Responding to words with violence?

[Rotobeast]

I grew up being forced to box my father and brothers.
I hated it, at the time.
Later, I appreciated the bejesus out of it.
The majority of the time, I've de-escalated situations verbally.
I never even got into an outright fight as a bouncer, for three years.
Most confrontations that had gotten physical, I dodged everything they had and/or subdued them.
There was one time I used a move that could literally kill someone.
I regret it, but I was young and the other person was known to use weapons.
I have too much to lose, now.
I've calmed down and take a lot less risks, because of my daughter.

So, no.... I don't believe violence should result from words alone.
That being said, I cannot assure I'd remain calm if someone were to say something terrible about/to my daughter or look at her in a pervasive manner.


Forgot to add.....

It's important to mount a she-bear and establish dominance.