From: archer@utkux1.utk.edu (T. Archer)
Subject: Violence, and the use thereof in self defense.
Organization: University of Tennessee Division of Continuing Education
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1992 13:55:18 GMT

In article <XR1DoB2w162w@micor.ocunix.on.ca> graydon@micor.ocunix.on.ca (Graydon) writes:

>archer@utkux1.utk.edu (T. Archer) writes:

[my own post about the statistical effectiveness of self-defense deleted]

>Vidarr help me, I'm about to make a post about the chiefest of my
>pet peeves - the general resemblence of the majority of the population
>to someone having the tactical sense of a newborn dik-dik.

Gentle Lord,
I thank thee for thy kind response and remonstrance regarding my words, as 
by your missive it is clear that my humble ability to carry out meaningful 
discourse has failed me.

>Mr. Archer, statistics are, in terms of an individual making an 
>important decision (I am safter trying to threaten this assaultor
>or not?) utterly meaningless.  Statistics are not about individuals.

You are, of course, correct.  As a great writer of Mundania, (nom de voyage, 
Twain), once said, "there are three type of lies:  lies, damn lies, and 
statistics."  Personally, I disregard statistics when used in the course of 
an argument or debate, as I humbly consider statistics to be numbers one can 
twist to one's will.

>A threat of violence is *not* effective unless is carries conviction;
>this is a complicated and subtle compound of voice, body language,
>and the experience of the individual your are trying to threaten.
>(Standard 18 year old males, particularly when drunk, *do not*
>threaten well; they get macho, and stupid.)

You gentle point cannot be stressed enough.  When I walk among the mundanes 
I routinely carry a sidearm; I have for many years.  Mundania is not a safe 
place.  There are even some few among our noble following who are, through 
accident of birth, unable to follow the nobility we generally think of as 
chivalry.  Saints preserve us from having to use weapons of any kind in self 
defense.  If one chooses to carry steel or powder, one must be willing and 
able to use it.

Gentle people, heed these words of wisdom: draw no weapon until you are 
ready to use it.  In mundane parlance:  don't point a gun at anything your 
aren't willing to put a hole in, and don't pull a knife unless you are 
willing to cut.  THREAT of violence should never be assumed to be enough.  
Drunken 18 year old males do NOT bluff worth a damn, especially if they have 
an audience.

>The short form is it only works if you will do you damndest to kill
                                                                ^^^^
I only take issue with thine words here.  While intent should not change 
your action, the spiritual cost of "attempting to kill" is too much for 
many peole to bear.  Far better to "do one's damndest to STOP and 
assaultor."  It that results in the villian's demise, so be it.

>The basic rule for this sort of thing is 'run, talk, fight, in
>that order, dammit!'.  Another is *do not get drunk in the presence
>of strangers*.  *Ever*.

Heed these words as well.

My poorly worded missive was not intended to address tactics except at the 
final level, when violence was already in the offing.  A gentle had spoken 
of a weapon "more likely to be turned against the wielder," and, when 
speaking of likelihood, this is a fallacy.  'Twas only of this I meant to 
speak.

Post Scriptum:

My friends call me Archer, and we are all friends here.  If you choose, omit 
the honorific.
-=-=-
T. Archer  PA142548@utkvm1.utk.edu
University of Tennessee
"Vote Dempublican, it's easier than thinking." -- Unknown
-=-=-
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca