When and how do you "turn up the heat"

[BoarSpear]

..............................

[BoarSpear]

You went too deep Mike..

[gregimotis]

I was walking down a dark area behind some business - just taking a shortcut between work and a bar. As I walked, I was aware that this was just the kind of dark alley type place where a person could get into trouble.

So, since I was thinking about it, I pulled a folding knife out of my pocket and palmed it, which seemed reasonable enough. Next thing I know, I've got the blade open and I'm just walking along in a dark alley near the nightlife district with a knife in my hand.

All of the sudden I realized that to anyone watching, I was the menace in the dark alley.

[medic06]

Well, there are many of us who never grow up to this point, many of us just get older physically.

There comes a point when you realize that most of the time it's just simply not worth it.

I've had several times when this has happened to me. I remember once when I was standing in the parking lot of a movie theater talking to some friends. This rather dirty and disheveled man came walking straight at us with his hand in a brown paper bag. He pulls a baseball cap out of the bag and says "Man, anyone wanna buy a hat? I'm trying to get something to eat. . ." At that point and time I noticed (along with my friends) that I had pulled out this POS folding knife out of my back pocket and deployed the blade. If he would have taken one step closer I would have used it on him. I found it sobering that I almost seriously injured somebody who just was looking for a few bucks (he never even saw the knife. . . )

[Tant01]

Interesting stories. Developing the proper judgment to distuingish between real (justifiable) threats and perceived threats. One way you live in honor the other shame...


There is a scenario trained in a number of LEO circles that involves a threat and a character that only looks like a threat. After you deal with a guy that pulls out a gun and puts it in your face you get to deal with the second guy or the same guy in a similar stance as before but this time he pulls out a card instead of a gun. It says "I am a deaf mute I can communicate with American sign language..." Ask how often he gets shot? (in the scenario training event)

[BoarSpear]

..............................

[BoarSpear]

............................

[Tant01]

So none of you ever avoided a situation BECAUSE you were armed???

Thats surprises me a little

Why, how many of us do you suppose actually prepare to use these weapons on other human beings? How many of us do you think have ever been the victims of armed violence or actually used these weapons in a justifiable conflict? Without the experience or wisdom it brings few will seriously AVOID conflict because of the nature of the weapons. After you spend tens of thousands of dollars on attorneys and see firsthand how F-UP the "system" can be? After you kill some idiot or spill blood for a list of petty insults?


Then you will have a clue what Boarspear is getting to... It won't help anyone that holds no value on life. It won't be an issue for 99% of so called Martial Artists because they never wield a weapon outside the academy and if they did they would most likely end up bleeding... LOL

I work at avoiding conflict because I am armed always... The Police are my friends again.

[HtTKar]

I guess it's pretty similar to not wanting to fight someone just because you know you could seriously hurt them. It's an Ego thing. If some drunk starts a fight with me, I usually know right off the bat whether I should be worried, or if I should just tell the guy to go home...and leave myself. When you know deep down that an offender doesnt really pose a threat to you, you can handle the situation a lot calmer and make good decisions. It's when your faced with someone that really poses a threat, someone you fear, that you're going to make rash decisions and pull that blade or hit them with a chair or something. As Mike pointed out; you have to read the person. Are they a real threat? Or are they just posturing? A blade really is just an extension of your hand, if you are threatened you'd use whatever you can.
Never use more strength than is necessary and you'll find you have more strength when you need it. That is what it takes to controll the ego.

[HtTKar]

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<double-post.>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[BoarSpear]

..............................