🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1993Sep13.193347.25094@dvorak.amd.com> miker@nucleus.amd.com (Mike Ruff) writes:
>robw@jabberwock.Berkeley.EDU (Robert Weirick) writes:
>= seagull@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Seagull) writes:
>= > tonytran@sunnet.EBay.Sun.COM (Tony Tran) writes:
>= > >
>= > >My sister is taking a late night class at a nearby community college 
>= > >this semester.
>= > > [ expressions of concern deleted ]
>= > 
>= > Probably one of the best means of protecting yourself is to not travel 
>= > alone.
>= >  [ rest of the reasonable advice deleted ...]
>= 
>= Adopting self-defense as
>= a way of life does not mean taking a couple of classes, it does not mean
>= buying an arsenal of weapons. That is too easy. 
	Much as I'd like to agree, this is unrealistic.  The original poster
had an immediate need, and the return on most martial arts systems (that I
know of;  your mileage may be better) have a 1+ year lag time before being
useful (often mental development (confidence, etc.) rather than physical).
Hell, it seems to
take that long before people are willing to even spar/point-fight (no contact)
effectively (never mind situations of surprize or necessary
improvisation, weapons, or the bazillion other considerations...).  

>One question:  why would it matter how easy it is to protect yourself?
>Why should I spend inordinate amounts of time and/or money to protect 
>myself from evolutionary throwbacks from whom I shouldn't *have* to
>protect myself?  [I reattached that split infinitive just for you, Piglet,
	This, unfortunately, is also unrealistic.  

	1) Prevention/Avoidance -- Do what you can to avoid getting into a
bad situations
	(If possible, get someone to pick you up
	 Show up 15 minutes early and get a parking spot closer to the building
	     (may be impractical for a variety of reasons),
	 Alter travel for safety (well lit areas, lots of people, etc.)
	 Sign up for day classes (though this may not be useful to the
	     original poster)
	 Travel in a group (as above -- good advice).  Call the campus
	     walk service, etc.  That's what they're for.  
	 Make a conscious effort to guage your surroundings to avoid
	     an undesirable situation -- your best defense is a set of 
	     good eyes, ears and mind.  
	 Be Confident -- I hesitate to put this down, because I know that
	     I'm going to get flamed over it.  I think (sorry, not creative
	     enough to make up statistics tonight) a confident attitude
	     makes you less likely to be a target, mostly because I think
	     "the bad guys" are less likely to go after a target that
	     they perceive as potentially fighting back.  This doesn't
	     mean be stupid -- take as many other precautions as you can
	     (there's a reason this one's last on the list), and don't
	     think that you're invincible.  Anyway, this is probably the
	     hardest of these steps to do, and is least likely to yeild
	     return.  

	2) Preparation -- Do what you can in case you get into a less
than ideal situation.  Adjust to your ideals.  
	(Learn to use Tear Gas spray, pepper spray, other weapons, etc. and
	     carry it.  (no flames, please.  I realise it's a big can of worms,
		and I'm going to step on someone's righteousness.  Many
		theives (and elementary school kids, for that matter) carry
		them now.  Trouble is that they're more likely to use it
		(and likely more practiced both with weapon and situation).
		Rather than start a long discussion about this, I'll just
		say that in my opinion, spray-iritants are as strong as
		I'd consider carrying.  If you have a different view,
		then you're obviously correct.  
	 Carry a portable siren, etc.  
	 Self defense seminars
	 Martial arts classes (longer time investment) -- pick a good
		instructor (self-defined).  

	3) Reaction -- If you're in the situation, what do you do?  Think
		about it now (preparation, really), because you won't have
		time then.  
	(I personally decided that my life is more important than my wallet,
	 so I don't have too many qualms about parting with the latter (and
	 no, threatenning e-mail won't win you a buck :))

	This is by no means complete, and I'm sure others will make
better suggestions.  

>Not everyone works out, just in case you hadn't noticed.  For some, it is
>a lack of desire or time; for others, it is a fact of life.
	Agreed.  

> Please don't project quite so much personal preference into your arguments.
	This is a news posting.  It's likely to be biased according to the
poster's personal beliefs and preferences (as yours was).  Reader beware...