From: ejh@khonshu.colorado.edu (Edward J. Hartnett)
Subject: Re: Fear and Social Conditioning
Organization: CIRES, University of Colorado
Date: 1 Oct 92 11:50:52

In article <1992Oct01.124526.8112@brtph560.bnr.ca> JB <jbl@mesaadm.cre.nt.com> writes:

   Now I'm really upset.  We have been discussing various safety issues and
   male/female interaction in this space.  A post mentioned "social
   conditioning" and that got me really thinking.  Am I taught, conditioned,
   encouraged to fear?  Are all these tacky tabloid shows and news shows
   designed to keep me behind locked doors, with the only contact with
   "civilization" the television?  Is the real message behind "this one
   horrible thing happened to Mr or Ms Average":  this can happen to you, so
   live in fear, our show (and it's helpful sponsors) can keep you safe?

   I am a relatively tough corporate broad.  Am I irrational to fear the
   threat of harm in the backcountry, were I to travel alone or with a
   female only group?  We have heard from several women about this.  What I
   would like to hear is from the men, to see how far this social
   conditioning goes.  

   The question: If your significant other (female) were to trek alone or in
   an all female group, what would be your degree of concern for her safety?
    I'm talking primarily about the threat of danger from other humans.
   JB

In answer to your question - I worry far more about my sister in D.C.
than I do about my girlfriend in the Rockies. As far as conditioned
fear goes - women are a lot less afraid than they should be! What I
mean is, when I meet a fearless woman (or man) I generally think it's
totally unjustified, i.e. they're usually just kidding themselves. "It
couldn't happen to me." Fear is a realistic and useful response to the
violent society we live in.

I think there is nothing more natural than to fear fellow-humans, both
in the city and the backcountry. After all, we are the most vicious
predators on the planet! That said, I don't think you should live your
life behind locked doors because of this fear. It may seem repugnant
to you (than again it may not), but I think that the only way to deal
with this (other than just to trust your luck) is to become somewhat
more dangerous yourself. You could carry a gun (as one poster here
recomended), a knife (as another recomended), or study martial arts
(that's what I recomend - but the knife's a good idea too). If you've
never studied MA I highly recomend it. It's not just about being able
to hurt people, it's about being able to look someone in the eye and
show the confidence that comes with it. Many people have a bad opinion
about MA, like "I don't want to learn how to hurt people." But when it
comes right down to it, you already know how to hurt people, just not
that well. If I was president of the U.S. I'd make it mandatory for
women to study MA - there would be a lot less rapes.

It's sad that women have to live with this fear, but, to tell the
truth, men live with it too. Women are often outraged about the level
of violence to women in our society, and I can easily understand that,
but if you're looking for a more useful response, MA will allow you to
confront your fears head-on, and realisticly decide what you are able
to do, and what you are willing to do, to protect yourself.

In the backcounrty or the city, MA is the only way to have protection
that cannot be taken away, lost, or used against you. Even more than
the specific skills you learn, the attitude that goes with it can be
adapted to many situations and many weapons. In this light, firearms
are just one branch of MA.

OK, this is not really related for r.b, but because of all the
postings from women about safety in the backcountry, I wanted to post
it. Let me just add that I think it's great that some women feel
perfectly safe in the backcountry, and I certainly don't want to get
you all fearful, but both men and women should remember that it is by
no means safe from crimes. It's true that there are a lot less people
around, and probably not too many hardened criminals go backpacking,
but you are also far from help. As someone mentioned here, there were
several rapes in Yellowstone in the last year. 

I'm not setting myself up as a MA expert, but if anyone would like any
information or advice concerning MA, feel free to email me, and
perhaps I can help the answers. There is also rec.martial-arts for
those interested (very high noise-to-signal ratio there - don't let it
turn you off to MA).

We now return to your regularly scheduled newsgroup...
--
Edward Hartnett			ejh@khonshu.colorado.edu

From: scochran@hpmwtd.sr.hp.com (Steve Cochran)
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1992 19:34:05 GMT
Subject: Re: HELP: plastic mountaineering boots
Organization: HP Santa Rosa Site (SRSD MWTD)