DS and the drunk nutter and keep your catsbumfaces to yourselves

[SpringchickenGoldBrass]

Solstice night: I took DS (who is 6 and three quarters) with me for morris dance-out in some Fitzrovia pubs. Everything was going quite nicely until the arrival of drunk nutter, who proceeded to hang around being a bit annoying and nicking people's drinks. Then DN (drunk nutter) nicked DS's drink, and I intervened and said that it was DS's drink and to put it down please, DN did not co-operate so I led DS away with the promise of another one. Then for some reason DN went totally hatstand and started throwing furniture around and screaming.
DS broke away from me, ran towards DN and shouted 'What do you think you're doing? Stop it, that's naughty!' I grabbed him and pulled him away, the whole of our group moved away ie left the pub the nutter was at; nutter was by this time hurling tables at the pub's windows (it was a fast-happening and quite impressive drunk-nutter tantrum).
Once we were away, DS started crying in shock and reaction, I cuddled him, the rest of our group were very kind and helpful, and he's settled down now.
The thing is, I am very impressed with his sheer bravery in reprimanding a nutter - how do I tell him that it was a good thing to speak up when someone is behaving badly while at the same time teach him not to be officious or to risk himself by confronting people?

I, personally, wouldn't take a 6 year old into a pub.

Tortoise, yes, Moris is popular in Australia for some reason. We have had several Australian women in our team - they come to the UK to study or work and, having danced at home, seek out a UK team to join.

Maybe a discussion around 'pick your battles' might be productive?

To tell your son that before reacting again in that way he needs to stop and think whether he is going to be likely to change whatever it is that is going on. If it is an argument amongst children, then he should step in. If it is an adult misbehaving, or a group of older children then they are not going to take him seriously. Even adults have to make a decision about whether to try to tackle a problem, and sometimes they have to let it go, even if it is something that upsets them or makes them angry.

What a lovely boy and you sound great too. I read this at 5am this morning while getting ready for work and it cheered me up. No sneery responses, morris dancers, the pub and a brave boy. What more could you want from life?