When I was younger I was able to sleep in the middle of a death metal concert. Now at my middle age, I can't stand a slightest noise. Not just while I sleep but also when I am awake. Sometimes I just want to strangle the people who talk way too loudly. I want to shout at their faces "SHUT THE FUCK UP!"
Btw I bought some more today.
Patience remains a virtue, which should be more adhanced with age.
I have come to understand that I am a bit less risk taking with personal confrontations as I have aged, because it seems quite likely that my face will not take a punch (or a sucker punch) as easily as I could have tolerated in my youth.
We also are more conscious on what we would have to lose if we "win" the fight. It is not worth it unless for survival reasons.
I was very crazy not so long ago. I have changed a lot too. Life is much easier this way.
I generally wouldn't risk it anyways.
You never know what kind of retard is carrying a knife or gun around and ready to stab the shit out of you before you can react, regardless of whether or not you have weapons of your own. There are also the incredibly rare events where you could get one-hit killed by pure chance (hitting your head on a fall down or whatever), regardless of how strong you may or may not be.
I'll take a potentially longer life over flaunting my ego any day. If I wanted to fight I'd do it in a more controlled environment.
Not sure how that would change if there weren't a select few people who'd be devastated if I randomly died though, as that's a very big motivator for risk-management for me.
As I said, one of the main factors is having or not having anything to lose. Something you usually don't know about your "opponent" (granted you don't chose them unless you are a retard constantly looking for proper "victims"). Also as you said there are always more skilled or armed opponents, more fierce or just more lucky.
I haven't worked so hard in my life to lose it all on a completely stupid animal overreaction that could be smartly avoided.
That being said, anyone is capable of anything depending on the circumstances of the moment. Even completely stupid things coming from an otherwise smart individual.