[ SECRET POST #2706 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #2706 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 04 pages, 079 secrets from Secret Submission Post #387.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

Re: Suprisingly decent article on self defence

[(Anonymous)]

Well, I never really felt fear much beyond the usual caution most people (not just women) would take - you know, stay out of certain areas, don't walk home alone, take a cab if drunk, etc. Then, I was assaulted (see a thread above; sheesh, looks like my day for venting).

Now? Fuck it. Even though I know that the chances of lightning striking twice n the same place (so to speak) are slim, and I've mostly gotten over it, I do carry pepper spray with me as a sort of "security blanket" if I am going anywhere alone. Because, while I don't BELIEVE it'll necessarily happen again, and while I am not (anymore) terrified anytime I hear footsteps behind me, I still do feel like I'd want to have the option IF.

What I carry is not the "marketed to women" stuff that the article talks about (which, from what I've seen on offer, would probably be freaking USELESS in an actual incident because, no, when somebody attacks you, you don't have time to find it, release a complicated safety switch, and still be able to use it from a reasonably safe distance) but something developed for people handling aggressive dogs. It's no nonsense, fits comfortably in one hand, simple spray nozzle. (Also, for black humor value, if I ever DO have to use it and have to justify that, I fully intend to, with a perfectly straight face, claim that I have a deep seated fear of wild dogs and I thought this one had "rapies")

So, I guess my feeling is 50/50 - on the one hand I've experienced the negative first hand, and on the other I'm distanced from that enough to realize that of 15 years of being in this city as an adult woman that I only once had a problem and that, statistically speaking, my city is pretty damn safe overall compared with the rest of the world.

Should we all be panicked all the time? No. Panic is paralyti.

Should we be aware of our surroundings and take reasonable precautions? Yes. That's good advice for everybody.

Should we all carry a weapon or constantly wear anti-rape-undies?

Weapons only if one is capable of handling them responsibly. (And no, I really don't have a good way of deciding who is and who isn't capable. After all, I'm biased and, as said, I carry something I believe I'd be able to use but which I admittedly have zero training in; I'll leave that for wiser, less biased heads than mine.)

Anti-rape-undies? Can't imagine that actually being a successful stratagem- a) you'd have to have them ALWAYS (because who can predict this sort of thing reliably enough to avoid an awkward "Oh, I can't go to that event where rape is a possibility because my only pair of rape-be-gone undies is in the wash!" situation) and b) I wouldn't want to risk facing
the attacker's wrath when he's thwarted by my underwear.

Bottom line is there is, unfortunately, no magical device or course of action that will guarantee anyone's safety. (Face it, if there WERE, we'd all be using it, no?) I find fear-mongering reprehensible, but also believe that people should be able to find the products and services they need (again, within reason, again, no I can't delineate what 'within reason' is, sorry) to feel safe.

So, I guess what I'd change is the angle of the marketing. I'd like to be respected and treated like an adult. Something that instead of going "OMG! RAPISTS BEHIND EVERY BUSH! CARRY OUR MAGIC RAPIST-BE-GONE!" simply states, generally, "Our product does X, and may be useful for self-defense in Y situation." But yeah, maybe when pigs fly.