>simple truth is that physically fighting with someone over a disagreement is a very bad habit to encourage.

I'm not sure physical altercations are worse than the alternatives. I remember as a kid you would fight with your friend and next day be friends again. No big deal really.

Would you rather have a fight or have insults/passive aggressiveness/social ostracization. I'm really not convinced mental pain is much better than physical pain.

> I'm really not convinced mental pain is much better than physical pain.

Yeah because it's a ridiculous conclusion you jumped to, where the only two options are violence vs "insults/passive aggressiveness/social ostracization". Those are not the only two options.

Teach your kids to listen to, understand and communicate their feelings properly.

I'm not sure this is a realistic expectation. Of course you want your kids to be perfect, but I have yet to see any parent succeed in such an endeavour.

I don't even think most adults can handle their emotions well enough for what you're suggesting.

Indeed. Modern society got rid of dueling to resolve disputes way before women were even allowed to vote. There is a trend that favours a more civil society and it has ties to the increased productivity of such a society as opposed to the increased effeminacy. In such a society eventually proved to offer more opportunities for women and this in turn improved the productivity of the whole society. So perhaps we're confusing cause and effect?