> Beating up on other people kills you inside, slowly, because it shows you exactly what kind of person you are.

I disagree. What kills you inside slowly, is all the authority figures telling you what a horrible person you are for defending yourself.

I mean, by all means if you live in a place where the cops will actually do something if someone hurts, just call the cops. But you have to remember that the world doesn't consist entirely of north america.