if you're standing just in the right spot.

The closest I've ever seen people come to blows over umbrella offenses was at a rally for Edwards during 2004. It was just drizzling really, but there were these two ladies with the perfect hair and make-up who insisted on having their umbrellas protect them. People behind them couldn't see, and one guy asked them politely to take them down, if not right away, but at least when Edwards came out. They were very rude to the guy, who remained polite, but insistent.

I was standing next to these ladies and they kept chatting and laughing, bobbing, tipping, and turning those damn umbrellas all around. I kept ducking to avoid getting poked, but it was so crowded there was no way to avoid the runoff. Other people around them were having the same problems, so they started telling the ladies to ditch the umbrellas, too.

Well, these ladies were having none of it. They were getting louder and more petulant with each complaint. The crowd was getting uglier. The first guy who complained was nearing his flash point, and began to get more irate, actually threatening physical assault on the umbrellas if they didn't get rid of them. I have to give him credit. He was still focused on the offending umbrellas, and hadn't yet threatened physical assault on the ladies themselves. Not so with some others nearby.

I really began to be concerned there might be some type of altercation.
I hadn't said anything at this point, just kept dodging the prongs and drips as best as I could, but like I said, the atmosphere was getting ugly. I really wanted to see and hear Edwards. I knew if an umbrella riot broke out that would not happen, because it is my lot in life to be the only one injured when there is the slightest opportunity for injuries to occur. At the very least, I figured I would end up very muddy, so I tapped the lady closest to me, smiled and quietly queried, "Why are you being such a stubborn jackass about this? Just put the umbrellas away."
She stared at me like I had just hatched from an egg, and still had yolk on my face. Her face kind of twitched a bit as she processed my comments, and then just simply said, "No. We'll put them down when Edwards comes out."

Well, surprisingly, true to her word, they did take them down when he came out, but not right away. They made us all wait just a bit, I guess to show us all that it was their idea and not because they were trying to be considerate or anything. I think it was too hard for them to clap and hang on to them at the same time.

The moral of the story is that umbrella devotees are a serious bunch and should not be dealt with lightly.