Topic: Personal safety

[Jessica_Rose]

What do you do to feel safe, especially when venturing into unknown places?

Transitioning made me feel more vulnerable. Becoming a woman made me feel more like a target, and being transgender just added another layer of potential violence. I think we all know to lock the doors and windows, and if walking outside at night we should try to stay in well-lit areas and travel in pairs. Keeping your cell phone fully charged is important, but so is paying attention to your surroundings instead of staring at the phone constantly.

Although we live in a subdivision, there are no houses behind us -- just a small meadow and forest. I installed some motion-sensor lights and a security camera, but that doesn't always deter would-be criminals. I keep a firearm within arms reach of our bed, with an attached light. Having a light will help me find anything that goes 'bump' in the night, and it will help identify any potential threats.

When I'm out, I always carry pepper spray. It doesn't take up much room in a pocket or purse, and I can take it everywhere (except on airplanes). It's inexpensive, and it can easily be replaced (at least in most states).

When I'm on the road, I have a firearm. I try not to travel much at night, but I often travel through remote areas which don't have a lot of traffic. If I have car trouble or need to change a tire, no telling who may stop to offer help.

Some people may think I'm paranoid, but I prefer not to be a victim. Just because you're not paranoid, it doesn't mean no one is after you.

Be safe -- Jessica Rose

P.S. - Please don't turn this into a thread about firearms. It should just be general information about the things you do to stay safe.

[Oldandcreaky]

I lock my doors at night. That's about it.

The world isn't as dangerous as we're led to believe.

I like those YouTubers who go to the world's most dangerous places and have a good time. Based upon one of those videos, Haiti is an exception. Haiti is scary and I would only go in Iron Man's armor. 

[SarahEL]

tbh I have a big dog, so don't even lock my doors at night...
I did tie myself up in knots once about being 'safe'.. I had camera's, alarms, sprays... I trained in the use of bladed weapons, self-defence.. and have never thankfully needed to use any of them.

A talk a few years ago with my therapist was interesting.. we were talking about personal safety and she asked if I locked my car at night.. I said 'of course'.. she asked 'why?'

Well, there is nothing of value in it.. it isn't a new car or something someone would want to steal for fun.. I don't keep anything of value in the car and it is fully insured.. The 'worst' thing a thief could do was to smash a window to gain access and if it was unlocked they would have no need too.. and so I have not even locked my car for 5 years now (and if that fills you with shock ask yourself why.. why is it so important to you)... Now, I get I live in a ruralish sort of place.. not a city center with those sort of problems.. and if I go to a shopping center or somewhere, I do lock it.. but most the time.. <shrug> there is no need.

It is all about being sensible. taking steps to not put yourself in situations where you have a higher chance of becoming a victim. It is not about trying to mitigate all the possible things that 'could' happen to you.. Life is beautifully short anyway, so hiding away behind security devices is a waste of that precious gift.

[barbie]

I do not worry about safety here in S. Korea or other East Asian countries including China. But I do care when I travel in other countries, especially the US. I always wear athletic shoes in the street. But with my colleagues and friends, I do wear high heels.

barbie~~

[CaelaNotKayla]

I attended the Personal Safety for Women session at the Esprit Conference last year, which was quite interesting.  Learning how not to be a victim, how to give yourself that second to run, how to minimize your risk factors. 

Nothing in your purse is worth your life.

I would highly recommend attending a similar session if you get to attend any conferences this year.

Hugs!

Caela

[Gina P]

When I was a young child in the 60s. We never locked our doors being in a great little town. One night a drunk stumbled in and was going through the kitchen looking for something to eat. Dad grabbed his pistol out of the night stand and held the man at gunpoint until the police came. After that we locked our doors. Had we done that in the first place, the man would had continued to the next house and so on.
   Gina

[big kim]

I live in a first floor flat in a small village. Crime is usually low level drug deals, shoplifting, etc. I am fully prepared to retaliate with extreme violence if i find an intruder or am assaulted. I drove a bus through Blackpool's worst warzones & ran a bar in South Shore, grew up in Fleetwood.65 & can still look after myself!
The best bit of self defence is not to be there but if you can't avoid a warzone be aware of your surroundings stick to wel lit areas with plenty people about. Never let yourself be taken away.

[EllenW]

I think to keep your personal safety you need to be aware of your surroundings at all times and know how to minimize the risk. like when you’re going into an area that has higher personal crime go in there with a group. Generally I’m not concerned about my safety when I travel. I’ve been all over the world and the only time that I was warned to stay out of an area was when I was in Kingston Jamaica.

As far as locking my car, my first car did not even have door locks. It was is an Austin Healey 3000 which did not even have windows, just plastic side curtains I could put in when we had rain. I do like my cars now since we had a car stolen from our parking lot and stripped for its parts. Yes the car was insured but it’s a pain.

Ellen

[TXSara]

I lock my doors at night. That's about it.

The world isn't as dangerous as we're led to believe.

I'm with O&C on this one (as usual, LOL)... I really think that the media has made things that are extremely rare seem like they are commonplace.  I just don't see that in my world.

The only thing I really do is try to make sure I don't put myself into a situation I can't easily get out of.  I also try to make sure I don't go places where I'll be alone walking to and from my car where nobody will be within earshot.  The situations I worry about have more to do with being stuck with a driver who has had too much to drink than being around someone who would intentionally do harm.

~Sara

[Rakel]

While all the previous posts talk about being safe and not putting youeself in harms way, I feel a little different. It just totally irritates me to let someone else rob or assult someone without doing anything about it.

Yes, I look out for myself first, but when an oppertunity occurs, I will do whatever is necessary to stop a perpetrator. I carry a cell phone to call police when necessary. I have been trained in certain fighting techniques. I own and sometimes carry a firearm, fully knowing the legal requirements and consequences of using it.

I refuse to be a victim. 

[Kouji]

I carry defensive items. But I did that all my life. Even though I live in a country that does not seem to want people to have the right to defend themselves against attack.

Unfortunately there have been times when I have needed them. Not to use, but to show a would-be attacker that I mean business. And it worked.

[Oldandcreaky]

Rakel, for once, I disagree with you. I once interviewed a couple of professional martial arts fighters. They had fought and won many times.

So, I asked, "If a bad guy on the street attacked you, would your years of fighting protect you?"

"I'd go down," they both said. "It wouldn't be like the movies."

And they were fighting pros with fighting reflexes. They had zero bluster.

So, you can state that you "refuse to be a victim," but that doesn't mean that you might not be a victim one day.

[amandam]

I've lived in bad areas, had guns pointed at me, shot at, used the presence of a gun to protect myself a couple of times. Took a lot of martial arts and always carry a small pocketknife for tasks. I've seen quite a few fights, etc. I live in better places now. I believe in being ready. I advocate martial arts for everyone and if you feel the need, pepper spray or other weapons with training. I also lock my doors, have cameras. The real world isn't always dangerous but I advise minimizing your risk.

[Allie Jayne]

I lock my doors at night. That's about it.

The world isn't as dangerous as we're led to believe.

I like those YouTubers who go to the world's most dangerous places and have a good time. Based upon one of those videos, Haiti is an exception. Haiti is scary and I would only go in Iron Man's armor.

O&C, I strongly suspect the NRA in the US promotes fear of attack to create and maintain a gun culture.  I used to assist in teaching women self defence at a martial arts club, and it was based around awareness to avoid situations as we knew that in a real situation few people have the skills to really defend themselves, and they need to be constantly trained. I live in an area where the police only patrol one day a week, and the police station is only open for a couple of hours on Thursdays! Nobody owns a gun, and the only violence happens rarely at the pub!

I do lock my car and house, but mainly as the insurance companies can get out of payment if you don’t secure your property. There are suburbs in nearby cities which have high crime rates, mainly due to drugs, but I just avoid going there.

Hugs,

Allie