Am I in the wrong? Options

[Random_Stranger]

Ok, I am pretty much cool with everyone in my engine overhaul class. It is pretty obvious I love my car, as my normal day to day attire has anything related to Toyota on it, from shirts, jackets, hats, to keychains. Today, the first semester guys (which I am in) was in class all day, when we came out on break, I find one of my friends leaning against my car, and the other with is drink on my hood, along with his bag of burritos on it. I was like "WTF?! Get that $#!T off my car foo" and he took it off and was saying sorry. Then I got in my car and went to grab a bite to eat. When I get back, I am near the front entrance of our shop with my car back where I had it, parked out in front of the shop door to bring my car in. Then another guy was leaning on my car and when he did, it made my alarm chirp. For some reason, he looked back and decided to kick my tire to set off my alarm. I am already pissed off at this point, with energy drinks in my system to help aide my anger and frustration/irritation, and upset because the teacher was lecturing us all day when I wanted to get things done. I turn off my alarm, walk over there and the majority of first semester and second semester standing around watching me walk up. I told them "Look, I am not a confrontational guy, but I swear to God, the next one of ANYONE messing (used another word, but whatever) with my car will catch the quickest @$$ beating". Then one guy said "I like to fight" and I walked up to him and said "I'm serious".

After that, everyone except those who were not leaning on my car (and my friends who were that kept apologizing) were the only people who talked to me. Now that I have calmed down a bit, I ask myself, Am I out of line? Or did I have full right to get all mad for people leaning on my car, touching it (after I keep it clean when I come to school and don't want fingerprints on it and stuff), etc..?

[yarik83]

You are right. It is never good to threaten people under normal circumstances. There is a clause, however, that allows you to do so. You should be allowed to (under serious moderation) to issue threats in self defense. Problem is that when you are talking to 1 person or even 2 people, they are a lot more receptive to your argument. When you are approaching a group of say 5 or 10 it is really hard to get your point across without establishing some sort of authority first. In either case there are 2 outcomes. One group is passive and does not object to a single individual acting like an idiot and in another entire group supports that person either verbally or by engaging in conflict as well. Unfortunately in either case party that is being affected is at a disadvantage due to number of people involved.
The bystander effect is something that is evil and unfortunately there is no cure. You can have otherwise good people watch an individual do something immoral and they will continue standing there looking and not acting. Fear, on the other hand is a force to be reckoned with. Think back to your childhood.. what did it mean when your dad would reach for the belt? It meant that you knew that your rear will hurt like hell and that belt was always there to remind you to behave. Passive intimidation works much like fear and while I personally do not want to be an "old disgruntled man screaming at kids" I am 26 and I can not afford to repair damages incurred by unsupervised children that are up to no good. For example it costs $300 to replace a invader bumper. Shipping, fitting, painting, installing. All of us with fancy cars babysit our rides, going slowly over speed bumps, parking like 3 feet away from the curb etc. When there is an outside party damaging your property.. or even if that outside party can damage your property, preventative measures are often your best weapon.