Physical Violence?

[AMM]

I think that the important thing to remember is that what happens in these encounters depends a lot on how you approach them. Even in the scariest situations, most of the time, you're not dealing with someone who is intent on doing violence, but rather someone who may respond violently in certain contexts, such as if they feel threatened. ("Toughs" act tough because they feel threatened, often all the time.) If you can change the context, you defuse the situation.

In this respect, snappy comebacks and demonstrations of one's martial arts skills just make things worse, because they can be seen as challenging or threatening the other person. Acting inoffensive may not be much better, since many "tough" people also feel threatened when they encounter weak or timid people.

Better are things which remind the other people of what you have in common; for example, asking for directions, or making a joke which you can all laugh at. Also, if you can be the one to approach them first (again, neither defensively nor aggressively), you can be the one to determine the context from the start. The idea is to get their minds occupied with something besides hassling you.

I am considering taking up karate again, it was fun and useful, but I never had an opportunity to use it outside of class.

I was taking Tae Kwan Do for a while (but not for self-defense.)

The general thing I've heard martial arts people say is that the most useful thing you get is a sense of self-confidence, which makes you seem less like a target without seeming like you're challenging anybody.

[Sasquatch]

I'm a pretty big dude, so even in a skirt I get the feeling that men are more afraid of me than I am of them. But I don't hang out in places where anyone is likely to start a fight, anyway. Not to my tastes.
sasq

[r1g0r]

i work strange hours, in a downtown area.

sometimes, a nearby sports arena has an event ending at the time i'm walking to my parking facility. there may be LARGE quantities of people, mostly male, on the streets. many times they may be fired up by the event, and in some cases have been drinking.

there is also a homeless shelter a few blocks from my office that shuts their door when they reach capacity, and some homeless people simply wander the area at night.

the potential for confrontation is quite high, but a combination of my attitude (like cheap toilet paper i won't take $h!t from anybody) and the fact that i am ALWAYS armed (that just bolsters my attitude) has stopped all but a couple of people from causing trouble in 5 years of this situation. those that have caused any issue were usually drive-by yelling (wierd, always from beat up pick-up trucks).

the good old reliable finger is always good enough retort for them , and it's probably the only language they understand...

bottom line gentlemen is attitude: don't screw with me, i won't screw with you.

[Kilty]

Bob, just because some people have the physical ability to create children definitely does not automatically make them smart. IN FACT, in my opinion, the intelligence quota seems to decrease in giant leaps depending on how MANY children they have. Case in point, in Africa, India, Pakistan and other so called 3rd world countries, where the United Way and other charitible groups give lots of money and food and other helpful things to people that have upwards of 12 children each family, an entire cottage industry has been created that could be defined as the "Baby Factory" business. Personally, I'd like to see most of the "baby makers" have their children taken from them because most of the children die as soon as their parents are paid. I think their parents should be imprisoned for murder when the children die just as if the parents had shot them. Dead is dead.

Because I donate to various charities, I get hustles all the time to pay so much a month to support this child or that child. I WOULD GLADLY PAY to charity. However, what I want, is for the "Baby makers" to have whatever operations that are neccessary to stop them from ever having more children. For THAT, I'll gladly donate to charity.

by the way, Skip, Africa isn't a country, it's a continent
-Jermaine E

[Peter v]

i work strange hours, in a downtown area.

sometimes, a nearby sports arena has an event ending at the time i'm walking to my parking facility. there may be LARGE quantities of people, mostly male, on the streets. many times they may be fired up by the event, and in some cases have been drinking.

there is also a homeless shelter a few blocks from my office that shuts their door when they reach capacity, and some homeless people simply wander the area at night.

the potential for confrontation is quite high, but a combination of my attitude (like cheap toilet paper i won't take $h!t from anybody) and the fact that i am ALWAYS armed (that just bolsters my attitude) has stopped all but a couple of people from causing trouble in 5 years of this situation. those that have caused any issue were usually drive-by yelling (wierd, always from beat up pick-up trucks).

the good old reliable finger is always good enough retort for them , and it's probably the only language they understand...

bottom line gentlemen is attitude: don't screw with me, i won't screw with you.

Hi there, "i am ALWAYS armed " that is something we in Europe generally are not. Yet. That may be the norm in the US.
Reading that your circumstances may warrant that, I can understand.
That doesn't make you safe, it may even be used against you... But that is ofcourse your own choice (or necessity) .

For the others of us who don't have a .... Browning .50 machine gun hanging under our arm pit or in our purse, we are more vulnerable at least in a confrontation....

I would like to think that avoiding a confrontation, partly by luck, the rest by showing a "what are you looking at? " attitude bluffing your way out is the way most of us get about. Showing that you are quite confident as you are puts many would-be nasty individuals off, you being quite happy as you are, not being a "vulnerable" target.

As with all confrontations, we hope to come out on top, the perpetrator fleeing the scene or (preferably) having the **** knocked out of him. Not neccesarily by you.

The best way to get out on top is always not to have any confrontation in the first place.

Wear skirts with confidence, that shows and is a very good way to protect against unwanted attention.

In some neighbourhoods only an M1 tank helps.

Peter v

[SkirtDude]

deleted

[r1g0r]

nope, no browning 50 cal or large menacing dog.

just a knife, a kubotan, and a VERY useful car antenna. all of which can put most attackers in the emergency room, if used correctly.

and anybody taking these items away from me is likely to find that i'm not afraid to face my own armament.

but the most important thing is the attitude. without that? just another target walking the streets.

oh yeah, and occasonally i carry a sword cane

[sapphire]

"sword cane"

New or antique?

[crfriend]

oh yeah, and occasonally i carry a sword cane

I believe those are illegal in all fifty of the United States by virtue of Federal law. Watch it if you're in possession of one.

[r1g0r]

sapphire:
new, with a beautiful wolf's head handle

crfriend:
yes, illegal. i try to do SOMETHING illegal every day. my sword cane is just for those times when i have to look good, yet i want physical security.

most cops wouldn't know how to spot a sword cane these days, and the people i'd use it to protect myself from aren't likely to report it.

(here is where the emoticon of me smoking a joint would be significant)

[cessna152towser]

I can't say I have ever felt threatened or intimidated because of being kilted or skirted, and as others have said, reactions are often very positive. The one guy who once tried to film up my kilt in a pub with his mobile phone felt the force of my boot.

[ziggy_encaoua]

oh yeah, and occasonally i carry a sword cane

I believe those are illegal in all fifty of the United States by virtue of Federal law. Watch it if you're in possession of one.

Its illegal in Britain to carry a gun or a knife

If you get caught carrying a knife its 2 years in jail

however I do carry a knife & do so knowing the risk

[sapphire]

Ah, c'mon guys, y'all carry a weapon, except you don't know it.

The weapon? It is your keys. Aim for the eyes. A comb works too.
These are tidbits from women's self defense classes.

And then there's this move: punch to the solar plexus, hands together - upward strike to break the nose and ddrive the nasal bone into the brain and when the head flops down both hands with all your strength downward stroke breaking the neck.

Hey, I learned it on TV and actually used it once as a child but didn't kill the guy.

r1g0r: your cane sounds wonderful.

Ain't I dainty? Dontcha just love me?

[Bri]

I wore girls jeans all day yesterday and maybe had a few looks, but most of the girls were probably looking at my ass or something similar. The guy didn't seem to mind at all, and it was pretty obvious but then again, I am engaged and don't care what other people think.

[JRMILLER]

Bri,
Most of the girls jeans I have seen have darts around the waist whereas guys jeans do not. Do the girls jeans fit better in your particular case? Is there an appreciable difference between girls jeans and guys jeans other than the fit?