Other than Jay, I have found two guys who would hit the guy. Here are their responses.
Bill–late 20’s, married, commutes to Chicago for improv.
I am most likely to try to provoke the other to hit me first, mostly due to
the legal implications if I hit him and then he presses charges. I don’t
really feel threatened by people ragging on me though since it usually just
exposes an insecurity they have. He is putting himself in the position of
looking like a pussy if I tell him he is all talk and afraid to hit me.
Then he has to hit me or shut up because I will never let him live it down.
I am certainly NOT leaving. I would not hit first since he is most likely
TRYING to provoke me. I don’t really go to bars though and consequently do
not get into bar fights. Alleviating myself of these situations for the
most part. Of course if I was in a different town and could just randomly
pound the shit out of someone who just wouldn’t shut the fuck up and get
away with it then that wouldn’t be a bad option either.
Scott–mid 20’s, ex-roommate, writer and rocker
Under those circumstances, I would hit him (choice a). However, there are
MANY mitigating factors (choice d). For instance, how close am I with this
guy? Do I know him from my friendship, or somebody else’s? If so, do I care
that I am punching that friend’s friend? Do I look up to this man or do I
fear him, is that why I find his comments “condescending?” Circumstantial
evidence aside, yeah, sure, I’d punch the asshole in that situation.