Any of you residing in the Pacific Northwest have likely heard or read about the recent assault in the Metro bus tunnel in Seattle. Google "Metro tunnel assault video" and you'll find more than enough information on this incident. This particular attack... and the many similar ones that have occurred in this and other transit stations brings up some important points.
Firstly, there is no "safe" place. (I believe that they should call them TRANSIENT stations, since this is the type of feckless example of humanity which seems to lurk about, looking for targets.) The majority of abductions actually take place in suburban and rural areas, Not the cities. Violent street encounters appear to occur more in urban areas, though assaults have also been known to occur in mall and grocery store parking lots. You can take a look at the blotters from your local law enforcement precincts to get an idea of what kind of mischief is happening and where. Don't rely on these completely because anomalies do happen.
If you've managed to convince yourself that this will never happen to you, congratulations! You're in denial. You can now feel falsely secure relying the odds. You need to understand that the majority of victims of violent crime were thinking the same thing. So at least you won't be lonely. NOBODY ever thinks it can happen to them. I wonder if the animals at watering holes in those nature programs think the same thing.
That is point number one.
Point number two is this:
A violent assault is not a "fight". A "fight" is a social interaction between two individuals. It may certainly be antisocial, but it is social none-the-less. There is an attempt at communication, be it wit screaming, threats or fists. The two imbeciles involved are attempting to communicate with each other.
It is also a contest of sorts. When one individual, stops fighting, starts bleeding or goes down, the "contestants" cease. The fight is over with one being the "winner". It is likely that there have been at least some rules involved. Neither individual was trying to KILL the other. They were proving their point. If death occurs it is likely an accident.
An assault is NONE of these things. An assault is only over when either the assailant or the victim stops moving due to unconsciousness, crippling or death. There are no rules. Allow me to reiterate that last bit: THERE ARE NO RULES!!! In an asocial confrontation, there is no intent to communicate.
Last week I heard a local radio talk show host comment on this same bus tunnel attack. "When did this become acceptable? When did kicking and stomping someones head when they're on the ground become the way we fight?" I'll forgive him for leading such a sheltered life. For THAT you see... is the difference between a violent assault and the ridiculous and juvenile practice of "fighting".
Only a brainless ass AGREES to fight with anyone. If your manhood (or womanhood for that matter) and self-esteem are so fragile that you are incapable of ignoring verbal insults and the mild inconvenience, then you are a spoiled child. You shouldn't be allowed out in public where your sensibilities may be trampled by the adults.
Stomping and kicking the head and body are inevitably what will happen if you go to the ground should you be unlucky enough to be attacked. The puss pocket who attacks you is going to do whatever they have to to get what they want. Be it your wallet, watch, shoes... assault you sexually... or simply kick the crap out of you for the pure enjoyment. All the better if you drop to the concrete, making it easier for them to cave your skull in.
Yes. This does happen. In fact, it happens a hell of a lot more often than the city council or the police department is willing to tell you. The Tuba Man was beaten TO DEATH... at the base of Queen Anne HILL... as a lark... by a group of teenagers. The police have ruled it a robbery... but let's be honest here. How much cash could this poor man have possibly had on him. Any "robbery" was an afterthought.
If people had an idea how often innocent citizens were victimized in this crappy city there would probably be a rush for pistols ad carry permits at an unprecedented scale! That may not be a bad thing. I grew up in this city and have watched it turn from a beautiful place into a festering crap hole because of the tolerance shown to the putrid refuse allowed to walk about loose. But I digress.
An assault if a horrific thing to endure... if you manage to survive. (I've done it. It sucks being "that guy". The psychological toll alone is horrific.) It sucks much more so NOT to survive.
Most people who are assaulted have no idea what's happening... and sometimes die not knowing. Others waste valuable time trying to figure out "Why". Now tell me honestly, do you really give a damn WHY two or three thugs are kicking your ass while your in the middle of it? Do you really want to "understand" them? Is it of any significant importance AT THAT IMMEDIATE MOMENT? Wouldn't you truly... at that precise instance... simply NOT be having your ass kicked?
Professor Steiner has stated many times that "Self-defense is war in microcosm". His meaning is that self-defense is not about trading blows, fighting within a set of rules or showing your assailant mercy. It is quite literally WAR. Kill or be Killed. Do you think this is an exaggeration? Read a bit about the types of assaults I'm referencing. Unless you're a complete imbecile, you'll notice that most of the victims end up in the hospital and a large number of them take months or years to recover, if they ever fully recover.
Any of you who have been attacked know the feeling of helplessness and fear that hits you. As I said, I've been through it. It's almost dreamlike: as in a dream where you feel you are not in control of your facilities and can barely move.
This is a dysfunctional reaction to the "Fight-or-flight" response. In this scenario you are doing neither. The adrenaline dump, combined with the fear reaction has made you freeze. Don't worry... this is a LEARNED RESPONSE... and you can train it right back out of you! Interestingly, this same response in certain people will also manifest itself while driving. People who collide in an accident that others easily manage to avoid. It's not only attention deficit. It's also that dysfunction of allowing fear to lock up control of your physical and psychological mechanisms.
I'll cover more on the "fear factor"in part 3 when I wrap this up.
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