I was taken aback recently by something Vox Day wrote over at Alpha Game, in his post “What to do when a girl hits you.” Before reading further into my post, I strongly encourage everyone to read the story that Vox links. Its a rather long one, and context is critical. Done reading it? Ok, here is the line that struck me (pun intended), and probably also caught your attention as well:
The solution is simple. It is very simple and it’s very effective. If a woman physically attacks you in a manner that indicates her serious intent to harm you, then you beat the living shit out of her. Beat her so badly, so painfully, that she fears for her life.
The severity of what Vox argues for here stunned me. Before any kind of legal consideration, I remembered that Vox is, or at least claims to be, a Christian. And that the women whom this advice applies to are often wives. All of which appears to me to run in stark contrast to these words by St. Peter:
7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with youof the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.
I am having trouble in my mind reconciling these two statements. Yes, I understand that Vox is talking about a specific circumstance here: a woman trying to actively hurt a man. But I fail to see how beating a women to the point where she is worried that you will kill her is acceptable under even that circumstance.
Frankly, the whole topic of men striking women leaves me deeply uncomfortable. I have always been aware of my greater power when interacting women, and have instinctively known that I must restrain myself in order to keep from harming them. This has been especially true in intramural sports, where I, on several occasions, was too aggressive when playing with female colleagues.
So, given all of this, I think that what we have here is a good topic for discussion. Several questions present themselves, and I invite my readers to offer their thoughts on the matter. If there is a question that belongs her but isn’t, feel free to mention it as well.
1) When is it permissible for a man to strike a woman? Or perhaps better put: When can a man deliberately hurt a woman?
2) What kind of force can a man use when he needs to be violent towards a women?
3) In the context of marriage, when it is permissible for a husband to use force against his wife? And what level of force can he use?
Donal Graeme 
I think you ladies are missing the point. Maybe it comes from your lack of understanding of the distance between the sexes and their strength differential. A man does not need to beat a woman near to death to put that kind of fear into her. He does not need to go all out; half out is probably still too much. The advantage is so great, he can terrify her with relatively little effort.
He does not need to break bones, he does not need to knock her out, all he needs to do is prove his ability, and more importantly, his willingness, to hurt her. Lifting her off the ground and giving her a good shake ought to do. Actually hurting her is just to show the consequences for her actions; what she can expect if she destroys the family.
That is what is being discussed. This is not some loving wife that suddenly gets attacked by her husband to teach her a lesson. This is a woman using the law to steal a man’s home, children, transportation, his arms, and destroy his business and reputation. She struck first, but he is going to strike last.
Women created this, now men have to clean it up. If our methods seem distasteful, it is a taste of your own medicine. It was perfectly alright then, to use force and violence against men, but now it is going the other way. Good behavior will obliviate the need for these methods. All a wife has to do to not provoke this is not falsely accuse her husband. Why such a response?
The Shadowed Knight
I think its necessary to mention that their is always a window of opprotunity to defuse a physical altercation. When people are going to attack or feel particularly violent their are always body language give aways and generally a situation can be defused if identified within that wundow. Sometimes it is necessary to leave as a way of defusing a situation another way can on occasion be to sing a hymn, if assuming you are Christian you sense combative intent pray for wisdom and protection. But often the best way to defuse a situation is to remove yourself from the immidiate area. Situational awareness and wisdom can prevent these situation from leading to physical violence. Most importantly when you are in this window speak calmly but respectfully as tones of belittlment or anger can drive the person to attack. Remeber a soft answer turns away wrath but grievous words stir up anger.
LOL’ ing all night long @ DJ.
Do you know what else turneth away wrath? Chokeslamming wrath against the wall, let wrath hit the ground, and then kicking wrath in the ribs until wrath is moaning in pain. Then you pick wrath up by the throat, knock the breath out of wrath, and slap wrath around a bit.
Just in case that was not clear from the article where the guy not fighting was almost killed. Let me repeat that. The guy not fighting was ALMOST KILLED!!!
The Shadowed Knight
“But often the best way to defuse a situation is to remove yourself from the immidiate area. Situational awareness and wisdom can prevent these situation from leading to physical violence. ”
Go to this website and read some of the domestic abuse stories. Many men try to remove themselves and the woman gets in the way or threatens the man when he tries to leave. It isn’t as easy as you make it sound when you hear real life stories.
http://www.avoiceformen.com/
“He does not need to break bones, he does not need to knock her out, all he needs to do is prove his ability, and more importantly, his willingness, to hurt her. Lifting her off the ground and giving her a good shake ought to do. Actually hurting her is just to show the consequences for her actions; what she can expect if she destroys the family.”
Absolutely this.
“If our methods seem distasteful, it is a taste of your own medicine. It was perfectly alright then, to use force and violence against men, but now it is going the other way. Good behavior will obliviate the need for these methods. All a wife has to do to not provoke this is not falsely accuse her husband.”
And this.
Women tend to naturally revert to Team Woman when the going gets tough (or one talks about the going getting tough). I, of course, am guilty of this too. I have been thinking lately that this may be because we know, deep down, that we are much weaker and therefore have the innate response to close ranks. I understand that this is off topic but I am just thinking out-loud here. I’m not trying to excuse women’s excuses for other women but I do have to point out that they are, absolutely, coming from a place of fear.
Margery, you mentioned the reversion to Team Woman, and you own attempts to overcome the tendency. I would direct you to the second paragraph, and where you cut it off. It is instructive, illustrating the same thing you are explaining. The best part is that you probably never even realized it.
Women created this, now men have to clean it up. If our methods seem distasteful, it is a taste of your own medicine. It was perfectly alright then, to use force and violence against men, but now it is going the other way. Good behavior will obliviate the need for these methods. All a wife has to do to not provoke this is not falsely accuse her husband. Why such a response?
Even you, as you decry it and struggle against it, fall to it in the end. You cannot help it, cannot stop yourself. You are not going off topic, you are nervous about where you are taking the conversation. This is a very sensitive area for your sex, because it cuts past the dissembling and illusions to the heart of the matters of the heart. You left out the last question, but deep down, you knew it need an answer. Good job.
The Shadowed Knight
Fearful women are well behaved women. Not to many women qualify as well behaved.
My HTML tags did not work properly. Everything should be italicized, with the first and last sentences bolded. Donal, could you see if you can fix that?
The Shadowed Knight
[Ed: That do it?]
Yes. Thanks.
The Shadowed Knight