When faced with a looming conflict regardless of scale we all have three choices for survival. We can run, stand our ground and fight or we can hide. Each option has it's own consequences with a variety of possible outcomes. When facing a bear in the woods your decision may be different than facing a bully on the playground. Standing your ground against the bear is not a good bet. Standing against the bully may hurt but it can earn you respect. Of course other elements are a factor as to which option you choose. With a weapon, say a gun, your chances of standing against the bear have greatly increased. I would hope a stick would be a weapon of protection against the bully and not a gun. The point obviously depends on several factors as to fight or flight.