I am not quick to analyze the energy that I am projecting like I am quick to analyze the energies that I am sensing from my environment. The energy I detect comes in different ranges, such as people or weather. Sometimes, in the more rare case, it includes the influence of the stars.
When I am analyzing the energy around me it is for the purpose of preparing myself for whatever may be coming my way. Walking in the same direction the wind is blowing, avoiding an individual who is violently distressed, or determining the quality of a product. Usually the most important moment is when I have to make a quick decision of how to react to confrontation of malice.
There has been plenty of times when I am by myself on the streets and someone looks at me as some kind of prospect for victimization. The most frightening aspect is to be caught off guard, backed into a corner, and unsure if the assailant has backup.
More often than I want to admit, I am without any way to react without jeopardizing myself in the process. People with weapons is not nearly descriptive enough of these cases, I have to be specific to what kind of weapon they have or where I am being confronted. Firearms is a great example of a situation that can go from bad to horrible without being able to blink, especially when it's someone in uniform who has the wrong idea and a chip on their shoulder. If you want to tell me that sounds fanciful, then try fitting the description of someone else who committed a crime. However, my point has to do with non-uniformed personnel.
Most of the time I have been in public and have had to fend for myself. There are plenty of places all around America that have these occurrences every day. What baffles me is the supposed heroism we hear about in the news yet hardly does the average person get lucky enough to attract the good deeds of a hero.
I certainly am not waiting for Superman to fly down to my rescue or a routine patrol of a COP in a convenient manner like Hollywood portrays often.
People who have been bullied in school (or the workplace for that matter) can attest to the awkwardness of being surrounded by would-be heroes yet is forsaken for some reason or another.
Though the answer seems to be as simple as proper preparation, there are always times when you are vulnerable to attack. In the more extreme case, you can't even properly avoid conflict because it breaks into your house. Though someone breaking into your house is more at a disadvantage to your steps of precaution than someone who confronts you in a parking lot or when you get off of a bus.
Given the nature of how a victim can be charged with some bogus crime for self-defense, the initial reaction to being confronted with the possibility of violence is not easy to conclude on. However, it doesn't mean there aren't options.
Generally speaking, I use the power of the tongue to give me a chance. Regardless of if it only means to buy me enough time to assess the situation I'm caught up into. Unfortunately, depending on the individual circumstances, time isn't guaranteed.
My primary mode is self defense. If there is enough time to think things through I will test my options. Some people just want money. Some people just want something you're carrying. Some people want much much more.. Any of these circumstances may involve a person who is willing to use excessive force, which desperation may be part of their arsenal.
I am not an advocate of sitting down during a crisis, but I am not an advocate of testing your luck. If there's anything people should understand, it is that life shouldn't be left to a gamble. If you're dealing with someone who is desperate, you may as well assume you will get hurt or killed if you make a mistake. So before you assume the threat level of the situation, be prudent to react to the situation instead of escalate the trouble.
I wish I could say that you can talk people out of their intent, it only works when a situation escalates from peace to malice. The rules of engagement are much different in criminal activity and the rules of engagement are even more wildly out of control when it's a crime of passion. So be smart enough not to get caught up into unnecessary strife with any individual, as they may be ready to go "all the way" to release their burning anger.
My motto is that it's better to lose your driver's license, some debit cards, and forty dollars than your life. Especially if you don't earn some hospital bills and permanent disfigurements while you're at it. I know this is hard for some people, as they think they are some super bad-ass that should be recognized as such just by physical appearance... However, no one cares how big you are or how skilled in any martial art when you are at the business end of a bullet; especially when the one pulling the trigger is damn willing to empty a whole clip into your chest just to make an escape.
None-the-less, in a case of total vulnerability in which you are caught off guard.. Your best ally is time. It gives you time to do a myriad of things.. Even if it is playing psychological games with the assailant long enough to get an advantage to run, attack, or get you to the window of opportunity for that passing hero who isn't going to sit during a crisis.
Women have it the worse, that much is undeniable. Not only are they more likely to be the prey that faces a surprise attack and is even more likely to be overpowered, they are more likely to be the victims of a crime where they can't just give up those items they can replace.
What I'm getting at may seem dismal at this point, but my intent is to give credit to the awareness of these openings and vulnerability. Sometimes your intuition is the best weapon you have to avoid the situation, even though there's no guarantee that it's enough in the end due to all sorts of factors.
What kind of person goes into a dark alley, provokes a posse of drunkards, or jumps in the front of a robber with a gun... All whilst having no plan when Plan A, Plan, B, and Plan C goes wrong? Assuming there's even a Plan A....
However, for those who like these kinds of situations... How about you guys give more effort to be like Batman? Or some other not-such-a-good-guy vigilante hiding in the dark alley like McFarlen's SPAWN.
For the rest of us.. How about a rule of thumb: Stay calm, stay alert, and be ready for the dark cloud over someone's head to turn into a raging hurricane.
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