However I no longer feel this way. And reality if I'm threatened absolutely physical violence is definitely warranted.

Someone calling me names someone calling me racist names someone ridiculing me or mocking me does not warrant getting punched.

Again one maybe poor form and reveal someone's low character the other one is not only a felony but could leave even greater crime. I've lost times that I've come across the number of cases in the media where a bar fight because a guy said something nasty about another guy's girlfriend turned into the homicide because quote on quote the guy deserve to get punched and that's all it took one shot to the Head and because of the nature of the punch where it occurred velocity genetics you name it it's no longer just physical assault it's a homicide.

So no there is never an occasion ever when someone quote-unquote deserves to be punched unless they are a threat to your safety or those in your charge.