going bare....do you feel safe?

goamules said:
Several truisms that apply to violence are that you are more likely to get into a confrontation:
- Hanging out late at night.
- Hanging out in bars (see above).
- Going into poverty areas
- Being a young male (seen as competition)
- Being very different than the people around you

On that last bullet, racial bias is a terrible thing. But it goes both ways. When I lived in Hawaii, all of us young, white service members were constantly harassed and often attacked by local Hawaiians and Samoans. I've lived in the US Southwest for 23 years and it's apparant I'm still a minority, and a target. I've been body checked walking through the mall with my wife, had "locals" point their finger "gun" at me at sidewalk cafes as they drive by, etc. As I get older it tapers off, but there is a very aggressive component of America still. And the closer you get the the southern border, the worse it gets.
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I apologize for the hostility and racism you experienced. Sometimes the oppressed become the worst oppressors, but they should know better.

One a positive note I love New York because most of the time if you are different its okay. I know race is issue that causes a lot of fighting. For me it was a rough upbringing, but I really appreciate that this forum is a safe enough place to talk about some of this.

Cal
 
As usual a lot depends on your knowledge about your self, the locality and the picture you are after. A couple of years ago I managed to stay at Palermo for a while. My hosts warned me, Police warned me and everybody was quite (over)cautious. Then I finally met a warden in a museum who not only explained me the necessary backgrounds but also invited me to go even into the darkest back yards. When I followed his advice people started “looking” at me, I started to be afraid and backed off and out. When I met him again I told him about my “problems”. And he just laughed and told me that “they” were far more afraid of me than I should ever be of them: since no tourist would ever enter where I had been “they” did not know what the heck I might have been.
Though I returned (taking some half decent shots) I never really felt “comfortable”. It is only today that I understand what kind of incredible opportunity I did not use.
 
A little OT, Stewart, but what's the history of the Barracks Tavern? The very name invites the question.

Sparrow said:
Lumb Lane in Bradford ... at one time the most dangerous place per yard in Europe ... haunt of the Yorkshire Ripper and lately that Crossbow Cannibal chap, prostitutes and drug dealers The Barrack Tavern (picture below) was besieged and firebombed in the last riot ... the beer not that good anyway ... however there are some nice curries to be had, to which I will treat anyone who's in my hud anytime :rolleyes:

4693551433_29ce8e3254_z.jpg
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hepcat said:
A little OT, Stewart, but what's the history of the Barracks Tavern? The very name invites the question.
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I was aiming at irony, difficult on the interweb I know ...

There was an artillery regiment barracks just next door ... the pubs round there were full of second battalion gunners in the 70s and second battalion of the third parachute regiment have barracks a few miles away to this day ... ah, happy days :)
 
Insurance.....
I dont have everything insured, which I should, but thats the answer for me...
You want the camera? sure, have fun....
I usually am in semi to very dangerous neighborhoods, never had an issue with any camera, have been robbed at gunpoint for my wallet and cell phone while I had a camera around my shoulder though..
 
Messsucherkamera said:
So what you are saying is that 100% of the time people who resist violent attacks or robbery are maimed or killed as a result?

I would have to say that claim is not accurate.
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This is a classic "straw man" argument, a logical fallacy. I'd say there's always some chance of things going bad whatever you do. Self defense training often includes a section on weapons retention. It also says not to be there when it hits the fan, and if you are, run away to the best of your ability. If that doesn't work, I'd rather not be helpless, JMHO.
 
Messsucherkamera said:
So what you are saying is that 100% of the time people who resist violent attacks or robbery are maimed or killed as a result?

I would have to say that claim is not accurate.
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No, what I'm saying is that merely possessing a weapon and being proficient with it isn't sufficient alone to ensure your safety in a violent confrontation. Having a plan with sound tactics is more valuable than having or using a weapon.

I have had co-workers, well trained officers, who have been disarmed and their duty handgun used against them. It's more common than it should be, and happens most frequently in crowd situations, or when attacked by more than one assailant. One incident occurred with five other officers already on the scene.

Nor does taking a friend with you automatically "double your security" as was suggested earlier. Unless you and that friend have trained together tactically and have planned exactly how you're going to respond to threats, it's more likely your friend will just be a second victim. Having a friend along can actually limit your options when tough decisions need to be made. Having a friend along almost always makes you more visible and less likely to be able to retreat to avoid a confrontation since few people would run, leaving a friend to face the threat alone.
 
Sparrow said:
I was aiming at irony, difficult on the interweb I know ...

There was an artillery regiment barracks just next door ... the pubs round there were full of second battalion gunners in the 70s and second battalion of the third parachute regiment have barracks a few miles away to this day ... ah, happy days :)
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Fascinating! Thanks for filling us in. :)
 
I grew up on Long Island and left the place in 1975 to go to college in Harlem which was then not at all a civilized place and I immediately felt safer there -- the cops in Nassau in the 70s were a danger to all and sundry but especially the young. There was a county executive -- Ralph Caso was his name -- who was a neanderthal and he encouraged the cops. Plus, then as now, the place is fueled by an endless rage. Oh man, Cal, thanks for reminding me, not.....
 
sparrow6224 said:
I grew up on Long Island and left the place in 1975 to go to college in Harlem which was then not at all a civilized place and I immediately felt safer there -- the cops in Nassau in the 70s were a danger to all and sundry but especially the young. There was a county executive -- Ralph Caso was his name -- who was a neanderthal and he encouraged the cops. Plus, then as now, the place is fueled by an endless rage. Oh man, Cal, thanks for reminding me, not.....
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So my views on the suburbs ARE accurate!

Randy
 
Doug said:
This is a classic "straw man" argument, a logical fallacy. I'd say there's always some chance of things going bad whatever you do. Self defense training often includes a section on weapons retention. It also says not to be there when it hits the fan, and if you are, run away to the best of your ability. If that doesn't work, I'd rather not be helpless, JMHO.
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Agreed.

The best choice is to avoid trouble to begin with. However - you don't have to go looking for trouble. Sometimes trouble will come looking for you.

If that is the case, fleeing is the next choice. Better to flee and be safe and unrobbed than to take chances. Fleeing isn't always possible, though. Then what?

At that point, your choices are (1.) throw yourself on the mercy of the criminal or (2.) defend yourself.

Giving the criminal what he demands does not come with a 100% guarantee of your safe passage after the robbery - or any guarantee of safety, for that matter.

After all, you are facing a CRIMINAL who has already committed more than one crime in attempting to rob you (attempted robbery, unlawful detention or criminal confinement, criminal use of a weapon, intimidation, etc.).

There is absolutely no reason to believe that if you throw yourself on the mercy of such a predatory thug that he will show you any form of compassion. That is the fact of the matter. Not a comforting fact, but a fact nonetheless.
 
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