Just Don't Risk It. Ever...

"If you can't tell by looking, it's best not to f**k with anyone."- gregariousnatch

Don't Let Their Focus Fool You

"1000 yard/ disassociated stare."

"Especially when in a confrontation."

"That person is not all there and when they go they will GO."- OGschtinkie

Not As Tough As He Thought He Was

"Dude I used to work with who was absolutely massive got punched really hard once on a night out, unprovoked."

"He simply looked at the dude, smiled a wide genuine grin & said 'why would you do that man?'"

"The guy who hit him did not try for a second punch."- jinxsays

Lighting A Match Around Spilled Gas...

"When they try to diffuse the situation instead of talking sh*t."- SeenY64

It's All In Their Carriage

"There's just a way that some people carry themselves."

"As a tiny nerd in 8th grade I accidentally became friends with a 7th grader from a very rough background."

"That was the moment I stopped being bullied, and my buddy genuinely never did a thing."

"I knew he was involved in some horrific violence, but in the time we spent together, he never put his hands on anyone."

"Basically the moment he turned to the offending person and assumed *that* posture and *that* stare, the argument was over."

"So I remembered that for ever, and now whenever I see people carry themselves like that I assume they're hardcore."- curmudgeonpl

Tactical Avoidance

"The biggest giveaway for me has always been someone looking around in a situation where they are about to have to fight."

"A person in their face yelling or posturing at them, and they aren't looking at that person at all."

"But are instead looking over them or around past them."

"That is someone who is about to f*ck another person up."

"If you are ever mad at someone, or shouting at someone, and they start looking past you, behind you, or to the sides, you are about to get f*cked up."- GeneralDisturbed

Size Doesn't Matter

"Never f*ck with the small bouncer."

"The big guys got hired because they’re big and intimidating."

"The little guy got hired because he’ll f**k you up."- shandragon

When In Doubt, Be Kind

"Spent a large chunk of my teenage years in juvenile correctional facilities and getting into stupid sh*t."

"Between age 14 - 20 I had been in more fist fights than some UFC fighters (quantity not quality)."

"I have nerve damage in my hands and they get stiffer and clumsier as I get older, had to pick up painting miniatures to keep fine motor control."

"I have tattoos to cover the scars at work (IT job)."

"With that I have learned:"

"1: Loud guys are soft guys. They want to be loved and accepted, but start sh*t out of fear they’ll be rejected or as a reaction to rejection."

"2: Cauliflower ear." They probably know what they’re doing.Avoid unless you’re a seasoned fighter or also know what you’re doing."

"3: Smart guys.They might not be the fastest or strongest, but they’ve learned the kinetics of fighting - momentum, balance, and gravity. 1 kid kept a hand towel near him at all times and used it in a fight and almost killed another kid once (caught his arm when he swung, wrapped, twisted, and flung him into a toilet and gave him a concussion)."

"4: Guys that walked slow and never broke eye contact. They weren’t afraid of anything and more often than not had a high pain tolerance. Usually pretty quiet."

"5: bulky/muscular guys aren’t always 'good fighters'. But if they caught you lacking - it was lights out."

"Most importantly though - I learned you don’t f*ck with anybody."

"The wirey funny guy always cracking jokes could be the one take you out of your shoes."

"And, some people can just snap."

"The guy that gets f*cked with can be the one that pops and that adrenaline rush gave the burst of strength to suplex you into a concrete bench."

"Be kind to everyone until you’re forced to not be so kind."- Vadersbff

They Look Bruised And Beaten For A Reason

"Hands."

"You look at the hands."

"If the knuckles are all chewed up on a big set of meat hooks that dude has punched quite a few things and people."

"Also never fight stupid people."

"They don't know when to stop."

"They will just keep pounding your face until its mush."- punchinthelunch

Beware The Strong Silent Types...

"Those quiet people have a lot bottled up."

"They’ve been through it all in life."

"Don’t be the one to open it up."- Appropriate-Ad-2068

Calm Under Pressure

"Never f*ck with the person who is calmly minding their own business while everyone is freaking out/highly tense."

"That person’s seen some sh*t."

"Conversely, you shouldn’t f*ck with someone who is seemingly nervous in a calm situation."

"They have also seen some sh*t."

"I remember seeing this girl, she was a high-strung mess of a person, who just wanted to sit alone for lunch and chill by herself."

"She literally went to eat outside during the winter bc the boys kept messing with her and picking on her."

"At some point one of the guys tried to grab her arm, and I kid you not, she turned around and automatically beat the sh*t out of him."

"Didn’t miss a beat, and this dude was allegedly sent to the hospital."

"Happened years ago in middle school."

"She was always a nervous wreck, but since then, no one messed with her."- rzrbladess

Most Idioms Come From A Place Of Truth

"Usually quiet, calm when confronted."

"The phrase 'the loudest one in the room is the one who is scared the most' is usually true."- Boringdad25

When push comes to shove, and as many people above have noted, it's never a particularly wise decision to f**k with anyone.

Whether or not they possess the telltale signs.