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Something I witnessed this evening. This genuinely happened. Me and some friends had been out in town and after we separated I thought I would get a McDonalds before getting the bus home. The following story genuinely happened and it happened in the last hour and a half:

I was about to enter a McDonalds on Oxford Street but, still having half a cigarette left to finish, I stood outside to smoke the last of it. I didn't see how the row started but two men were squaring-up to one another. Comments like 'fuck you!', 'no, fuck you you twat!' ensued - as I and many others stood and watched. All the surrounding people stopped and stared, as this was quite serious.

One grabs the other and slams him against the wall of the McDonalds. The other guy grabs him back and a lot of verbal abuse, said very loudly and very seriously, was exchanged. You could see from their facial expressions that they were not messing around. Lots of onlookers were saying 'take it easy, calm down!', and so on. The two guys were grabbing each other by the jacket and threatening each other - and they really meant business.

The two seperate and go their own seperate ways, but it was very nearly a punch up. Then, rather bizarelly, one of the men watching starts yelling abuse at one of the protagonists as he walks away. Comments like 'you arsehole, whats your fucking problem, come back here and suck my dick!' (these were the very words I heard as I am finishing my cigarette).

The guy, who is now about 30 yards away, and hearing all this abuse from the bystander, comes back and grabs the guy who was yelling at him. (so this is now the second near-fight in the space of a couple of minutes). The returning guy grabs the guy who was yelling at him and starts with the 'fuck you! and similar verbal responses - he really meant it and grabbed the guy very aggressively, clearly willing to fight him.

The guy who had yelled the abuse (originally one of the onlookers when the first fight had nearly occured) had a mate with him. Both of them are now squaring up to the man who had just returned, and offering to knock him out. As the returning guy realised he was up against two, he walked off again. With a torrent of 'fuck you, come back here and suck my dick!' being yelled very loud, as more onlookers stood watching.

The guy didn't return again, he just walked off. This all happened in a space of 2 or 3 minutes. Two very near punch-ups, on Oxford Street, involving some people who couldnt contain themselves!

I have always been a placid person. I would never get into such a situation. I would CERTAINLY never heckle someone who had just almost had a fight and encourage him to come back for another one!

What possesses people to do this, do you thinK? I finished my cigarette, having almost witnessed two fights, then headed inside to get my Filet-o-fish, fries, and coffee - before walking across the road to get my bus home.

There are some weird people in this world...

Booze prob a factor. Some people are just more aggressive than others. Some people's ticklist for a great night out includes a good punch-up. Twas ever thus. Careful though Max .. being drawn into this kind of thing .. it's a high price to pay for a filet 'o fish.

Pride usually gets most fights going. Not wanting to punk out for fear others will take advantage of you if if you dont kick some ass.

People dont help either as it looks like some people are vying for a fight by encouraging it by goading those types on.

Seen it so many times ofver the years

"Yo man, he said that shit about yo mama! You gon take that!" isia good case in point.

Usually over some percieved slight,this unfortunate type of "street theatre"is mostly the domain of drink and /or drug fuelled young men,sadly becoming all too common place nowadays...Until they meet the next guy with a bigger Dad than theirs or a knife,there is little thought of actions having consequences....Even being a bystander can be dangerous ....

>sadly becoming all too common place nowadays

Which drives many decent people from not going out in the evening.

Leaving the streets to drunks, druggies, muggers, and other low life.

As I am getting older (late 50s) I certainly think twice before going out in the evening.

I think pubs and bars are mostly aimed at the younger crowd now ,eager to be parted from their cash in return for cheap booze...Unfortunately ,not EVERYONE is great company after a drink and in some it triggers their aggressive side....Older,mature gents like yourself are more sensible,know their limit,and arent on a heady cocktail of booze (often mixed) AND drugs,so are infinately better company......

So, all in all, nothing happened.

In confrontations like this if someone hasn't been smacked within the first 10 seconds it very rarely escalates to anything more than gobbing off.

Max Tranmere,
Alcohol.
Mike Freeman.

Strange how the whole of the West End is covered in CCTV cameras, yet fights start and no Police office arrive. Apparently you can walk from Marble Arch to Holborn, using any route you like, and there is not one metre of ground that you will walk along where you will not be filmed. Big Brother is here! Its just a shame that crime levels are going up rather than down in that region. Rather strange too!

filet of fish,fries and a coffee for sunday lunch nice !sick!