🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <26nu6j$1vq@male.EBay.Sun.COM> tonytran@sunnet.EBay.Sun.COM (Tony Tran) writes:
>
>Hi All,
>
>My sister is taking a late night class at a nearby community college 
>this semester.
>
>I am worried about her personal safety after hearing about all the horror
>stories which happened out in the parking lot everyday.
>
>Can anybody recommend a personal safety device (such as Mace, Screamer ...)
>so that she can protect herself if something happens to her?

I am mailing this to you, but am also posting since some people might
be interested in furthering discussion on this topic.

Probably one of the best means of protecting yourself is to not travel alone.
Instances of rape, assault, and other nasties drop dramatically when a
group of people is involved (even two) as opposed to a single individual.
It's not a sure-fire method of staying safe, but neither is anything else.
One problem with devices like mace, etc.., is that if they don't work,
they tend to aggravate your assailant.  That's not to say you shouldn't
use them, but you should be aware of their limitations.  The other problem
is that they are _reactive_ safety measures, instead of _active_ ones.
Meaning, you don't use your mace or whistle until someone attacks you.  When
you travel in groups, its an active measure, which lowers the possibility 
that you'll be assaulted in the first place.

Ideally, since there is no one "best way" to protect yourself, a combination
of methods is the way to go.  Don't travel alone, *and* have both (or all)
people in your group carry some kind of safety device...if not several
different kinds.

Cheers,
-+JLS

-- 
                 "All my possessions for a moment of time."
                            - Queen Elizabeth I

seagull@mentor.cc.purdue.edu