Geezers targeted by thugs

[Titanium]

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[Mark E. Hurling]

One of the significantly overlooked aspects of crime and self defense is the fractionation of potential prey for predators. As I've said before, most books and writers treat it as a monolithic topic for relatively young men from the late teens to early middle age at best. In fact it breaks down into:

Children: Pre-teen of either gender
Young Men: Teens to late 20's
Young Women: Teens to late 20's
Older Men: 30-60
Older Women: 30-60
60+: Either gender

Each of those is more or less likely to be subject to attack or exploitation by different types of predators. They all tend to look for easier targets of opportunity in whatever group they select based on their needs, desires, and objectives. The elderly are well advised to carry a heavy cane whether they need one or not and know how to use it. Running is largely out of the question, but selecting well traveled and populated areas to move around in to get draw help or a place to retreat to is always a good plan. So is moving around in some other manner than solo.

[Titanium]

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[Mark E. Hurling]

Yes, and something for everyone of any age or gender to take note of. The all too common multi-tasking of cell phone, music listening, texting, and juggling a soy latte will zone you out of your surroundings in seconds. Put that shit down and remember to check your six.

[grubinski]

The elderly are well advised to carry a heavy cane

I think the elderly can do a lot better than a cane.

The real key idea that you mentioned is situational awareness, though.

[Bean1871]

Shouldn't this qualify as a hate crime?

[Mark E. Hurling]

I think the elderly can do a lot better than a cane.

Sure a gun would be better, but for the elderly out on the street? At home maybe, but lets get real in terms of skill and the gun laws. Furthermore, if you haven't acquired gun skills before then, that late in life is not the best time to try. Maybe you meant pepper spray as an alternative, but it has to be accessed quickly and aimed. It may blow back into the user's face or taken away. The best place for a weapon is in your hand before the attack develops. Carrying a cane is legal and is always in your hand. I'm a firm believer in the oldest of old school weaponry, blunt force trauma. So simple even a cave man could do it. A little training and practice can result in an really hard and unexpected whack to the nards or knee or ankle that can pretty well level the playing field and allow an escape at something less than a run when your attacker's lower parts hurt to much to mount a serious pursuit.


Shouldn't this qualify as a hate crime?

Don't get me started on thought crimes.

[John Bono]

I think the elderly can do a lot better than a cane.

The real key idea that you mentioned is situational awareness, though.

They used to have things called cane swords. Looks and works just like a regular cane, then, when necessary, the handle comes off and you have a rapier.

[Mark E. Hurling]

They used to have things called cane swords. Looks and works just like a regular cane, then, when necessary, the handle comes off and you have a rapier.

Also illegal in most states. Again, lets be real. It's one thing to whack someone with a cane or other instrument of blunt force trauma. It's a very natural response for us primates. Even chimps do it with branches, thats how deep it's hardwired into us. I suspect a elderly person will have at least some momentary hesitation to cut or stick someone with an edged weapon. Most of us will unless we have trained or are in extremis with all other options exhausted. It's usually way too late then in any event because the gap has been closed that largely renders a medium distance edged weapon less than ideal. This is why most swordsmen carried dirks or daggers when the range was too close. We are not living in the 17th Century these days, as cool as those promo trailers make the new Three Musketeers look. Anyway the best version was the one made in the 70s with Michael York, Oliver Reed, Raquel Welch, and Charlton Heston playing the best Cardinal Richelieu ever.

[MPE]

The elderly are well advised to carry a heavy cane whether they need one or not and know how to use it.

I think I might start doing this just because it would be cool.

[Sven]

This happened in Pennsylvania, they have pretty good concealed carry laws. Learning how to use a firearm, if that is an option, is quicker and more effective than using a cane. I agree with previous posters that situational awareness is key. This professor's situation is not unique, there seems to be a new sport out there where the punks try to knock people out.

[Mark E. Hurling]

This happened in Pennsylvania, they have pretty good concealed carry laws. Learning how to use a firearm, if that is an option, is quicker and more effective than using a cane. I agree with previous posters that situational awareness is key. This professor's situation is not unique, there seems to be a new sport out there where the punks try to knock people out.

OK kids, I give up. You clearly know human nature and their capacity to respond under extreme stress better than I do.

[JM3]

check out the pic of this old geezer- uncle lionel- thats his usual outfit around town. once we were hanging out at the bar talking with this old master of music, and the subject of muggings came up, we were expressing concern for him walking around new orleans late looking all styling (he is like 5'1 and 120lbs- small guy) he looked a little worried for a second and said, yeah, I should be careful.,,then we heard a little click- and the bottom of his cane shot out a nasty blade. we all cracked up and just had another drink..


http://www.gonola.com/2010/12/13/treme-brass-band-new-orleans-music-at-its-finest.html

[squat_gnome]

He said they were black, appeared to be between 16 and 20, and three of them were wearing La Salle sweatshirts.


again, typical nigger behaviour

[hamworld05]

again, typical nigger behaviour

Fuck you you piece of shit racist. I hope you enjoy me fucking your mother in the mouth.

[squat_gnome]

Fuck you you piece of shit racist. I hope you enjoy me fucking your mother in the mouth.
again, typical nigger behaviour

[hamworld05]

Go to hell you fucking terrorist.

[squat_gnome]

Go to hell you fucking terrorist.
once again, typical nigger behaviour

[Subsistence]

People keep talking about situational awareness but honestly, even if he saw it coming what is one old guy going to do against 4 young guys? In this case I don't think it would have made a difference.

[August West]

People keep talking about situational awareness but honestly, even if he saw it coming what is one old guy going to do against 4 young guys? In this case I don't think it would have made a difference.

Whether it would have changed the outcome I can't say, but a person who sees an attack coming can do several things in a few instants that might influence the events to come: verbally engage ("that's close enough"), maneuver into the best available position to minimize the odds of getting surrounded, ready one's hands for striking or blocking (or pick up an object like a brick, if one is nearby). All of this behavior sends a clear signal to attackers that their target sees them, is calling attention to them and making noise, and is prepared to use footwork and blows to fuck up their plans. Maybe they're committed and they bring it anyway, but at least the process of making some noise for anyone nearby to notice and getting physically set for contact has begun. And maybe the attackers decide this isn't the target of opportunity they first thought, and they don't want to face the heat or the chance of getting into it with someone who'll bring it. All this is jmo, ymmv. These steps are just part of the action plan we discuss in my family for sensing danger and staying safe; they are not in and of themselves sufficient or appropriate to all circumstances.

[Mark E. Hurling]

Situational awareness as others have said, really is a primary key. It starts by paying attention to the events going on in your city or neighborhood before you go for a walk. If there have been a string of events along your walk you find a new route. You walk in daylight hours when others are around to observe or assist you. You pick paths or routes that have good sight lines so you have some even slight advance notice of predators. When you walk, you keep your head on a swivel and look around, especially check your six. Predators come in from the flanks or rear. You don't keep your nose in a book and ear buds with music turned up loud. You are reducing your peripheral consciousness to your surroundings, and it is your eyes, your ears, and even your nose that can give you a few minutes or seconds indication that can save your ass from a beating or worse.

When you see, or hear, or smell something strange or possibly threatening you change course or direction. Look for assistance and move toward it or call out for it. Run if you have to, or as fast as you can move. Even parks usually have others around, and this occurred on a Monday around 1:00 p.m. If you are smart you don't try to do anything against 4 young guys. You make it hard for them to get to you, you make them aware that others might come to your aid by calling out and moving toward those others. But you don't stand and put up your dukes in a classic John L. Sullivan boxing stance and announce "put 'em up you punks!" This is sound advice for anyone of any age or gender. But of course when you are young, dumb, and full of cum, this sort of strategy is anathema because young primates always want to engage in the monkey dance with each other.

[August West]

Having read Mark's post above, I agree that moving toward help (and not doing the monkey-dance like my still-less-than-wise brain first suggests to itself) is the better move in this kind of unbalanced encounter.

[Mark E. Hurling]

Having read Mark's post above, I agree that moving toward help (and not doing the monkey-dance like my still-less-than-wise brain first suggests to itself) is the better move in this kind of unbalanced encounter.

I didn't even see your post right before mine until today. I'm sorry I worded mine the way I did, and meant no disrespect. Your advice was pretty good, although we initially differed slightly on the first response to a threat. The maneuver to avoid being surrounded is a very good point to make.

[grubinski]

again, typical n***** behaviour

Awesome. Welcome to my 'ignore' list.

[Muad'Dib]

again, typical nigger behaviour

Typical troll is typical.

[August West]

I didn't even see your post right before mine until today. I'm sorry I worded mine the way I did, and meant no disrespect.

I didn't take it that way; no problem. Being 29 (how did I end up in the geezer forum?), I have a part of me that acts like a grown adult and another part that's still 19 and gets stubborn and impulsive. If there's a choice, getting clear of the scene is definitely the grown adult move and the best one. But my inner 19-year-old still thinks he should be out there going mad-dog at the first sign of trouble, too eager to step into those see-who's-hardest confrontations. Some more discernment would do me good. It would at least help keep me out of the doghouse with my wife, who has no patience for that stuff anymore (I can't complain, I got away with it for long enough).

[Mark E. Hurling]

That 19 year old can hang around inside your head into your 60's.

[bowdirk]

Anyway the best version was the one made in the 70s with Michael York, Oliver Reed, Raquel Welch, and Charlton Heston playing the best Cardinal Richelieu ever.

And the best scene in that entire movie is when Raquel is getting away and jumps onto the sideboard of a passing carriage, you know what I'm talking about...

[Mark E. Hurling]

Heh, true enough. The man riding inside got a real eyeful.

[Mulgere Hircum]

Also illegal in most states.


I believe I was told you can carry just about anything with a Florida concealed-weapon permit, including switchblades and sword-canes. I'm not *sure*, but that's what I recall.

By contrast, in California, if you tie two pencils together with a piece of string you *might* be in possession of an illegal numchuck. You probably know more about that than I do, though.



It's usually way too late then in any event because the gap has been closed that largely renders a medium distance edged weapon less than ideal.


That's why a perfect-length English backsword is short enough that the point can be withdrawn all the way back to your body when the sword hand goes all the way back--so it isn't just a medium-length weapon.



This is why most swordsmen carried dirks or daggers when the range was too close.


After rapiers became the sidearm of choice. Before that, bucklers seem to have been the favorite of those looking for trouble. I believe that even shows up in Romeo and Juliet.



Anyway the best version was the one made in the 70s with Michael York, Oliver Reed, Raquel Welch, and Charlton Heston playing the best Cardinal Richelieu ever.

Yep--the only one worth watching. It helps to have read the book(s), though, as they really tried hard to get as much of the original plot as possible into the movie.

[Mark E. Hurling]

I give the primary credit to the guy who wrote the screenplay MH, George MacDonald Fraser. The creator of Sir Harry Flashman.

[William Lohr]

Flashman - banned as a summer reading selection from my daughter's high school by outraged mothers. Meanwhile, if they knew what their precious progeny were doing in their spare time....

[Mark E. Hurling]

Isn't it a damn shame there was only one movie made with poor cock Flashy in it? Malcolm MacDowell wasn't bad, but Cary Elwes or Russell Crowe would be perfect. Fraser wrote a lot of books, and we could have enjoyed them all.