Knife attack at California Target store: Some thoughts.

[Sgt_R]

I think it's best not to take a disney, black and white view of things...

That reminds me of a quote:

"It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was Us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things." Terry Pratchett, Jingo

Which is somewhat whimsically written, but actually illustrates a serious point. This guy wasn't one of Them, and he certainly wasn't a 'BG.' He could have been my next door neighbor.

Anyway, sorry for the threadjack. Point taken.

R

 

[Manco]

That reminds me of a quote:

"It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was Us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things." Terry Pratchett, Jingo

Which is somewhat whimsically written, but actually illustrates a serious point. This guy wasn't one of Them, and he certainly wasn't a 'BG.' He could have been my next door neighbor.

The quote is meaningful but too general for self-defense. If I did something bad to somebody else, then I guess they have a reason to come after me, but I'd still defend myself. And even in the narrower context of self-defense, who says that such roles or identities have to be fixed, anyway? I don't know about you, but for me one of Us will become one of Them if they try to do me harm.

 

[Tacbandit]

Quote:
"If in this situation I would act to help others if possible. Then I would slap myself for living in such a communist state."

+1...And then...move to America...Quickly!!! Yes, this can happen anywhere, but in most "free states", we are allowed to prepare for such occasions. However, in remembering that ultimately, we are responsible for our own safety, situational awareness is always mandatory...no matter where you may be. In a department store, pick up something and "swing for the fence" if they get too close.

 

[Deanimator]

Spend some time in a Kali or Escrima or other Fillipino martial arts school, and you'll suddenly realize that you have two hands, and you can use them both at the same time. You'll also learn to use your hands to fight against people that have a knife or a stick, or two of either or one of each. You'll also learn footwork that will allow you to dance around an untrained psycho woman, knives or not, and deal with her at your leisure.

Most experienced knife fighters will tell you that in a knife fight, you should expect to get cut... and that's if BOTH parties have a knife.

You do what you HAVE to do at a minimum. I'll use ANY weapon at hand to avoid meeting a weapon attack barehanded. My mother barehanded against a knife wielding attacker? Deader than Joaquin Phoenix's last brain cell.

 

[cleardiddion]

I've got 11 years of experience with taekwondo and trust me when I say that if someone is going 'lawnmower stance' on you with two knives and you're going in barehanded, expect to bleed.

I suppose it may be a good thing that I tend to hang around the sporting section of any store because last I heard the stuff in the toy section and such will give you lead poisoning but won't give much of an advantage in a knifefight.

 

[Manco]

Most experienced knife fighters will tell you that in a knife fight, you should expect to get cut... and that's if BOTH parties have a knife.

Right, and in general one should use the most effective option available anyway rather than relying on superior training and skill that may or may not be superior for all one knows. A typical department store has a wide selection of potentially harmful or lethal items to choose from, and if nothing better is in reach, then make like a "bag lady" and ram the perp with your shopping cart repeatedly. Always remember to think outside the box, and then throw the box at your assailants if you have to.

I suppose it may be a good thing that I tend to hang around the sporting section of any store because last I heard the stuff in the toy section and such will give you lead poisoning but won't give much of an advantage in a knifefight.

Yes, lead is generally far more effective when administered in the form of a "pill" that is propelled by hot gases at hundreds or thousands of feet per second.