[gotaquestion]

There's a difference between being "assertive" and "aggressive". I've had this discussion in the past on HN and it seems people want to treat both as the same, not saying that you are. Aggression is rarely, if ever, useful, both directed at someone or coming from someone.

[macrolocal]

Assertive avoidance is often the correct response to aggression (cf. Miyagi-Do).