Be careful everyone (Read 1996 times)

The one who most floats his boat. You're trying to apply rational processes to irrational behavior.

This ain't Hollywood. Just because someone's a sociopath does not mean they are insane or "irrational". Most predators are career criminals, not flat-out crazy, in fact many are very intelligent, are good at what they do and make a careful, calculated, rational (in their minds) decision in picking a victim, based on the likelihood of success, as well as what "floats their boat". That's how they survive to stalk again and again. Re-read my post that started this thread--the guy clearly was carefully stalking and planning, and decided that she was not the right victim. The next day he found Meredith, even (my theory) using his dog to lower her guard. She was an easier target. Echh. I'm through with this thread.

The few times I've taken a shot in the groin, I've been completely immobilized for at least 30-60 seconds.

You go for the eyes not the groin. If you get them in the eyes good they can't see, a kick in the groin just pisses them off.

And sometimes, sadly, it can be even worse than useless, even when you are trained and ready: http://news.aol.com/story/_a/cop-shot-to-death-with-her-own-gun/20080129164309990003?ncid=NWS00010000000001

Fighting for 7 minutes while you wait for backup is BS. Trained and ready or not. Be vigilant when you run. Carry what makes you confident. Decide while you lace up your shoes that you are not going to be a victim. There are exceptions, but most predators are cowards and will prey upon those they sense are weak and helpless.

... The best weapon is situational awareness. That helps in two ways: 1. You will be able to see and react to a potential threat quicker. 2. Predators can spot who is "situationally aware" and who isn't. Given the choice of one person who clearly is aware of her surroundings, and another who is obliviously cruising along with iPod blasting, guess who will be the more likely victim?

Absolutely! Re 2. above : To determine how criminals picked their victims, researchers had prisoners look at films/videos of people walking down the street and say whether or not they would pick them as a target. The people walking down the street had been selected so as to provide a real test for the cons. Surprise, surprise. The researchers had no clue as to how to pick a victim by observation - the bad guys seemed to have a "sixth sense" based on observing how people walked, how they carried themselves, etc. A big guy who looked like he might be tough to subdue was picked as an "easy pickings" target. A slightly-built woman in a business suit carrying a briefcase elicited a "uh, no - not her - ", ... she was, in fact, a police officer (armed at the time, concealed). Another guy who was fairly lightly built and balding, got a response of "not him... doesn't feel right"... a wise choice - he was ex Special Operations who had served in Vietnam, etc. Re 1. above, etc. : One of my instructors emphasized the "hierarchy of survival" : 1. Awareness 2. Preparedness 3. Tactics 4. Skill (in use of tools, equipment, etc) 5. Equipment The most important is AWARENESS! Without that, nothing else matters. We wont go into the others here, but obviously you need to be prepared to handle things, need to have the right ideas about what to do (tactics), etc... You need to be prepared to take action to protect yourself, to survive. You need to be able to react instantaneously, without thinking about it. I'm running on too long here... Stay safe