General / Off-Topic Not A Good Day.

I went shopping tonight. As most of you know, my neighborhood is not HighSec.

As I opened up my trunk, I was accosted by a young female, early to mid twenties, crying madly, claiming her boyfriend had beaten her, and was holding her child.

I was alone, fifty meters from anything, and unarmed, an old man with thick glasses loading bags of groceries.

I asked her if she had called the police. Her reply was, "Please,*no* don't call the police!".

She had claimed her child was in danger. No choice. I dialed 911 on my cell phone. I gave the best description I had. Forgot to take cell phone shot (old man).

She slowly retreated away, and began accosting another customer, who was leaving on foot out of the parking lot. She then disappeared into a nearby apartment complex parking lot.

City cops (two of them) called me back thirty minutes later, requesting a repeat of the description, asking if I was still in the parking lot (no). Gave them a repeat description. She was, of course, long gone.

Yes, I know it was probably a scam. Acting was C+ at best.

But, I still feel as If I was courting the lightning bolt myself. We are all not that far from being in a bad, bad situation ourselves, all claims by the arrogant aside. *My* number might be up, next.

All societies have been plagued by this. Nobody wins. :(

I needed more comfort food. :(
 
As we allow our societies to be shaped in a way where the wealth is kept by fewer and fewer people, we all end up in a more dangerous environment. This is not new for capitalism, right at the dawn of the industrial revolution here in the uk we nearly tipped over that edge into anarchy, and the then wealthiest people decided to do something about it. There solutions were not perfect, but part of a process that led to what we would call the modern societies we all recognise, education, healthcare, safety-nets etc.

As you erode those basics to civilized life, you slip further back on the path to social anarchy. We have been pushing in that direction hard for the last decade or so in most western countries (some more than others), and we probably have about another decade before it becomes Mad Max world?

My advice is stay in shape, stay 'dangerous', learn some basic self-sufficiency and be prepared. And i don't even live in the USA with a gun-cult, this is a pure british perspective on the issue!
 
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Yes the predictive programming taught so elegantly by Thanos seems to be effective. Except it won't be 50 percent it is going to be 85-90 percent. As soon as the robots are good enough to take over human labour.
 
You did the right thing by calling 911. If the lady was in actual danger, it would take more than a passing motorist to help. The police have access to safe houses and counselling services.

If it was a scam, you still did the right thing to protect yourself.
 
You did right, Ralph. Don't even think about feeling bad about it. When comes to violence, there is a simple rule - call the cops and stay away from it.

I once tried to "save" a woman who was being beaten by her husband/boyfriend in public. She I tried to talk to them, she yelled "Go (stuff) yourself" and when I tried to tear them apart, they BOTH attacked me.
Since then, when someone seems like they need help... yeah, we have institutions for that. Cynical, maybe, but that's the world we live in.
 
You did right, Ralph. Don't even think about feeling bad about it. When comes to violence, there is a simple rule - call the cops and stay away from it.

I once tried to "save" a woman who was being beaten by her husband/boyfriend in public. She I tried to talk to them, she yelled "Go (stuff) yourself" and when I tried to tear them apart, they BOTH attacked me.
Since then, when someone seems like they need help... yeah, we have institutions for that. Cynical, maybe, but that's the world we live in.

Police fear domestic violence situations, as both parties will turn on them.
 
You did the right thing by calling 911. If the lady was in actual danger, it would take more than a passing motorist to help. The police have access to safe houses and counselling services.

If it was a scam, you still did the right thing to protect yourself.

I'm no pro, and I am an old man, a perfect target, with a cart full of groceries. She could have easily taken the car, and anything else. If there was a child involved, I could not ignore that.

The supermarket was still open, and all she needed to do was go inside for help. Why didn't she?

I'm a soft touch. But, I couldn't take the risk.

So, I followed SOP. It's strange how even after decades I still sound like I am a US officer. Those training reflexes got me paid attention to. She fled almost at once. No easy mark, and someone who meant business. I still have that damn US military voice, when "on the air". Totally professional, unemotional, just doing my duty. I still felt bad inside. Just like a bad day in the military.

Note: The cops called to let me know she was no longer in the area. I'm still fearing the GM's wrath. :(
 
I'm no pro, and I am an old man, a perfect target, with a cart full of groceries. She could have easily taken the car, and anything else. If there was a child involved, I could not ignore that.

The supermarket was still open, and all she needed to do was go inside for help. Why didn't she?

I'm a soft touch. But, I couldn't take the risk.


So, I followed SOP. It's strange how even after decades I still sound like I am a US officer. Those training reflexes got me paid attention to. She fled almost at once. No easy mark, and someone who meant business. I still have that damn US military voice, when "on the air". Totally professional, unemotional, just doing my duty. I still felt bad inside. Just like a bad day in the military.

Note: The cops called to let me know she was no longer in the area. I'm still fearing the GM's wrath. :(
Just make sure that pistol or AR 15 is ready to go. Oh and Joko wouldn't feel bad. He'd take a photo of his watch. If only more people called it like you did.
 

verminstar

Banned
Its a common tactic fer grab and run crime...put ye off guard, ye lift out a shiny new smart phone, guy grabs it from behind that ye didnt notice walking up behind ye while dealing with said bad actress in front. Works like a charm everytime and when car keys are out, theres always that bonus.

I remember one time sitting at the lights in the car with the window down...some random guy tried reaching in and grabbing the keys outta the ignition while I was sat there waiting fer the lights to change. So I grabbed his arm and pulled him closer to the car, pressed the button to put the window up and started driving.

I ended up being charged with actual bodily harm and that guy got a compo claim. So much fer how the law works hmm? How was I to know he was a 15 year old kid? Its not like they identify themselves beforehand ^
 
Its a common tactic fer grab and run crime...put ye off guard, ye lift out a shiny new smart phone, guy grabs it from behind that ye didnt notice walking up behind ye while dealing with said bad actress in front. Works like a charm everytime and when car keys are out, theres always that bonus.

I remember one time sitting at the lights in the car with the window down...some random guy tried reaching in and grabbing the keys outta the ignition while I was sat there waiting fer the lights to change. So I grabbed his arm and pulled him closer to the car, pressed the button to put the window up and started driving.

I ended up being charged with actual bodily harm and that guy got a compo claim. So much fer how the law works hmm? How was I to know he was a 15 year old kid? Its not like they identify themselves beforehand ^

I *did* check my six for a trailer. Just her.

Some people still get dragged into things.... :)
 
If you are a man of conscience and that is your nature, Then make it also your nature to be smart.

Seems to me that you did the right thing and you where smart about it.

Nothing bad happened and if anything this experiance is a lesson learned. Grow from that. Regret nothing.
 
Hating this world or any negative emotions and judgements will not better any situation.
1. Any mind tainted by any bias will not find optimal solutions.
2. The number of variables affecting a person's behavior are so enormous that one begins to wonder how much freedom of will a person actually has. Aren't our minds also part of an ecosystem? Has it been prooved that thought is completely independent of the laws of physics and the natural universe?
3. Pessimism can be just as far from truth as optimism. Affectionate detachment may be the ideal, but at the very least optimism is certainly better for your health than pessimism.
4. Although our personal situations could always be better, they could also be much worse.
5. The world and the human ego are what they are. Nothing material will change that. We, however, are here for only a limited amount of time. Would you rather rue about our shortcomings or ponder say, the immensity of our galaxy?

o7

slange
 
There was a scam around here.. usually the boyfreend will come along and rob you.You where lucky

Some of my training remained. I checked around me.

It is very strange. I'm usually the rescuer, the softie, in every part of my life. My circumstances are not very good, either. Both should have made me more outwardly sympathetic.

Instead, my training kicked in. I got on the radio (cell phone) and called in. SOP. All those years as an NCO, then officer had left their mark.

We are all an instant away from disaster. Which disaster was averted still didn't make me happy, as I fear the lighting bolt.

I would like Trump to be in my boots for a month or so. I don't want his job.
 
I used to live in a really seedy area where the "working girls" would get into the passenger seat of your car if you stopped at traffic lights and demand money to get out again, saying if you called the cops they'd claim you'd attacked them.

Happened to me once shortly after I moved in, I set off the police station told her where we were going and she bailed out at about 30 mph.

I still lock myself into the car now decades later living in the middle of nowhere.
 
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