The main thing that turned him is that you maintained your calm. Second was the apology and the fact you allowed him to save "face".Dragonfighter wrote:I recall a fellow one time almost hit me in a parking lot (my fault). He gets out of his car and walks back. He was a good sized dude with his girlfriend in his car. I got out, started with, "I'm sorry, my fault." And he starts to get aggressive and starts ranting. Now as big as he was, there were several mistakes he made from a hand to hand scenario as well as I was carrying. I simply said, "Look. I am sorry and I have apologized. Get back in your car before something happens we'll both regret." He paused, nodded and returned to his car after looking me over. I was not exposed but I do look kinda mean. I don't know what changed his mind. My stance, my tone of voice?
The application here is I appreciate the chance to make something right (apologize) when I screw up, I try to avoid trouble whenever possible. I should not have gotten out but I didn't feel like taking this guy from a sitting position was worse. However, I was NOT boxed in and could have pulled off but I did want to make him feel better. That worked out well.
OP did well but had the guy gotten off the road to pursue me, weapon would have been in hand.
Many people do not understand the psychological aspects of a confrontation.
