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The best defence: retreat!

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 6:24 pm
by vjha55
Recently read literature on self defence, surprisingly and also convincingly for me "fleeing from the scene " was advised as the best self defence if one could flee.

Re: fleeing from the scene: the best defenc,e

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:02 pm
by cottage cheese
vjha55";p="38640 wrote:Recently read literature on self defence, surprisingly and also convincingly for me "fleeing from the scene " was advised as the best self defence if one could flee.
Yaar bhai,

You'll have your mighty revolver. No need to fear anything.... :)

Well, on a more normal note, yes, fleeing if possible, would be a pretty practical thing to do.

regards,
cc

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:11 pm
by vjha55
Yaar cc,

It is not so much a matter of fear and use of so called mighty revolver, it is the after effect of use/noneuse of it that matters.

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:15 pm
by vjha55
How apt would be this remark " braves must be half fool" ------not applicable to military.

Instead of fleeing, a brave will fight it out and repent later if survives---a characteristic of fool.

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:27 pm
by Mo
The remark "Braves must be half fool" makes no sense. At least not in this context.

The act of fleeing as self defense, has no relation to how brave a person is. It just reflects in his understanding of responsibility and avoiding conflict where possible.

Just cause you have a gun dosnt mean you need to return fire. If its possible to flee, then do so. Thus avoiding prolonged danger to self/others and or damage to property.

Makes sense? Its called responsible Behaviour. Has got nothing to do with guts.

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:33 pm
by vjha55
can you think of bravery without putting oneself in danger, fleeing from scene cannt perhaps be bravery, if anything it is what is meant by cowardice.
At times being cowardice may be a better option than earning a label of brave.

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:44 pm
by mundaire
vjha55";p="38649 wrote:can you think of bravery without putting oneself in danger, fleeing from scene cannt perhaps be bravery, if anything it is what is meant by cowardice.
If you have the option of retreat, while preserving your/ persons accompanying you safety & property AND you choose not to take it, choosing in stead to shoot the assailants. You may find that the court will possibly take a dim view of your actions and you may possibly find yourself behind bars.

If there is no real option of retreat without putting yourself/ persons accompanying you in danger OR safe retreat is not possible - then you would be justified in using deadly force to defend yourself.

It has nothing to do with bravery, it's about obeying the spirit of the law while best ensuring your own safety...

Certain states in the US have adopted something called the "castle doctrine" wherein if you have an intruder in your house, you are not required to try to flee or ascertain the level of danger before responding with deadly force.

Cheers!
Abhijeet

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:44 pm
by Mo
can you think of bravery without putting oneself in danger, fleeing from scene cannt perhaps be bravery, if anything it is what is meant by cowardice.
At times being cowardice may be a better option than earning a label of brave.
Y'know what, pulling out a gun at the first sign of danger is utter cowardice and a clear indication that you do not have the mental stability required to safely own a firearm.

Its always better to try and disengage an opponent instead of trying to place a bullet in his head. Why do you think policemen have have tasers/stun guns? Think they're not good shots? or perhaps saving bullets?

On a different note, its somehow difficult to ignore the fact that you always come up with imaginary situations, requiring the public display of B@lls. Why is that?

Try XBox - Cheaper, No license required and you can shoot anybody you want to.

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:55 pm
by Mo
Dear vjha55,

Nobody labels a person who's just out of a traumatic situation. Whether you return fire or not, whether you flee or not, people are only concerned with the health of the involved.

They do not tag anybody brave or coward for getting into a gunfight.

If they do, move to a better neighbourhood.

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 8:05 pm
by vjha55
Dear MO,

I entirely agree with every word of yours, but you do get people who think better to fight it out making mess of whole thing.
This topic could serve them and us too because at times animal instinct has the tendencyto take us over. By using the tough word like "fool" what I have tried is to trigger vaccination sort of thing in all the readers at this forum---no disrespect meant for anyone.

BTW I dont need to change my neighbourhood if at all I discuss all this it is with intellectual people like you.

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 8:13 pm
by Mo
Hmmm, I see the point.

But such posts will be far from a deterrent. Its perhaps the way you word it. Dunno.

I'm sorry if was rude. But the post conveyed a funny picture.

Instead, try focussing on how fleeing would result in a better outcome than using adjectives.

Why dont you do a write up on your learnings from the self-def book. That'll be a better way of doing things.

Mo.

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 9:32 pm
by OverUnderPump
Oh man this friend of ours is priceless :lol: Trade Union leader or no trade union leader. Vaccinator, Torchbearer et all rolled into one. Is is bird is it a plane ? No its our own our very own Jhajee.

Well I'll get back on topic and leave Jhajee for lead role histrionics.

Retreat is but a strategic withdrawal, which speaks volumes about the clarity of thought of the individual who takes that action under duress. Forget literary tags like BRAVE and COWARD, they really don't mean much. Its there at the back of your mind in a situation like this. One might be tempted to think, if I run now, people will think I am a COWARD.Thats what happens actually. One should be BRAVE enough to shrug off that feeling and do whats right. If theres room to flee, scat vamooze, become scarce. And if cornered with no way out, :) well you know what to do.

Whatever you do,just ensure that you live to see another day.

Cheerio
8)
OUP

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 9:35 pm
by shooter
any kind of danger causes the body to release adrenaline which can have effects of fight, fright (fear, causing you to freeze) and flight. An individual has no control over these reactions. People like policemen, firefighters, millitary undergo rigorous training to face these situations.
All their moves are carefully rehersed many times during exercises. but this doesnt make them less brave or the ordinary man a coward because he flees from danger.
Most rescue workers including lifeguards, paramedics, even people who administer CPR etc are taught, trained to put their safety first. This has nothing to do with cowardice.
Even Jim Corbett acknowledges in his works, while describing villagers fleeing from a man eater, believing the tiger to be posessed, and approaching him for help as very brave.

buying a musical instrument doesnt make you a musician. similarly buying a handgun etc doesnt make one proficient in its use with enough confidence to use it in a life or death situation.
Bravery and cowardice are something much deeper and cant be fully described by play of words.

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 9:38 pm
by snIPer
Two men were on either side of a small narrow bridge (in good ol Great Britan i hear) they were just about to cross and saw the other one about to do the same. One called out, "I dont give way to **^&*&^" the other looked at him and said, "I do" and saying so he stepped away allowing the other to pass
h
HTH

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 9:47 pm
by mundaire
I quite like the way it's said by this woman pro-gunner from USA on her personal website - http://www.corneredcat.com
This site is about women and guns, not about cats. But in a way, it's about the cornered cat in all of us. It's about the determination to get away from an attacker if you need to. It's about making the decision to say, "Not me. Not mine. Not today." And it's about the tools to make that decision stick.

If you have to fight...

Fight like a cornered cat.