No. 1

One of the many facts of this type is a judgment handed down by the Podestà of Florence, Guido Fortebracci da Montone, on 30 December 1346 in a case involving several farmers from Pancano and San Donato in Poggio – "vagabonds, evildoers, and people of low status", who, armed with swords and iron bars, attacked farms and looted barns, cut down vines, olive trees, and fruit trees, removed grain from granaries belonging to private owners, and threatened those who continued to work the land because they wanted to leave it fallow. The farmers' actions revealed not only despair and the doom of starving people, but also hatred for their patrons. Each defendant was sentenced to a fine of 5.5 thousand lire, and in the event of non-payment (given the enormous size of the fine, this was the most likely outcome) – amputation of the right hand.

Milskaya, L. T. On the History of Social Conflicts and Popular Movements in Medieval Europe. Moscow: Publishing House of the Institute of World History of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2001

No. 2

A few days ago, my mum told me to tidy up my desk. I was texting my friends at the time and replied that I wouldn't do it, but she kept insisting that I tidy it up. Then I shouted, "I won't!" She then grabbed the first thing she could find and threw it at me. She said, "If you don't tidy your desk, I'll send you to bed and forbid you from watching the football!" At first, I told her that I wouldn't tidy anything anyway, but then I realised that she would actually send me to bed, so I tidied the desk after all.

Novara, D. Don't Yell at Kids! How to Resolve Conflicts with Children and Get Them to Listen to You. Moscow: Alpina Publisher, 2014

No. 3

In our hatred, we undoubtedly think of our enemy in a negative, illogical, and judgmental way. We genuinely try to defend ourselves and feel bad, and we make demands that cause our opponent to withdraw even further. But what if distorted thinking and impaired behaviour are merely symptoms of a conflict, rather than its cause? After all, pneumonia patients cough severely, but the cough is not the cause of the disease. You cannot treat pneumonia by forbidding the patient to cough; you must eliminate the bacteria that have entered the lungs.

Burns, D. You Cannot Make Peace While Fighting. How to End and Prevent It. Moscow: Bombora, 2017

No. 4

A duel is a test where the strongest is certain to humiliate the weakest, where the guilty party justifies himself with the blood of the loser, where cold-blooded soullessness defeats inexperienced zeal, made blind by passion, and whose weapons were snatched away by anxiety in advance. A duel is murder in broad daylight, committed according to the rules!... And upon what, my god, is this despicable duel based!... What strange, what terrible refinement has made an illegal act lawful, calculated the possibility of murder, and determined cases that allow for unerring aim at the disarmed victim if a man happens to win this immoral lottery!...

Vostrikov, A. V. A Book About the Russian Duel. St. Petersburg: Ivan Limbakh Publishing House, 1998

No. 5

When my son Andrew was four years old, my wife got stuck in a lift with him. She pressed the emergency button, and she and my son waited in the dark cabin for five minutes to get out. The next day, Andrew and I were leaving the flat, and he said fearfully, "Daddy, I’m not going in the lift. It will get stuck again." How did I help him shift his focus of "I"? Offering to take him by the hand, I said gently, "Andrew, let's take the lift." "It will get stuck." I continued, "No, Andrew. The lift is our friend. Trust me, it won't get stuck."

Changing his position, my son confidently took my hand, and we entered the cabin. Andrew began to speak to the lift: "Friend, would you like some biscuits?" Assuming the role of the lift, I replied, "No, thank you. I am very busy now, I am looking after your safety. When you get out, offer the biscuits to Helen." We stepped out, and Andrew looked back and said with a wide smile, "Bye, friend!" Since that day, he occasionally greets the lift in a friendly way.

Kohlrieser, G. Hostage at the Table. How to Manage Emotions, Influence People, and Resolve Conflicts. Practical Advice from an Experienced Negotiator. Moscow: MIF, 2014

No. 6

What you must not think about before a fight

1) Do not think about the size of your opponent’s cup, as it might scare you. For example, Kazushi Sakuraba wears the biggest cup imaginable. And I don’t think I’m the only one who has noticed. It’s his psychological tactic. The American military did roughly the same thing, leaving behind giant-sized condoms in Vietnam to scare the Asian boys with the size of our anatomy. And it actually works to some extent. Look at Sakuraba’s cup for a little longer, and you will become terrified.

2) Do not analyse your opponent’s pre-fight rituals. For instance, Rashad Evans is famous for methodically twirling his nipples before a fight. I find that mysterious. And it makes me nervous.

Griffin, F. Punch to the Face? 50 Zen Principles of a Real Fight. Moscow: Eksmo, 2011
"Rīgas Laiks". Rvīns Varde