[DavidQD]

As Element said in the beginning. It's mostly to due with intention. People may tell you, "It is never okay!", but that would be irrational, illogical.

In the scenario you gave, you are obviously trying everything you can do, and running away won't protect your girlfriend. So use of force to stop them, while she runs away, to protect her, is completely okay.

If it was never okay to use violence, without the intention, simply to help the helpless, many of the people here who are not blonde hair, blue eyes, tall, etc, like me, would probably be working in labor camps, be slaves, or dead, because we would be under the third Reich of Hitler and his offshoot after he died of natural causes.

But hey, if thats what they believe, I really could use a footrub, someone to bathe me, someone to dress me, etc. "And don't you dare forget my drink!"