Author notes

Face-to-Face (aka Opposing Forces)

swoobie

on Nov. 2, 2011

Ever been face-to-face with someone who really didn't like you? Better
yet, ever been face-to-face with that person in front of a crowd?
Internally, everything is all out of whack…your adrenaline is pumping,
your brain is trying to figure out how you can save yourself from
embarrassment, your instincts are either trying to get you to minimize
the situation or to heighten the stakes so it appears that you are the
aggressor…etc. Lots of things are off balance in this kind of
scenario.
——————————————————————————————————————–
I always think of the kid who's getting picked on out on playground.
The neighborhood bully has closed in on him and there's a crowd gathered
just behind them to watch the outcome. It definitely can be
intimidating, but I think it's the 'victim' that has all of the power in
these situations. People forget, it's not just the victim who's in the
spotlight, the bully is on display too; and if the victim can surprise
the crowd or create an outcome they weren't expecting, the bully has
more to loose more than the victim if the outcome was reversed.
——————————————————————————————————————–
While the sides are normally unbalanced in this type of situation, if
the victim can somehow figure out a way to impress the crowd ("win the
crowd Maximus"), he will win an even bigger battle than the one standing
before him.