Don't be a sheep!

[MamaSheepdog]

The thread regarding the magician needing to have a "disaster plan" for his rabbit has spurred this topic, but it specifically addresses man-made threats.

I was in town the other day, and couldn't help but notice how oblivious everyone is to their surroundings. They just mosey along, assuming that there is no possibility of something terrible befalling them.

So, I wanted to share just a few common sense tactics to keep you safe or allow a quick getaway should something terrible occur in your vicinity.

First off, be aware. Do not have your head buried in your Iphone. Look around- are there any people about? How are they dressed? Baggy clothing indicates possible concealed weapons. Whenever possible, make eye contact with people. This lets them know that you see them, and shows that you are confident.

When you park your car in a parking lot, back into the space. This way, if you need to leave the area quickly, you wont be wasting time making a three point turn in reverse. It takes no more time to back into a space on arrival than it does to back out of one when you are leaving- and those few moments could mean the difference between life and death.

Always pull into the front space in a gas station for the same reason. When you are stopped at a traffic light or traffic on the freeway, allow at least a car length between yourself and the vehicle in front of you.

Never enter a place of business- especially a bank, jewelry store, or convenience store- without first seeing someone exit. This way you will not unknowingly walk into a robbery in progress.

If you are dining in a restaurant, position yourself so you can watch the entrance and exit. Make note of any cover and concealment.

On cover and concealment- absolutely do NOT hug the cover. You are safest at a distance of about 6 feet. Bullets tend to ricochet, and if, for instance, you position yourself over the hood of your car as they portray in the movies, you are likely to get a ricochet to the head. Throw a tennis ball at the hood of your car with the same trajectory as a bullet and you will see I speak the truth. This also applies to hallways and hugging the walls. Stay in the middle.

Get training in some type of self defense. Whether hand to hand combat, martial arts, knife skills, or handgun, you need to have some skill set to protect yourself.

The Left has made great strides in changing our populace from a nation willing and ready to defend themselves from harm to a population reliant on the government for protection. The reality is that Police are not paid to risk their lives for you or the lives of your loved ones... and why should they if you don't value your life enough to protect it yourself?

 

[Marinea]

Great post, MSD! May I add a couple?

Don't stop for an unmarked car with flashing lights. Drive slowly to a populated area and then pull over.

Be careful of being boxed in at an intersection- a car ahead of you and one close behind you. Always try to leave enough space between you and the car ahead of you to pull around it if needed.

 

[Secuono]

Not to fight against what you're saying, but...
If baggy clothes mean possible hidden weapons, then skin tight jeans are possible street walkers. I have a permit for concealed carry, so what if I wear loose pants? You should be more concerned about people acting strange or too calm and not how they are dressed.

I always park where I can just pull straight out, backing into a spot is harder than backing out, probably why so few people do it. I don't think I'd be trying to get to my car if there was a crazed person w/a gun. We've all seen movies where they drop the keys, get stuck somehow, plus, with the whole store evacuating, no one will be able to leave in their cars....just leave it and come back for it when it's safe.

Do you know how long it would take for most people to wait around for someone to leave a bank? We have soooo many banks and almost no people seen going in or out unless you sit there and wait around all day. Instead of going into the bank, go to the drive through window.


What is "the left"?

I think most people just need some common sense and street smarts. Book smarts won't do much good as your life isn't a story. Living in fear, that's what it would be called if you're checking over this list every time you leave your house, is ridiculous. You just need to be aware and not zoned out like a zombie. I would think there's a higher risk of someone rear ending you at a red light than a store you're in being held up.

 

[DonnerSurvivor]

The head buried in the Iphone really bugs me! Traffic control on busy streets is a large part of my job and I have a close calls daily due to idiots driving and texting. I can literally be standing in the middle of a street next to a truck with a beacon and and aero board waving a large stop sign and still have to jump out of the way of oncoming traffic. Being on high alert whenever I am near traffic or a busy area has undoubtedly saved my life multiple times, I have also grabbed and pulled people out of the way of oncoming traffic multiple times (this includes other construction workers who are supposed to be on high alert yet still have a mental lapse and try and walk infront of traffic.)

 

[Zab]

I'd get paranoid if I followed all those steps.. :3

But I do usally back into a parking slot. Dad always does it, I suppose I just mimic him. A habit, I guess. Exception is when I get stresed by having lots of other cars waiting.

Eye-contact... hehe, that made me think of a fb sign. Appearantly swedes are known for a lot of eyecontact, and it either means they want to kill you or they want to ...love. Not sure which one I'm in, but I have noted that I sometimes make people nervous. I guess they're not used to have eyecontact in conversations.. so I sometimes look away just to give them some relief. But I prefer to have full focus and eyecontact when talking to people.

Banks are funny... Last year a couple of friends and I walked into a bank in our viking outfits. Which mean: we had several knives and some of us had swords as well, hanging visibe in bents. None of us realized untill we came out again. Security, much? Perhaps they figured it was fakes. (well.. we do use at least the knives when camping..) In sweden you're not allowed to carry knives or other weapons in public, except if it's a tool for your job or such obvious reason, or the blade is less than 2 inches. I'm pretty sure it's not ok to carry them into banks.

And about not being aware of surroundings.. I went to a friend today, and passed this warning triangle someone has set out next to the road (probably because drivers won't pay attention and drive very close to their mailboxes). The triangle indicates an abstacle (broken car) ahead and was placed like it should; visible from the upcoming traffic. When I got back a few hours later, someone had run over it... so much for paying attention..
Being in traffic scares me a bit, I never trust any other vehicle.

 

[MaggieJ]

I have no doubt that your advice is excellent in many areas of the continent, MSD, but it is totally irrelevant in Trenton, Ontario - our nearest town. Thank goodness! I lived in east end Toronto for about 10 years in the 1990's and some vigilance was needed, so I do know where you are coming from... which makes me realize how fortunate I am to be living here now.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Don't stop for an unmarked car with flashing lights. Drive slowly to a populated area and then pull over.

Yes. I have heard of people being fooled into pulling over with this tactic.

If baggy clothes mean possible hidden weapons, then skin tight jeans are possible street walkers. I have a permit for concealed carry, so what if I wear loose pants? You should be more concerned about people acting strange or too calm and not how they are dressed.

Of course you are going to be assessing people's behavior. Generally people wearing tight clothing with a tucked in shirt are not carrying a weapon. The gang members here typically dress in enormous baggy pants with untucked shirts. They could hide an arsenal in one leg of their pants.

I carry as well- but you would never know it, unless you factor in the way I dress. I wear a tucked shirt and an open fronted "cover shirt"- i.e. loose clothing.

backing into a spot is harder than backing out, probably why so few people do it.

Unless you are backing into a space with cars on either side, you have the same amount of space to work with. Like any skill, the more times you practice it, the easier it becomes.

I don't think I'd be trying to get to my car if there was a crazed person w/a gun. We've all seen movies where they drop the keys, get stuck somehow, plus, with the whole store evacuating, no one will be able to leave in their cars....just leave it and come back for it when it's safe.

There are innumerable variables here, but why not have the option of quick egress? What if you have just gotten out of your vehicle or are only steps away, and can quickly get back in?

Do you know how long it would take for most people to wait around for someone to leave a bank?

I would rather take that time to be safe and have the rest of my life ahead of me to enjoy.

Instead of going into the bank, go to the drive through window.

For simple transactions, staying out of the bank is probably your safest option. But there are certain transactions that must be conducted in person.

What is "the left"?

Political viewpoints based in Socialism, Marxism, Liberalism, and Progressivism, often promoting "social justice" or "social equality", the "environmental movement", etc. The Democratic Party is considered Left-wing and the Republican Party is considered Right-wing. Although, sadly, there isn't much "Right" left in the Republican Party today.

Living in fear, that's what it would be called if you're checking over this list every time you leave your house, is ridiculous.

This is not about fear. It is about empowering yourself, and trying to ensure your best chance of escaping a dangerous situation if you are unlucky enough to be involved.

I certainly don't expect to be accosted- but ask any victim of crime if they did, and I'll be the answer would be "No- that only happens to other people."

I would think there's a higher risk of someone rear ending you at a red light than a store you're in being held up.

Undoubtably.

The head buried in the Iphone really bugs me! Traffic control on busy streets is a large part of my job and I have a close calls daily due to idiots driving and texting.

Stay safe! :clover: I always pull into the lane furthest from the workers if one is available.

I'd get paranoid if I followed all those steps.. :3

Lol... aranoid: I'm not paranoid- just trying to be prepared for any contingency.

I have no doubt that your advice is excellent in many areas of the continent, MSD, but it is totally irrelevant in Trenton, Ontario - our nearest town.

I don't mean to make it sound like our area is a hotbed of crime. But the fact is, bad things happen to good people, and can happen anywhere and at any time.

I certainly don't walk about in fear, avoiding interaction with people. I am the weird lady who strikes up a conversation with perfect strangers in the checkout lane... :roll:

 

[HoppinHalfPints]

What is "the left"?

Political viewpoints based in Socialism, Marxism, Liberalism, and Progressivism, often promoting "social justice" or "social equality", the "environmental movement", etc. The Democratic Party is considered Left-wing and the Republican Party is considered Right-wing. Although, sadly, there isn't much "Right" left in the Republican Party today.

Yup. The RINOs (Republicans In Name Only) are definitely ruing the party. *sigh.*

 

[Miss M]

Another one is to trust that inner voice... the one that says to you, "get out of here now", even if it's someplace you go to all the time.

 

[Mountain Spice]

Another one is to trust that inner voice... the one that says to you, "get out of here now", even if it's someplace you go to all the time.

This has saved my arse a few times... and my husbands, especially since we deploy overseas.
People need to realize what's happening in their world... or there will be consequences for them in the very near future.. and that's why they are called Sheeple.....

 

[coffeenutdesigns]

I know most of the people here who drive company issued work trucks are required to back into any space in their work truck for safety reasons, so backing into a space can't be that unreasonable.

 

[Secuono]

Not all sheep are 'sheep'
:tease:

He's the only one, best spot for air and seeing everything.

 

[Jack]

The thread regarding the magician needing to have a "disaster plan" for his rabbit has spurred this topic, but it specifically addresses man-made threats.

I was in town the other day, and couldn't help but notice how oblivious everyone is to their surroundings. They just mosey along, assuming that there is no possibility of something terrible befalling them.

So, I wanted to share just a few common sense tactics to keep you safe or allow a quick getaway should something terrible occur in your vicinity.

First off, be aware. Do not have your head buried in your Iphone. Look around- are there any people about? How are they dressed? Baggy clothing indicates possible concealed weapons. Whenever possible, make eye contact with people. This lets them know that you see them, and shows that you are confident.

When you park your car in a parking lot, back into the space. This way, if you need to leave the area quickly, you wont be wasting time making a three point turn in reverse. It takes no more time to back into a space on arrival than it does to back out of one when you are leaving- and those few moments could mean the difference between life and death.

Always pull into the front space in a gas station for the same reason. When you are stopped at a traffic light or traffic on the freeway, allow at least a car length between yourself and the vehicle in front of you.

Never enter a place of business- especially a bank, jewelry store, or convenience store- without first seeing someone exit. This way you will not unknowingly walk into a robbery in progress.

If you are dining in a restaurant, position yourself so you can watch the entrance and exit. Make note of any cover and concealment.

On cover and concealment- absolutely do NOT hug the cover. You are safest at a distance of about 6 feet. Bullets tend to ricochet, and if, for instance, you position yourself over the hood of your car as they portray in the movies, you are likely to get a ricochet to the head. Throw a tennis ball at the hood of your car with the same trajectory as a bullet and you will see I speak the truth. This also applies to hallways and hugging the walls. Stay in the middle.

Get training in some type of self defense. Whether hand to hand combat, martial arts, knife skills, or handgun, you need to have some skill set to protect yourself.

The Left has made great strides in changing our populace from a nation willing and ready to defend themselves from harm to a population reliant on the government for protection. The reality is that Police are not paid to risk their lives for you or the lives of your loved ones... and why should they if you don't value your life enough to protect it yourself?

Read, there is plenty out there
and one correction, it isn't 6 feet, it's usually 1-2 feet in MOUT, you are taught not to hug cover, as the bullet on a shallow angle ricochet will 'zing' along the wall. 6 feet is too far, and this applies only for solid wall that'll bounce bullets. Tactics, Like MSD says, most people are oblivious, one example is a lady who had her baby taken hostage last weekend at Walmart. The guy was circling looking for a victim, he got the baby of the buggy, as he is doing this, the mother is yelling at him...

Now, I put a kid in and out quite a few times a week, it ISN"T a 1 second operation, OK, maybe putting em in, IF it's just right, but usually it's getting a foot, out, twisting to counter their squirm and now that the are old enough, slowing lifting them out, as the detangle themselves.

My point, is she had time 30 seconds to a minute.
once he had the kid, the had words, he handed her a phone and told her to call the cops, he was going to hurt the kid, more words, then he pulled a knife...

My point, is, OK she let the guy get too close, but when someone is trying to steal your kid, WHY didn't she kick him in the jimmy and run away? or in any way fight back, instead she argued with the guy until he produced a weapon. See, most of this, wasn't at knife point, not until she said no, did he produce a knife to prove he would hurt her baby....

oblivious. The time to fight is at the start. Read some true crime. Most people let murders kill them. Honestly they do. This study is the comment on sheep. Most people go like sheep to the slaughter. People who could have kill their murderer, or have gotten away alive, instead, chose to die.<br /><br />__________ Wed Jul 03, 2013 8:43 pm __________<br /><br />Oh, google
Monkey Dance
Gift of Fear
Cornered Cat

and people be safe, the media is working the race angle on the Zimmerman case, and well, with other signs, it isn't looking good, and if you live in a place with a ghetto or hood, near, watch yourself, talk to your neighbors and remember the only place in the LA riots that didn't burn or get looted...
You don't mess with Korean shop keepers, they have stared the enemy in the eye at the DMZ...

 

[SatinsRule]

When you park your car in a parking lot, back into the space. This way, if you need to leave the area quickly, you wont be wasting time making a three point turn in reverse.

The problem with this is that in some towns, you can receive a parking ticket for this because it's been made illegal to do so. Definitely among the dumbest laws on the books, but some cities and towns start getting desparate to make money however they can and cops begin issuing citations for it almost ad nauseum. Don't ask me why, but it is what it is.

And I pretty much agreed with everything else you said, BTW!!

 

[Zab]

I'm quite sure bad stuff can happen anywhere to anyone.. but no. I couldn't go around thinking like that. If it happens it happens.. I'll do my best to deal with it then. Not saying that I generally walk around with my face in my smartphone or see a group of mean looking peoople arguing and decide the best place to cross the street is going in between them... but I can't go around and constantly think something's going to happen unless I take safety steps. I'll go with the ''pay attention to your surroundings'' one, and otherwise just live my life like I always do. Something bad can happen, and perhaps I could have avoided it.. but something bad can happen despite those steps and then maybe it would have been avoided if I had forgotten them. You never know. (i.e: I'm waiting for someone to leave the bank and a smartphone-driver rams me with his/her car).

Not saying you're paranoid, MSD... But I definetly would be . I'd become one of those skittish people moving around like birds and glaring at random persons passing by as if daring them to do something out of the order.

 

[Jack]

Zab, read Cooper and condition status, most people in life are 'white' http://www.teddytactical.com/SharpenBla ... reness.htm
something happens, and when told about it later, they go 'uhg, what, no I never saw (fill in the blank) but hey, did you hear about (blank) yeah, I've been checking it out....) and promptly puts head back DOWN into Iphone

Think of it this way, how many people do you see with earbuds in, walking down the street staring at their smartphone...
and then they get hit by a big truck (US would be MACK truck, Brit, Lorry) and if they survived, would say something like

That came out of No Where...

Well MSD's point is NO, it came down the road, just like all the OTHER cars, it was a very predictable incident, and entirely preventable by simply looking up and doing like your mom taught you, look both ways, then left again.

It's little stuff, like what is on the OTHER side of your car when you unlock it to load your groceries.
Do you pay attention to who is close to you, who is looking at you?

Most of MSD's post is a reminder that you honestly see most stuff coming if you just bother to look for it.<br /><br />__________ Thu Jul 04, 2013 12:50 am __________<br /><br />Mine is pointing out that it's best to ACT proactively to bad situations, and have at least though about what you are going to do
I'll use the question of rape, have you even though about how you would react? Most rape 'resistance' classes work NOT because they teach you how to fight, but rather because they forced you to consider HOW you would react to a certain situation.

Another example, is what makes the news with teenagers, girl drunk at a party is raped
think, and realize this is NOT a 'blame the victim'
but you go to a place where the point is:
SEX
DRUGS (alcohol is a drug, along with what may be mixed with it)
and rock-n-roll
Drinking yourself stupid with no trustworthy (and sober) friend/buddy, no THOUGHT to personal safety...
being taken advantage of is NOT an unforeseen consequence.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OODA_loop <-PLEASE READ
The same can be said of crime. Consider a 'forceful' bum, they pick you because of what you drive, how you are dressed and how you act.
they act in a way to force (Orient, Observe Decide Act - OODA, good reading on this) so that you feel obligated to give them money, or will give them money to make them leave. They are masters of using their words, JIVE, (BS story, actions, implied threats) to get money, and short out your thought process (get inside you OODA) to solutions that all = give them money.

 

[Zab]

I'm not going to read that atm, I need breakfast

A remonder of being aware is never wrong. I have been close to be run over by bicycles when chatting with friends and not paying attention to what's behind me, taking a wrong step out of the line, and I don't blame the person on the bike. I got distracted, it happens but I don't normally bury my head into a phone (except on the train, I watch TV on my phone) and I do look both ways when crossing a street.

Yes, I normally pay attention to my surroundings. I'm also the creepy type person smiling to strangers and making eye contact

But following a list of rules and always thinking ''what if... how should I do if..." or take special precations to avoid people out to harm you.. No. I can't expect that there's always people that may harm me. I will rather believe that most people are good people with a basic respect of others, even if I end up in a bad situation. That's my problem with the post, it say ''people are out to hurt you because you're in the wrong spot'' and that doesn't fit in my picture of the world. Accidents can happen and I agree to pay attention to your surroundings, but I can't go around thinking that people deliberatly will hurt me. And that's even though I know people who will manipulate and hurt others to get their will through.

Only time I've been drunk stupid was with some 6-700 vikings I didn't know from all around the world. I lost my expencive camera, phone, my reindeer hides, some jewelry etc.. it all was returned to me the necxt day. Happened twice (in 2 years). I love those people But yeah... I normally don't party or drink. Never saw the point of it.

I'm also the type that picks up hitchikers and offer them to sleep in my guestroom when it's cold and rainy. Had a russian pair once.. I think I scared them a bit. But they taught me a fun cardgame. (and the next day we learnt that the highway had been closed off in both directions that night due to storms.. so I am happy I let them stay rather than left them there)

I probably will get myself killed one day for trusting people.. but this far it seems that what comes around goes around and none of us will survive life anyhow.

 

[Jack]

Finally, a personal example, I borrowed my grandma's car to the train station for a part of a long intra-continental trip to visit my family,the train station isn't in a great part of town, and the north bound train to Oregon left at 3:30AM, my grandma was coming into town the next day, so she said, just part it at the train station and she'd pick it up in the morning.
(AMTRAK and I'm NEVER taking it again, the train was over 6 hours LATE because of a shooting OVER (as in from one side to the other) the tracks, that the cops wouldn't train creep through...)

Anyways, I'm the type that I like to return as good or better, and this is my Grandma, so I stopped to get gas at a gas station I knew was on the way. Mind you I knew this town, when I lived at home (cali) and went to school in Chico, which is the 'city' near the town I grew up in. This gas station is a few blocks from poor sections of town, between 2 'student' neighborhoods, on a main drive in mixed commercial, near a park 3AM, I pull in, its me, and a car parked to the side (near the air pump, NOT getting gas, just loitering) with a guy in it I think, some bikes dropped on the ground and 3 black guys (and this is a mixed, not ethnic neighborhood) just hanging.

I get the eye, I'm driving a Buick skylark, with a woman in the front seat, not dressed 'nice' but more 'comfortable' and I guess, the best I can say, is I'm not screaming 'LOCAL' (who would be up at this time of night) Frankly, I'm the sore thumb in the scene, somewhat out of a movie (dead of night at the gas station, stoplights blinking red, small group of ... cue 'the guy from out of town' I saw the guys, when I came in, and figured they'd leave me alone, I'm passing through minding my business. I saw them, they saw me seeing them.

So I'm topping it off, and one separates from the rest, with communication going on between them (gesture/posture) He come over to me (I habitually keep the car running, doors locked except for the drivers door) and asks for a light for a cigarette. (note, one of them had been smoking when I came in) Told him, nope, sorry don't got one. Guy says, sure you do, in the car, just push... I say, nope, old car lost long ago, well can you spare me 2 bucks so I can buy one. I say, nope hell I'm buy gas cause it's for my grandma, and am probably broker than you are. (I'm NOT getting my wallet out, I swiped my card and put it away BECAUSE of them)

The though crosses my mind, the guy can afford cigarettes, but not a book of matches to light them? Strikes me as funny. I pull the hose out and put the gas cap on.
He hits me with more jive, I look up, with a SMILE ON MY FACE,from the though of him to broke to light a smoke, and say "you know smoking is bad for you, and as a matter of fact it can be damn dangerous at a gas station, so I guess it's lucky for you I ain't got a light."
It happens that I'm smiling and pointing a gas nozzle at him telling him he's lucky I don't have a lighter...

Interview ended, oblivious white guy from out of town is not their victim... that's right, this was an interview I was fine with bombing
See, looking back, standing up and saying NO, just got more jive, (and no never means NO, you have to give them an action 'go away')
and I was holding a gas nozzle, pointed directly at the guy, while telling him he was lucky I didn't have fire that night, because it's dangerous for him.
I sent a message, or he got one, cause I didn't think about the gas hose in my hands.

His buddies were now next to the front doors. (Yeah, I kick myself for loosing track of them, and this is a well used ripoff technique, one 'bum' distracts you with a 'hard luck' story or hardsell while his buddys are busy stealing anything they can reach from the car when your back is turned.

What was intended, IDK, could have been hard sell pan handling, could have been a mugging, could have been car theft, could have been a robbery, where they ripped off the car when I was inside...
what mattered was I failed their interview to be a victim.<br /><br />__________ Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:34 am __________<br /><br />naw Zab, read gift of fear, buy it used... nothing 'new' just well presented

And Zab, you are talking to a guy who hung out with the African American soldiers, they said, and the New York City guys agreed, even the guys from Puerto Rican part of Harlem, that I was probably one of the few white guys who could walk from Manhattan all the way thorough Harlem, and get to the otherside unmolested.

Too happy, too oblivious...
must be a trap, something not right, NOBODY is like that...

 

[Zab]

:lol: Naw? Naws ruin my image... or wait.. I think my behaviour does that already...

Well good for you. I have no intentions of walking anywhere... I think Im missing your point. :3

I'll just keep being me. At least people say I have a good sense of who to trust and I have the nerve to leave people I dislike. I think that carries a long way.

 

[zee]

1) Never park next to a cargo van. Predators could just pick you up and throw you in.
2) Only buy gas at a gas station that has fully functional video surveillance. If something does happen, the cops could get a lot from the surveillance.