What are the laws regarding fighting? - Germany

Hey,

So, I'm a MA student in Schleswig-Holstein, and wondering about the laws in Germany regarding fighting, getting into fights, what not. This guy, old boy keeps calling me 'bitch', and 'mo-f****r', and it's getting there where I have to have a serious conversation w/ him, but at the same time know my rights if it has to come to it (a fight). Are there 'fighting words' kind of laws here in Germany? Where a 'bad insult' can be considered an attack? Naturally I don't want to get kicked out of school. Are these kinds of laws regarding fighting more relaxed here than in the states? It's not like I'd mess fella up too bad. Don't think I'd pull an American History X. Any suggestions?

Do the German thing: go to the police and charge him with "Beleidigung". Make sure you have witnesses.

If you let him provoke you into hitting him, you'll surely be charged with assault.

How I know him - he's my quote "study buddy" here. I'm pretty good friends w/ his two roommates, and a few of his friends, - he's not a random guy, and I know his roommates would side with me, and him going to police would not be likely. But yea would these insults not be enough? I mean in Germany can you call anyone anything and if they hit you, they're totally liable? Ah, I can't go to the cops for Beleidigung though, I have to handle it myself one way or the other.

if hes calling you a M++- F++--r hen just mention not with his mother after you have seen what she spits out

I think your reading too much into this. Where I come from MF and Bitch are terms or endearment. Maybe Mik is on the right track and you should respond with something semi-clever about his mutha. Maybe "yeah right, tell yo muthuh to stop calling me, emailing naked pictures of her and shit." Who knows, it may spark this guy a little and you might get your wish to kick his ass when he swings at you.

yeah, that's pretty much right, i though have to think of something to say when he calls me bitch. 'wassup bitch', and what not. he's getting way too comfortable

I wager 50 Quatloos on the newcomer.

i think i'm going to write an email to Merkel to pass a one free punch per stay rule, as long as the puncher is not german, and the person getting punched is. reckon it'll probably pass no problem. call it the no harm no foul rule

Don't bother her on a Thursday, that is her Spa and beer day.

cue the music!

What is the chance that he messes you up a bit? If not, then one punch might take care of him and as long as you're not in a bar I believe the police would not even be interested.

chance? basically zero. i wouldn't let anyone talk to me that way in the states, you know? that's normal. and yeah that's kind of what i was thinking. why the minus 1 I don't know. good comment I thought thx

Well shee-it, Tex, y'all just gotta go and clean his clock.

But think about it: If you take the first swing, you're to blame. He can go to the cops and charge you with premeditated assault. And when it comes to trial, and you say you were provoked by him calling you "bitch" and "motherfucker", being American will work against you, because - as was said - they're terms of endearment in our wonderful country. If you really felt that insulted, they will argue, you should have charged him with "Beleidigung".

Do you really want to risk a jail sentence and hefty fine, your residence permit, and your master's degree on some loudmouth punk? Follow NoBullJim's advice and cut him down to size with a snappy comeback, not your fists. Germany doesn't work that way.

yeah jeff, you're right (of course)

I think JeffZ hit it on the nailhead. Don't go messing up folks in a foreign land: they have friends and courts, and you don't. This is not the USA, so get used to it.