like a ''get away from me, back off, don't touch me'' response, to which girl 2 then proceeds to throwing the first hit, starting the fight and girl 1 fights/hits back

[Liliesxoxo]

Girl 2's excuse was that she was trying to put her in place (similar to when someone is telling you they're not afraid of you, not to mess with them) but to Girl 1, that was still getting touched and therefore assaulted, so therefore Girl 2 started the fight

[Sandeeppingping]

If there was anything that would entice a fight more than "trying to put someone in their place" it would be only talking about the person's family, that ain't an excuse that's a confession

[Sandeeppingping]

But yea touch barrier is everything, any type of touch, light shoves are also putting people in their place, you're basically telling them "What are you gonna do about it bitch (if a woman) / pussy (if a man)"

[JosyJosy]

It is, when you get touchy it's usually only going to escalate

[genericname85]

i think the way "assault" is defined is pretty damn loose and meaningless. because it can men "offensive" phyiscal contact, which what you described can definitely be for someone. and it can also mean "harmfull" physical contact, which it definitely is not.

[Liliesxoxo]

yeah while girl 2 claimed girl 1 started the fight when she got shoved (prompting girl 2 to then fight her), girl 1 said that girl 2 started it by touching her first.
Then girl 2 excused it that poking her forehead was just trying to put her in her place, as a way to tell her not to mess with her and that she's not scared of her. Girl 1 said that was still touching and assault and that therefore girl 2 started the fight

[genericname85]

i think that "being assaulted" can virtually mean "taking offense". so it's really not something active that somene does to you but you do to yourslf in this case. it basically should really not have any legal consequences. i mean if we're talking about battery, bludgeoning or violence, that's different. that's clear cut. assault is just a wishy washy nonsense word.

[Guy13]

Lord i hope not because I won't be able to use my brass Thimble along with my brass knuckles !!!

[Aerolyn]

Technically, yeah.

A very small version of assault, but assault nonetheless if we're going by the book I'd say.

[Dinosaursandanime65]

People really should just start Spitting Fire instead of fighting in situations like these. The art of Bars. As a 1/4 black person, I can confirm this is the best way to solve conflict

[Anonymous]

They are both wrong, since you are supposed to report the assault and not assault them back 😂. Only time it’s not assault is if it’s defense, which it definitely wasn’t.

[CuriousMufuxka]

Sounds more like an invitation to getting your ass kicked.

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

Yes, this is an assault

[Fuentes]

Touch = Battery

[Guardian45]

Touching someone IS TECHNICALLY Assault!