Choosing to be sheep or sheepdog

[HI express]

On an earlier thread I asked about events that led up to your choosing to CCW.

On a similar path...what made you choose to be a sheepdog? I figure mostly all you all on this forum chose to be a sheepdog.

For definitions of what each one represents, look at the other thread about sheep, sheepdogs, and wolves.

I mentioned on a previous thread, seeing a neighbor senior citizen lady put in a coma with a hammer blow to the head started me purchasing a gun, but it wasn't really until I married and had a daughter did I seriously began having a gun handy and start teaching myself about holsters, etc. in order for me to better protect my family. After all sheepdogs protect their flock, right?

How about you?

Also, what do sheep do with their families?

 

[P95Carry]

Also, what do sheep do with their families?

Watch TV, drink beer, think of self, head in dark place, #1 for ever, ignore, watch more TV.!! Generally be unaware of the world around them and the safety of those closest.... themselves included usually. ''It can't happen to me'' syndrome.

Always been a sheepdog (with hint of wolf inbred!!). Never regarded it as anyone else's duty, EVER - to look out for me and mine. That is my job and my responsibility. Way it should be.

 

[mmike87]

I agree. It's OK to look towards society for some law and order, but in the end it's is ultimately your responsiblity to provide for your own safety to the best of your ability.

I always wondered about people who slip on icy sidewalks and then sue someone over it. It snowed, stupid - watch where you are stepping!

However, we live in a society of victims. Darwin was wrong - the fittest do not necessarily survive. We coddle the stupid and the weak with a society that rewards complacency and penalizes initiative.

I'll go to the ends of the Earth to protect myself and my family. I have given a lot of thought to the question: "Would I draw my gun to protect a total stranger?"

 

[Gunpacker]

Becoming a sheepdog

Watching western movies from as early as I can remember made it abundantly clear that the good guys had better have a gun. All the bad guys did and were willing to use them.

 

[ReadyontheRight]

Also, what do sheep do with their families?

Bleat about how wonderful the world would be if we could only get all the teeth and fangs off the street.

But there's always another carnivore. And bleating doesn't stop them.

 

[Gordy Wesen]

I guess if you're going to discuss sheep it's worth remembering the concept started with Jeff Cooper who said:
"Most are sheep. In a world of sheep - those who can fight the wolf are feared. Sheep have trouble discerning a sheep dog from a wolf."

^..^

 

[meef]

I have given a lot of thought to the question: "Would I draw my gun to protect a total stranger?"

And the answer is.......?

 

[Standing Wolf]

I have given a lot of thought to the question: "Would I draw my gun to protect a total stranger?"

I did. I didn't say it was fun. I just said I did.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

I have given a lot of thought to the question: "Would I draw my gun to protect a total stranger?

So if you saw someone being beat to a bloody pulp with a tire tool, you are unsure what to do?

I think it would make me feel really bad to see a murder that I might have been able to prevent.

I've seen this issue debated before here, and the two reasons people who would do nothing use to justify basically boil down to:

(1) everyone should provide for their own defense, and

(2) see, I told you so.


Many of us here carry concealed weapons, but many of our wives, children, parents, and friends do not. People need to look out for each other. We are trying to have a civilization here.

 

[TallPine]

I dunno ... maybe it was all the Roy Rogers and Gene Autry I watched as a kid ....?

Or maybe it's a gene ???????? Never had a dad at home growing up so didn't learn it there. OTOH, I had to be the "dad" in some respects as I grew up.

There wasn't ever a time when I didn't think that I would defend myself or my family.

But there was a time when I wasn't so suspicious. I stayed out of bad areas and didn't worry too much about being bothered.

I guess the years have hardened me - made me smarter and more cynical.

Am I wiser or just paranoid ???

 

[Typhoon]

I learned how to be a sheepdog (and the need to become one) from my Dad. He was the first to arm me.

 

[Werewolf]

On a similar path...what made you choose to be a sheepdog?

I didn't choose to be a sheepdog. In today's society - though it may morally be the right thing to do to protect one's neighbors - it is definitely neither the smart nor practical thing to do. I am armed to protect my family and myself in the unlikely event that ever becomes necessary.

I figure mostly all you all on this forum chose to be a sheepdog.

That's a hell of an assumption on your part - maybe correct. In my case I am currently neither a sheepdog nor a wolf (see above) but in the unlikely event that the SHTF and society crumbles into chaos it's much more likely that I'd be a wolf than a sheepdog. I'd do what it takes to assure that my family and myself survive and in the case of anarchy if that meant that I had to kill to do it I would without a second thought about it. Gentleness in such a sitution would be totally out of place. A wolf will win out over a dog in almost every instance and a dog against a pack of wolves has ZERO chance.

 

[Aguila Blanca]

I'd do what it takes to assure that my family and myself survive and in the case of anarchy if that meant that I had to kill to do it I would without a second thought about it.

So you're saying that in an EOTWAWKI situation, if you and your family are out wandering around because your home has (for whatever reason) been destroyed, and you happen upon me in my hovel with a can of baked beans in my hand, you would feel justified in killing me -- who has done nothing to harm or even threaten you -- so you can eat?

Time for me to head to the ammo depot.

 

[Werewolf]

So you're saying that in an EOTWAWKI situation, if you and your family are out wandering around because your home has (for whatever reason) been destroyed, and you happen upon me in my hovel with a can of baked beans in my hand, you would feel justified in killing me -- who has done nothing to harm or even threaten you -- so you can eat?

Uhhhhhh.... Yep! Pretty much. In an EOTWAWKI situation it'll be a dog eat dog world (or a man eat dog world given the opportunity).

Time for me to head to the ammo depot

You mean you've not already been. Shame - shame... [wags finger at Hawkmoon]

Shooting would always be an option under those circumstances but instead of it just being on the table and at the bottom of the pile as is the case now it would probably gravitate more towards being the 2nd option in the pile.

But then since the EOTWAWKI scenario is extremely unlikely it's all academic anyway.

 

[Devonai]

I am a shepherd. Somebody's gotta do the paperwork.