XTrooper
Member
Vigilance and fear are not synonyms.
Where Does Our Fear Come From?
- Thread starter Kylaen
- Start date
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Guys, again. I'm not accussing anyone of anything. I'm not saying y'all are afraid. But there is an underdcurrent of fear that the news injects us with daily. That's what I mean by "our fear." It's like a virus that has infected our nation. I'm glad y'all aren't afraid. That's what I hoped.
Certaindeaf
member
Half the guys here are ex-military and or whatall. A certain tension within the bones might be a more apt description but I sure wouldn't say they/we are afeared of about anything.
I hear what you're saying though. We all just have to get by in life in our own way.
Have fun!
I hear what you're saying though. We all just have to get by in life in our own way.
Have fun!
Guillermo
member
Kylaen,
I never suggested that you were accusing anyone. It is just that I am not so arrogant so as to speak for anyone but myself.
As to my observations, I see people wandering around unarmed, looking at their smart phones (texting) instead of looking around and generally not having ANY awareness of threats around them. They seem to see it on TV but not think it can happen to them.
I teach women's self defense and it is VERY difficult to get people to take it seriously until they have become a victim.
So in my experience the average person is not fearful. They are not paranoid. They are not prepared. Mostly, the masses seem to wander about ignorant of their surroundings and any threats that may be there.
This was a verbose way of saying that my observations differ from yours.
I never suggested that you were accusing anyone. It is just that I am not so arrogant so as to speak for anyone but myself.
As to my observations, I see people wandering around unarmed, looking at their smart phones (texting) instead of looking around and generally not having ANY awareness of threats around them. They seem to see it on TV but not think it can happen to them.
I teach women's self defense and it is VERY difficult to get people to take it seriously until they have become a victim.
So in my experience the average person is not fearful. They are not paranoid. They are not prepared. Mostly, the masses seem to wander about ignorant of their surroundings and any threats that may be there.
This was a verbose way of saying that my observations differ from yours.
Guillermo, I agree. If I could help women learn to defend themselves, I would. I certainly wouldn't like to be a victim of anything, myself, and neither would anyone here, I know. My interest in law enforcement is centered around protecting myself, my family, and innocent people. But like others pointed out, there's a difference between being prepared and being terrified of people, like the news wants us to be. I want people to be prepared, but not terrified of other people.
76shuvlinoff
Member
I am afraid that I might not be right there when/if my wife and daughter need me to be.
We are indeed a violent culture, my "plan" would be to respond to violence with an overwhelming amount of same.
We are indeed a violent culture, my "plan" would be to respond to violence with an overwhelming amount of same.
Guillermo
member
give up watching the news
Your BP will go down. Besides...it is inaccurate. And I would respectfully argue that if you didn't watch the news you would not think that Americans are a fearful bunch.
Look around you and I think you will find that the average Joe is more likely to be clueless.
And BTW, I am a RAD Systems instructor http://www.rad-systems.com/ and recommend it highly. If you want to get involved, it is VERY rewarding.
Also, there is a child empowerment program that I am also certified to instruct called radKIDS http://www.radkids.org/. We have never had one of our kids abducted (I think over 80 saves). But it is much more than that. It teaches kids to take care of themselves...not just self defense.
If you want to get involved...I HIGHLY recommend it.
Guillermo
member
Kylaen,
Glad to help.
I hope you can join the fight.
G
Glad to help.
I hope you can join the fight.
G
tek610
Member
Kylean-
I just bought my wife her first handgun, and she now has her Minnesota carry permit. I am white, she is black. 50% of my household is black. Should I be afraid?
You're clearly a racist. You can deny it all you want, but if a large percentage of blacks and latinos is reason to arm yourself, take a look in the mirror buddy.
Most of the mass shooting stories that garner national attention have been perpetrated by white men. Maybe I should be afraid of YOU.
Before I became a "gun guy", I was the victim of gun crime twice. Once in Maryland, once in DC. What on earth was I thinking marrying a black woman and arming her? I guess I'm just contributing to the "problem."
I just bought my wife her first handgun, and she now has her Minnesota carry permit. I am white, she is black. 50% of my household is black. Should I be afraid?
You're clearly a racist. You can deny it all you want, but if a large percentage of blacks and latinos is reason to arm yourself, take a look in the mirror buddy.
Most of the mass shooting stories that garner national attention have been perpetrated by white men. Maybe I should be afraid of YOU.
Before I became a "gun guy", I was the victim of gun crime twice. Once in Maryland, once in DC. What on earth was I thinking marrying a black woman and arming her? I guess I'm just contributing to the "problem."
Guillermo
member
tek610
You need to learn to read
He did not say what you say or even suggest what you say he said.
You owe him an apology
You need to learn to read
He did not say what you say or even suggest what you say he said.
You owe him an apology
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tek610
Member
If I misread his post, I certainly do owe him an apology. But it's a bit convoluted. After a reread, I can't quite understand what he's getting at. "In NY, there's more blacks and latinos."
What does that mean? Why is it part of a post concerning fear?
Ky- If you were to clarify this statement, I will eat my words and humbly apologize, but when this is included as part of the conversation, something seems to be bubbling beneath the surface.
I see the line "It's not minorities." But- I'm still not clear on your post.
What does that mean? Why is it part of a post concerning fear?
Ky- If you were to clarify this statement, I will eat my words and humbly apologize, but when this is included as part of the conversation, something seems to be bubbling beneath the surface.
I see the line "It's not minorities." But- I'm still not clear on your post.
JohnM
Member
I could see this happening when I first saw this thread.
Time for a moderator to put the kibosh on this thing.
Time for a moderator to put the kibosh on this thing.
Guillermo
member
Tek,
I agree he should have put it more clearly (It took me a while to figure out who "we" are) but he also mentioned
"They have a good mix of ethnicities just like us. But they don't lock their doors over there, either. They're not afraid. They even have more poor than we do, a higher unemployment rate, believe it or not."
As to the whole issue of race, even if he WERE to have said what you allude to, that does not mean that he is a racist. Many folks understand statistics.
And NONE of it matters. Calling a fellow THRer a racist is not cool.
I strongly suggest that you edit that before a moderator comes along and you offer him an apology.
I agree he should have put it more clearly (It took me a while to figure out who "we" are) but he also mentioned
"They have a good mix of ethnicities just like us. But they don't lock their doors over there, either. They're not afraid. They even have more poor than we do, a higher unemployment rate, believe it or not."
As to the whole issue of race, even if he WERE to have said what you allude to, that does not mean that he is a racist. Many folks understand statistics.
And NONE of it matters. Calling a fellow THRer a racist is not cool.
I strongly suggest that you edit that before a moderator comes along and you offer him an apology.
Certaindeaf
member
I'm third generation Oregonian - live in the biggest city here - but lived a good portion of my life down California way. Nice place to visit.
The last time I was there that I had time to watch the news was quite a while ago. It made me raise an eyebrow a little bit with just the amount of reported bad. It's a different world. It's not even on the news down there unless there's particular evil and or mayhem/scope.
Kinda an eye-opener/odd and glad to not be there.
The last time I was there that I had time to watch the news was quite a while ago. It made me raise an eyebrow a little bit with just the amount of reported bad. It's a different world. It's not even on the news down there unless there's particular evil and or mayhem/scope.
Kinda an eye-opener/odd and glad to not be there.
tek610
Member
Ky- I sincerely apologize if I misread your less than clear post.
Certainly, there is no way I can know you enough to accuse you of racism from one post on an internet forum.
My response was a knee-jerk reaction to your OP, which, as has been pointed out, I misread.
Enrolling in reading lessons as we speak.
Good luck with everything.
tek610
Certainly, there is no way I can know you enough to accuse you of racism from one post on an internet forum.
My response was a knee-jerk reaction to your OP, which, as has been pointed out, I misread.
Enrolling in reading lessons as we speak.
Good luck with everything.
tek610
For the record, my girlfriend is black, as are some of my cousins. I'm not mixed race, but certain family members are, and that's not a problem. You did misread my OP, tek610. I intended to allude to the fact that people in America who may feel afraid due to watching the news are likely to blame the crime on blacks and latinos, because when the news talks about a shooting, or violence, or car thefts, more often than not the perp is depicted as a "minority". A vague reference, indirectly suggesting that news outlets could be prone to racism. That's a little thing called sub-text, as in, you can figure out what I'm saying even if I don't directly say it.
Thanks for the assist, Guillermo. Much obliged.
Thanks for the assist, Guillermo. Much obliged.
Guillermo
member
order is restored
I am now going to strap on a gun and head to the gas station and the grocery
I am now going to strap on a gun and head to the gas station and the grocery
I'm sure we all have heard things on the news, depicting a suspect as a "black male, approximately 6 feet tall, who was last seen wearing a hoodie/afro hairstyle." How many black men could that describe? Way too many. Hence, sub-text. Or maybe I should just spell things out, when I'm asking people about the effect the news has on a broad number of social issues in America.
Red Cent
Member
"Fear is an emotion induced by a perceived threat that causes animals to move quickly away from the location of the perceived threat, and sometimes hide. It is a basic survival mechanism occurring in response to a specific stimulus, such as pain or the threat of danger. "
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear
"To be afraid is to have the emotional response of fear to threats or danger."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afraid
Semantics. It is interesting to see that not one of you is fearful or afraid.
About ten years ago three men with stockings on their head burst through the front door of the bank with shock and awe. One came for me, one vaulted the counter in the face of my tellers, and the one with the sawed off pump took position just to the side of the door.
When the guy came through my office door with his Bersa 380, I was not afraid. Some old training kicked in and I scanned him. I was not fearful when he grabbed my arm and forced me down on my stomach. When he put his hand in the middle of my back, it scared me, almost, to death. i thought I was about to be shot in the head. I cannot define that second of helplessness and fear.
And they got away.
Now I lock any and all doors at the home (retired). I carry a weapon when I take the trashcan to the end of the drive. Forty yards maybe. I am not paranoid (I think) but it has been said you do not have to reload in my house. There is always loaded guns around.
When I am out in the dark and something startles me, those hairs on the back of my neck means fear. The reaction to fear. It is impossible to have never experienced a symptom of fear. Impossible. Unless you have had a lobotomy.
Afraid? It is a simple word that "we" brave souls would never admit to anyone. BS. I was afraid.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear
"To be afraid is to have the emotional response of fear to threats or danger."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afraid
Semantics. It is interesting to see that not one of you is fearful or afraid.
About ten years ago three men with stockings on their head burst through the front door of the bank with shock and awe. One came for me, one vaulted the counter in the face of my tellers, and the one with the sawed off pump took position just to the side of the door.
When the guy came through my office door with his Bersa 380, I was not afraid. Some old training kicked in and I scanned him. I was not fearful when he grabbed my arm and forced me down on my stomach. When he put his hand in the middle of my back, it scared me, almost, to death. i thought I was about to be shot in the head. I cannot define that second of helplessness and fear.
And they got away.
Now I lock any and all doors at the home (retired). I carry a weapon when I take the trashcan to the end of the drive. Forty yards maybe. I am not paranoid (I think) but it has been said you do not have to reload in my house. There is always loaded guns around.
When I am out in the dark and something startles me, those hairs on the back of my neck means fear. The reaction to fear. It is impossible to have never experienced a symptom of fear. Impossible. Unless you have had a lobotomy.
Afraid? It is a simple word that "we" brave souls would never admit to anyone. BS. I was afraid.
Zaydok Allen
Member
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2011
- Messages
- 13,274
There is a big difference between living in fear and using common sense. If your home gets robbed and the insurance company finds out that you don't even lock your doors.... I wonder what the outcome would be. I'm seriously wondering not making a snide coment.
I grew up in a major US city. More population = proportionally more crime. Thus, you always lock your doors. I lock my doors when I'm home in broad daylight. If it becomes something you just do and don't think about, you have less to worry about.
When I was a kid, the neighbors across the street moved out and drug dealers moved in. They were also selling stolen guns. One day the swat team was out on the street arresting them all. We found out that they had an armed guy sitting in the spruce trees when they were conducting business just in case one of their clients tried to grab and run. That's really creepy when I think about how many times I was likely watched when I'd get home at night.
I now live in a tiney town in the middle of nowhere, population 1800. Last year a young vet with PTSD went nuts and started shooting up the town. He shot up the high school, senior center, sheriff's office, and then crashed his truck into the front doors of the sheriff's office. He fled on foot and the cops shot him down 4 blocks from my home.
Bad things can happen anywhere. Don't fool yourself. Lock your doors. It's a simple deterent that requires very little effort, and if someone is trying to get in your home, it may buy you those couple of seconds you need to get to a gun or knife or whatever you have.
Do I have to tie my shoes? No, I could walk around with them untied and probably not trip. Do I tie them anyway? Yes.....
That sounds like a very tramatic experience you went through and I'm sorry that you had to go through it Red Cent. I don't think anyone is saying they don't ever feel fear though, unless I missed that post. Anyone who says they are never or have never been afraid is simply lying to themselves and others. However some people are very good at remaining rational and proactive while still feeling that fear, and are capable of acting. Soldiers and LEO's are good examples, but anyone can learn to do this with practice and mental dicipline. It doesn't mean the fear isn't there.
I had an angry land owner think I was trespassing, when in fact I wasn't, approach me with a shotgun in hand, I've been bit by a dog and harassed by several others, I've taken falls from over ten feet and been badly hurt, I was chased by two domesticated bulls (I've never ran so fast in my life!), I've had a grizzly bear encounter and a black bear encounter, I've nearly been run over by white tail deer on a few occasions, I've nearly been trampled by elk that a coworker spooked up, I've been in a few car accidents and one boating accident when I was a kid, I've been running around with mountain lions for a long time,.................. and I will admit truthfully, that in every one of those situations, I've felt genuine gut twisting terror.
But those were specific experiences that induced intense fear. I don't live in fear. I believe in being prepared and taking proper precaustions, but I don't feel the need to arm myself at all times. I keep loaded guns in my house just in case, I CCW when I'm allowed to just in case, but if I'm taking my trash out, I don't give it a second thought. I just do it.
I grew up in a major US city. More population = proportionally more crime. Thus, you always lock your doors. I lock my doors when I'm home in broad daylight. If it becomes something you just do and don't think about, you have less to worry about.
When I was a kid, the neighbors across the street moved out and drug dealers moved in. They were also selling stolen guns. One day the swat team was out on the street arresting them all. We found out that they had an armed guy sitting in the spruce trees when they were conducting business just in case one of their clients tried to grab and run. That's really creepy when I think about how many times I was likely watched when I'd get home at night.
I now live in a tiney town in the middle of nowhere, population 1800. Last year a young vet with PTSD went nuts and started shooting up the town. He shot up the high school, senior center, sheriff's office, and then crashed his truck into the front doors of the sheriff's office. He fled on foot and the cops shot him down 4 blocks from my home.
Bad things can happen anywhere. Don't fool yourself. Lock your doors. It's a simple deterent that requires very little effort, and if someone is trying to get in your home, it may buy you those couple of seconds you need to get to a gun or knife or whatever you have.
Do I have to tie my shoes? No, I could walk around with them untied and probably not trip. Do I tie them anyway? Yes.....
That sounds like a very tramatic experience you went through and I'm sorry that you had to go through it Red Cent. I don't think anyone is saying they don't ever feel fear though, unless I missed that post. Anyone who says they are never or have never been afraid is simply lying to themselves and others. However some people are very good at remaining rational and proactive while still feeling that fear, and are capable of acting. Soldiers and LEO's are good examples, but anyone can learn to do this with practice and mental dicipline. It doesn't mean the fear isn't there.
I had an angry land owner think I was trespassing, when in fact I wasn't, approach me with a shotgun in hand, I've been bit by a dog and harassed by several others, I've taken falls from over ten feet and been badly hurt, I was chased by two domesticated bulls (I've never ran so fast in my life!), I've had a grizzly bear encounter and a black bear encounter, I've nearly been run over by white tail deer on a few occasions, I've nearly been trampled by elk that a coworker spooked up, I've been in a few car accidents and one boating accident when I was a kid, I've been running around with mountain lions for a long time,.................. and I will admit truthfully, that in every one of those situations, I've felt genuine gut twisting terror.
But those were specific experiences that induced intense fear. I don't live in fear. I believe in being prepared and taking proper precaustions, but I don't feel the need to arm myself at all times. I keep loaded guns in my house just in case, I CCW when I'm allowed to just in case, but if I'm taking my trash out, I don't give it a second thought. I just do it.
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Lawdawg45
Member
Someone who chooses to leave their home unlocked can replace most things with insurance if they're robbed, unfortunately their is no second chance when someone decides to take your life for a wrist watch or car. Preparation is not fear, and leaving your family and valuables open to harms way isn't a wise choice.
LD
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