Comments by "Highonlife24" (@Highonlife24) on "Just Stop Oil activist punched to the floor by angry motorist" video.

@grayghost6692 I agree with your point but the fact he assaulted the protester and even worse kicked him in the head while he was down (which can kill somebody) was not the right way to handle it. I 100 percent understand the frustrations of people just trying to get to work and live their lives but resorting to violence isn’t the way to go. How are you going to provide for your family if your in jail for assault or worse. This should be a matter for the police to handle. The first thing that guy should have done was call them and let them handle it.
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@user-tk5fi1my5i I’m sorry but I don’t excuse reckless behavior on either side. The protesters are wrong for impeding traffic and should receive fines even a little jail time. ( But saying that they are putting peoples live at risk is a stretch because it’s not like the are blocking high speed traffic, only slower moving traffic to a complete standstill. Now if the former does occur and major collisions and even lives loss due to the illegal protests then we can have a genuine conversation about that. But only when that happens not before, so drop the putting peoples live at risk argument for now) But that guy should receive even more punishment for assault. Especially when you are clearly the one who initiated the violence. I don’t care how pissed you are for people being a nuisance, assault is not the answer. Everyone should be held accountable for their actions with the punishment fitting the crime. Simply saying “I don’t agree white kicking people in the head but don’t be surprised when your breaking the law” minimizes the serious crime that guy committed. No matter how you slice it when you kick someone in the head when they are on the ground, you are clearly trying either seriously hurt them or kill them. If/When that guy gets himself arrested for that attack. I bet you he’s going to be asking himself, “was it worth it”. Both sides are wrong. But the wrong doings are not at all equal.
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@kevinhowells5810 I want to make something very clear. I don’t support this form of protest because it doesn’t really solve the carbon emissions problem. It just prevents people from going to work. I agree with all of that. However that guy took it too far from assaulting that protester. Not only did he punch him, he kicked him in the head while on the ground. That could have down right killed him. The protester did not initiate the violence in any way nor did he even fight back. People tend not to realize how easy it is to seriously hurt someone or even kill them with the right blow until it’s too late. I understand that these protests are a nuisance to people trying to get to their destination. But potentially deadly assault isn’t the answer. Calling the authorities would have been the correct option as these protesters are clearly hindering traffic so the cops would clearly be in their rights to remove them by force via arrest if necessary. What that guy did didn’t solve the situation in any way but potentially get an assault charge. If that protester presses charges he would have an air tight case against him. Again, I’m on the side of the people driving however assaulting protesters doesn’t accomplish anything but escalate the situation, and land you in jail. Plus, since these protests have been trending and have been very public, I highly doubt that most employers and bosses would fire their employees for their commute being hindered by protests that is holding up traffic everywhere. Hell, those employers and bosses are probably getting held up too.
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@RainerGino what does that have to do with anything that is being discussed right now? Making an extreme what-if has no connection on what occurred in that video.
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@farkinarkin5099 you are right both names are one and the same. I changed the original name to highonlife24 years ago but for some reason every time I reply to YouTube comments from my email, my original name seems to be the one that is displayed. I did not intend to deceive anyone. My next point is that what does this conversation have anything to do with leftism? Your political beliefs or mine are irrelevant to this conversation. I’m arguing on the side of what was morally right (or wrong in this case) that was shown on the video. In no way shape or form was that individual right for attacking that protester regardless on how much of a nuisance he and his fellow protesters are being. That is really the only point I have made through all of these comments. Also the fact you are goin on this strange rant about “leftist apologist” and deception tells me that you are more interested in pushing a political agenda than just having an honest convo about something as simple as resorting to violence when dealing with protesters blocking the street. Your making this more complicated than it needs to be.
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@TygerScorpion85 Your right it doesn’t. I agree, however there are few issues here. I actually disagree with the possibility that he was just some random guy, he definitely was either was the driver of the van or the car and I think you are right about the woman being his wife. With that being said we can’t make assumptions of how the collusion occurred as we have absolutely no context of led to the collusion all we have is the aftermath. Maybe those protesters caused the collusion or maybe that driver broke traffic laws to swerve around them an ended up colliding with another vehicle. We don’t know. So we shouldn’t make any assumptions of what caused the crash until we have more video or official information. And even if those protesters did cause the crash it doesn’t really excuse what that guy did as it definitely was not the way to handle that situation. Punching someone or kicking them in the head while there down and not even fighting back doesn’t make you look good either. And his behavior is clearly stressing out his wife who is clearly trying to calm him down. And his behavior increasing her stress isn’t good for her or her baby. He should have just called the police and in the meantime checking on his wife to see that she isn’t injured. Like I said before, both sides are in the wrong but not equal as he clearly went too far in this situation.
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@user-tk5fi1my5i Let me ask you something. Name me one protester movement in history (and I don’t care if they are movements that you agree with or not, this comparison is regardless of the morality of the movement) where violence made protesters “think twice” before doing that again. It just makes them double down on their cause as you just made them the victims not the other around. (Which you admitted in your comment) So if one knows that violence won’t cease these protests why even do it. I do not care if those protesters are a nuisance that is holding up traffic and annoying people (Which they are) . It does not excuse that man assaulting the protester no matter whether it is a punch or a kick. That is assault period end of story. This whole “they had it coming”mentality eliminates any accountability on that man’s part. I’ve seen plenty of other videos of annoyed drivers handling the situation much more maturely and sensible then this guy. I don’t excuse the protesters actions in any way and I’m sure you can see that through all my conversations with people in this comment section. But it still doesn’t excuse that man’s act of violence whatsoever. I said this before and I’ll say it again. Both sides are wrong but the offenses are not equal. What that guy did was excessive and unacceptable. And he should definitely get punished accordingly if that protester chooses to press charges. And those protesters should definitely receive very expensive fines and even a bit of jail time for their behavior. And one more point, saying the cops “probably won’t show” up is a pretty baseless claim as these videos only show what is occurring in that moment as that what gets the most views. You don’t know if the cops weren’t called and if they don’t show up later. We can only make judgements based on what we can see in the video. Anything beyond that are just pure assumptions and baseless speculations.
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@michaeldee777 He kicked him in the hand that the protester used to protect his head. Even if the blow didn’t land on his head, it’s clear as day that guy was aiming for his head. Plus, even if he wasn’t aiming for the head, assaulting someone who didn’t attack you is illegal and wrong across the board. I don’t excuse the protesters from blocking traffic, but committing a crime as retaliation for another crime doesn’t make you any better the situation it makes you makes you worse.
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@blakasmurf And attacking someone and kicking them in the head potentially killing them is both an assault and murder charge.
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@mohammedkhaliq1475 If assaulting someone unprovoked with violence and potentially going to jail is what you consider “developing character” than I really question your morals. Violence doesn’t ever bring people together. It just creates more resentment and hatred between both sides. This has been the case throughout human history. The fact that your are making the excuse “The kick to the head hurt but it wasn’t hard and definitely wasn’t hard enough to cause serious injury or death” ( that statement is incredibly flawed anyway due to the fact the kick didn’t do much damage simply because the protester protected his from the blow with his hand. And the kick was strong enough to send his phone flying. So that blow was clearly potentially dangerous) removes any accountability of that guy. Plus this was not a “good ol fist fight” as only one person initiated violence and the protester didn’t even fight back. That is not developing character that is physically attacking somebody that is doing something that is your annoyed with. That isn’t what makes you grow as a person, and as an adult that guy should’ve known better.
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@wlaba272 No it was not the right thing to do. And like I said several times in this comment section. Violence doesn’t make protesters cease their actions. They double down on their ideals. They probably expect violence. Every time you use violence against non violent protesters regardless of what the protesters are doing is right or not, you give them the moral high ground. Assaulting someone doesn’t make you look better in anyway shape or form.
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@countcampbell I don’t know how your coming to the conclusion that I’m a troll. I’m actually having an honest discussion regarding this situation. I’m not resorting to insults, sarcasm, and just any type of douchbagery to get people pissed. I am being very genuine with my stance. If you disagree with me I would like to here your take.
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@SubEdge I'm going to need you to send me videos of "Police not doing anything" because I have seen pleanty of videos of police doing the opposite. Also, the keyword in your argument is "some". Some videos of officers not doing anything. Not all. Just because a few cops allegedly did not handle the protests well does not mean all of them are not doing their job. Your, making a collective assumption based on the few videos you have seen. And I love that you bring the old tired if "I had a family member dying argument. 1. How do you plan on being there for your dying loved one if you are in jail for committing vehicular homicide stupid. 2. What that man did to that protest had nothing to do with the safety of his woman or himself, he just wanted to unleash his anger on someone who he knows won't fight back. 3. You along with these other people keep making all of these imaginary hypotheticals to purposely take focus away to the crime that was committed. Nobody was "dying" so please cut that BS argument. That man assaulted that protester first who didn't even fight back even though he is well in his rights to do so. And most importantly he kicked him in the head, (or at least tried to kick him in a head). That is assault, open and shut case. And the fact that he was aiming for the head with a kick shows me malicious intent. We all know that a kick to the head can easily seriously injury or kill someone. I'm sorry but there is no excuse for this type of behavior. The difference between you and I, is that I am holding everyone equally accountable here. I don't agree with either side and I think the protesters should be fined and the organizers of these protests should face some months' worth of jailtime for public disruption and holding up traffic. However, I also, think that man should do months if not a few years' worth of jailtime for potentially deadly assault of that protester who did not put his hands on him at all. You on the other hand who clearly has a bias against these protesters because you clearly don't like what they are doing are willing to excuse potentially deadly assault against them because of that bias. If that is the case than I have to question your morals. Is committing a worse crime against someone committing a lesser crime acceptable because majority of people find the one committing a lesser crime an annoyance. If your answer is yes, then you're playing a very dangerous and slippery game where that type of mentality can be apllied to all sorts of situations which will now allow retaliatory behavior resulting in serious injuries and even death.
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@farkinarkin5099 Your hopless to talk to. You can make long paragraphs as much as you want. It doesn't change anything I said. Violence is not the answer when facing people who are not initiating violence.
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@SubEdge The importance of people’s needs does not excuse assault. You only want to fault the protesters which I have numerous times condemned for their actions, but you don’t hold the assaulter to the same standard because he is clearly against the protesters like you. Your bias is very clear and the fact that you excuse potentially deadly assault on non violent protesters makes me question how far you would let this go. Until someone gets their skull caved in, until someone goes to jail ruining their own lives as well as their families? Which is it. It seems to me that you would rather have chaotic vigilantism on the streets than order. And over something so minuscule like some annoying protest. Bro get some help.
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@Thedeafnerd Your right I haven’t been in this type of situation but I know myself and I would never try to beat someone who is not trying to hurt me. And I would never kick someone who is already down unless they are a threat to me and my family. Saying they are asking for it takes away any accountability of the attacker. And I’m not ignoring the points being made I have acknowledged all points defending this individual’s actions and I have explained in detail why they are just poor and shitty points. He illegally assaulted that protester and kicked in the head while he was down. That can kill someone. If you really think that violence, especially to that vicious and reckless degree, is justified then I really question your morals. By your logic we can assault, mob attack, or mow down any protester that tries to block the road because they are a nuisance. That sir, makes you a sociopath. I’m sorry but there is nothing that you can to prove to me that the assault we have witnessed in that video was justified in any way.
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