I expect that compartmentalization ability it is a excellent trait for your job!

Nearly all fist fights outside of competitions between two guys are unnecessary. Add in alcohol and the "ridiculously unnecessary" percentage almost pegs 100%. Good on you for never starting it!

Swinging fists between individuals (again outside of competition) always (IMO) reflects a failure. Unfortunately, you don't always get to choose, which is why I got professional fight training even though I never had ambitions to be a professional fighter as a young man.

My last "near" fight was about 5 years ago in our garage as three young guys decided they wanted to urinate there because the automatic door had not closed.

I did not swing first, but made it clear they were NOT going to piss in our garage, and I was not backing down. They left after calling me all kinds of names. Definitely not a "Jack Reacher" ending to the scene, but I did not have to spend time discussing details with the police, or a doctor at a hospital. My ego survived. That was one of those situations where the choice was only partly mine.