The Supreme F and Avoiding Confrontation Thru Respect

So I'd put in a 65 hour work week by last Friday night, and I was beat. I went out for a workout and then stopped at my favorite Mexican food restaurant in NYC on the way home for a take out order. I go there all the time and the owners is from New Mexico, so I've gotten to be friends with her. She pours me a big ol' classic margarita (rocks, no salt) and I'm sitting at the bar waiting for my food when some ridiculously drunk dude sitting next to me taps my shoulder.

He slurs something out about the size of the margarita and we chat a little bit when I mention that I'm from New Mexico. He's like, "You must have had a tough time being raised there."

Me, realizing where this is going: "Uh, gotcha." And I turn away hoping to stop the conversation.

Him: "I'm saying, bro. You know all the Mexicans. That must have been tough. I've been to New Mexico, man. I know."

Me: "Listen, dude, let's drop this. I've had a long week, I just want to chill with my tequila." And I turn away again.

Him: "Look, man, I'm not trying to be racist, you know? And if you don't get that you're stupid."

Oh yeah, the "you're stupid" comment.

Me: "Excuse me?"

Him: "You're stupid."

Ever notice how final and aggressive it sounds when you put "the" in front of "F#*k"? It's not just any adjective that way. Not when you put "the" in front of it and make it noun. This ain't no gerand. This is the supreme F. The one and only F. As in...

Me: "You better just shut the F up. Just back the F up and let's drop this."

Him, now a little nervous (you know, mainly cuz I put "the" in front of F, meaning that we're not messing around anymore): "Dude, can't you see I'm just trying to play with you a little bit?"

Me (feeling nervous myself and feeling adrenalin flowing through my veins): "Can't you see I don't want to be played with? And can't you respect that?"

Ah, the respect term. Amazing how powerful asking someone to respect your wishes can be. This guy immediately said, "Yeah, you're right." and turned away, leaving me alone. I finished my drink, got my food and tapped him on the shoulder giving him a friendly nod as I walked out and went home.

Coulda been worse -- coulda ended up in a physical fight.

Coulda been better -- I didn't have the energy to fight for what was right at that moment (discussing the nuances of racism and what not), which probably would have been a waste anyway, as the guy really was hammered.