1 on 1... no problem.
2 on 1... still not too bad.
3 on 1... asking for trouble
4 on 1... hope to hell you're one damn good fighter.
5 on 1... good luck
6 on 1... unless they're 3rd graders... you're pretty fucked.
I'm sorry to hear your frustration, Spunky. That sucks. Makes you feel like a candy ass. Then you get that "I shoulda said..." and "I shoulda done...." And you wonder why you didn't. But realistically, you know why. They hang out in bunches for a reason. You fight one bean, you fight the whole burrito. Besides, even if it was only 2 of them... if you went to challenge them, and they pulled out a gun... what do you do then?
It's hard to let it go. But you know deep down that 1 on 1, or even 2 on 1, chances are, you would prevail, right? That's what you have to go on.
A guy here at work was hitting on my gal... so I asked him very politely to leave her alone, as did she, because it was making her uncomfortable. So he tells me I'm not as big, or tough as I think, and to watch my step. I told him he knows where the parking lot is. So what does he do? Report me to the HR department, and I am now considered a "red flag" by the company. If I make ANYONE feel threatened here at work again, I'm fired on the spot. They didn't care what he said or did... just the fact that he reported it first. So now he stares me down everytime we walk by eachother... acting really tough, because he knows if I touch him, even outside of work... I will be fired for creating a hostile work environment for him. So what can I do? Just know I'm bigger, stronger, and better than him.
Sorry for the book, man. But I really can relate. Been in your situation many times before. Keep your head up. You really did do the smart thing.