The Knock-Out Game

[Phaedrus/69]

I am continually amazed at how many people in today's generation believe in the "search and you will find it" idea. Blame Google

Do not take this personally. Many people who should know better, and a number of people who need to, are subject to the same misconception.

Think about it. To be able to have retrievable data, the data must be reported, gathered, and cataloged.

Barring anything compiled by the FBI in the UCI, I'd say this is more than an urban legend but far less of a risk than driving while using your phone. I dunno, I believe this isn't a total myth but my research and experiences tell me it's pretty rare. Of course I am in Montana these days, that kind of random crime in my corner of the state is almost unheard of. Grizzlies are a lot more credible risk here...yes, even in town!

 

[Kleanbore]

Barring anything compiled by the FBI in the UCI, I'd say this is more than an urban legend

Why?

Barring anything compiled by the FBI in the UCI, I'd say this is more than an urban legend

Probably.

but my research and experiences tell me it's pretty rare.

What kind of "research" have you done?

that kind of random crime in my corner of the state is almost unheard of.

Good.

 

[Phaedrus/69]

Like most folks I've read detailed crime stats, checked the police blotter and spoke with friends relatives in LE in various parts of the country. If you have a better way to find hard numbers I'm all ears! If you have good stats please don't keep us in suspense! My suspicion, which I can't back with much solid statistical evidence, is that your perception of the risk of this particular crime is probably mostly based on what media you consume. Obviously one needs to be cautious but that applies to many threats outside of the meme/urban legend things that clog the gun forums all the time.

 

[shafter]

The knockout game is a real thing but as Kleanbore stated it's not measurable because there is no classification for it in crime reporting.

 

[Bcwitt]

The knockout game is a real thing but as Kleanbore stated it's not measurable because there is no classification for it in crime reporting.

Perhaps there should be?

 

[Jeff White]

Perhaps there should be?

You can't trust any crime statistics. Agencies are not mandated to make UCR input and there is no audit process. The politicians skew UCR input so their city doesn't look too bad. I wouldn't say those stats are useless but they are not in any way, shape or form a good representation of the crime in any community or nationwide.

 

[Old Dog]

You can't trust any crime statistics. Agencies are not mandated to make UCR input and there is no audit process. The politicians skew UCR input so their city doesn't look too bad. I wouldn't say those stats are useless but they are not in any way, shape or form a good representation of the crime in any community or nationwide.

Bingo! And you should not, ever, ever trust any of the "statistics" that came out of the COVID years. Aside from the rampant absenteeism in every agency, there was a ton of administrative incompetence that'd already been endemic in U.S. law enforcement for years Guess what positions in any agency or department are not popular and don't attract high-quality employees? Or these positions are left unfilled or not funded. And data compilation and submission might even be a collateral duty in some agencies. Some states had a centralized system for providing the data, others had agencies transmitting reports directly into the bureau, but it's only been a couple of years since a new single reporting system came online. Also, different agencies classify types of crimes differently. I don't know how things are working now -- probably not any better -- but a lot of crime never got reported for the UCR. I suspect the stats that are coming out are still deeply flawed and can be contradicted entirely by other methods of study.

 

[Bcwitt]

To be clear, when race group A assaults race group B, it's called a hate crime. When race group B assaults race group A, it is not? I'd say race group B has a distinct social privilege.

 

[Bcwitt]

Barring anything compiled by the FBI in the UCI, I'd say this is more than an urban legend but far less of a risk than driving while using your phone. I dunno, I believe this isn't a total myth but my research and experiences tell me it's pretty rare. Of course I am in Montana these days, that kind of random crime in my corner of the state is almost unheard of. Grizzlies are a lot more credible risk here...yes, even in town!

I think blacks ( bears) are far more dangerous.

 

[Rexster]

Well, rather than worry about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, I will simply try to remain sufficiently alert for anyone who wants to bop me in the head, whether he is “playing a social media game,“ or simply wants my iPhone, vehicle keys, and wallet, like most typical Robbing Hood thugs. My strategy and tactics are the same.

The crime rate, and crime stats, for a particular area, matter not. Alertness should be universally applied. Let’s have a good day.

 

[Kleanbore]

I will simply try to remain sufficiently alert for anyone who wants to bop me in the head, whether he is “playing a social media game,“ or simply wants my iPhone, vehicle keys, and wallet, like most typical Robbing Hood thugs. My strategy and tactics are the same.

Yep.

But for me, being the subject go filming will set off an alarm,

 

[Rexster]

Yep.

But for me, being the subject go filming will set off an alarm,

Yes, that is one of the newer pre-assault indicators, but even that one has been going on, for a while, to a limited degree, in some contexts. Back in the day when “cam-corders” were relatively large, and actual film tape was rolling inside them, one gang in Houston’s Fourth Ward thought that it would be cute to to bait a Houston PD unit into stopping to make an arrest. The bait was a young gang member stumbling and staggering across West Gray Street, as if intoxicated. When my colleague, Joe, stopped, to try and effect the arrest for Public Intoxication, the gang sprang the trap. As Joe realized that it was an ambush, he let the “suspect” go, and turned to find a gang member trying to get into the driver’s seat of his patrol car. Joe dragged the would-be auto thief from the driver’s seat, and caught sight of the cameraman, rolling tape. Joe tossed the would-be auto thief aside, got into his police car, and got out of there.

I wish that I could remember the year that this happened. 1990, give or take a year or two.

But, yes, for private citizens, this was not likely to be a thing, until the time of “social media.”

 

[Bcwitt]

Barring anything compiled by the FBI in the UCI, I'd say this is more than an urban legend but far less of a risk than driving while using your phone. I dunno, I believe this isn't a total myth but my research and experiences tell me it's pretty rare. Of course I am in Montana these days, that kind of random crime in my corner of the state is almost unheard of. Grizzlies are a lot more credible risk here...yes, even in town!

Which race group is a " Grizzlly"? We've heard all about "Polar bears".

 

[rust collector]

The irony of all this is the "pics or it didn't happen" meme which assures that almost all the events eventually make it onto social media. Somewhere out there is a world of evidence, including whose phone was used to record it and when it happened.

Risk may be overblown, but is not zero. Buddy system and vigilance is about all anyone can do.

 

[Kleanbore]

The irony of all this is the "pics or it didn't happen" meme which assures that almost all the events eventually make it onto social media. Somewhere out there is a world of evidence, including whose phone was used to record it and when it happened.

Yes indeed. and the increasing prevalence of security cameras, doorbell cameras, and people talking video is having an influence on all kins of crime, from vand \alism to murder.

 

[PWC]

If you are a woman walking down a street, try to stay in the middle of the sidewalk...as far as possible from the curb and a van ambush coming up from behind. Walk on the side facing traffic as much as possible. If walking along window shopping, move away from the building toward the middle of the sidewalk as you approach an alley or break between buildings to keep from being drug into the alley. Others may "see" but do nothing to help.

I have a grade school at one end of the street, middle school at the other, and high school just around the corner. I hate to see girls walking alone. Some are talking on their phones, hopefully to mom or dad, all the way down the street. Someone to know where they are while alone. Twice my wife and I have run off men in cars trying to pickup girls. It's easy, just yell "Do you know that man?" Both times the car sped off before we got the license. Once, it was the father, who thanked us.

 

[wayneinFL]

If you are a woman walking down a street, try to stay in the middle of the sidewalk...as far as possible from the curb and a van ambush coming up from behind. Walk on the side facing traffic as much as possible. If walking along window shopping, move away from the building toward the middle of the sidewalk as you approach an alley or break between buildings to keep from being drug into the alley. Others may "see" but do nothing to help.

That's not just for women. I've seen two grown men jumped from the corner of a building. Had a coworker jumped from the corner of a building. Poor guy got knocked cold with a piece of pipe for a wallet with less than $50 in it.

I always try to stay away from parked cars, corners, and any other architectural features that someone could hid behind. I always look when I pass them.

I've never really worried about a bunch of guys jumping out of a van and kidnapping me, but I walk facing oncoming traffic. Watch the cars because I don't want to get hit.

 

[FL-NC]

This cowardly trend is just another name for a sucker punch. A sucker punch is normally executed with the element of surprise, and requires very little talent or skill. The reason the victim often hits the ground in varying stages of consiousness is because the full force of the strike is received without the benefit of something like a block, slip, or parry to at least take some of the "stink" off the strike, and the recipient is not "braced" for the impact. Even in combat sports, the strikes that end in a knockout are generally the ones you didn't see coming, or didn't have time to prepare for- trust me on this. Even pro MMA fighter Michheal Bisping was the "victim" of an attempt by some coward trying to play this game. Accuracy in where the strike lands and force of impact also play a part in a KO or knockdown, just like being shot. In my opinion, the best way to prevent things like this is to pay attention (get your face out of your phone) and not look like "food". Going through life refusing to turn your back on anyone while constantly biting down on a mouth guard just isn't going to work, and you may as well stay home like a scared cat. Being trained and ready to answer this type of violence with your own violence is highly recomended- if someone has already hit you or tried to, you are already in a fight at contact distance. Video coverage of the event is not required to make it happen but MAY be an indicator.