[dkersten]

I'm not disagreeing. You're absolutely right that the other people reacted badly or could have done more to prevent things from deteriorating so far. Like I said, it goes both ways and I feel that either side could have defused the situation.

But since the guy was asking for help, I think it's fine to focus on what that guy could do. Perhaps I shouldn't have focused so much on what he should have done in the past.