Post by genkaimade on Jan 4, 2011 18:06:24 GMT
So today I got back to school, and after getting out of the gym before school started, I did a quick run around everyone that I know to ask how Christmas and new years and whatnot was. Everyone was good, until I got to one friend whose name is Tom. So I went to ask him how he was, and noticed that his whole face was swollen and yellow with green purple blotches. The whites of his eyes were blood red and had silver speckles. The only thing missing was a broken nose.
It turns out that on his way back from a new years eve party with 3 other friends, he was savagely attacked.
All he remembers is walking with these three friends, and then suddenly three people appearing, and one of their fists ending up in his face a split second after. Then, going down from that (the three friends had pegged it at that point), he was kicked in the head until he was unconscious by the three attackers. The attackers then made off with his glasses (I mean seriously - his glasses? What value are they going to have?) and his wallet (more understandable).
Just to describe Tom briefly, he's about 5foot10.5 and a half, very good looking (his nickname is "smoking" Tom ), and although having lived his whole life in the city, has Scottish blood and is naturally very well built in the way someone who has worked fields there whole lives is. So he's not weedy or vulnerable physically by any means.
So anyway, he ended up being taken to hospital to check for concussion and whatnot, but he's okay now, and just has a severely bruised/swollen face to live with until he recovers. Luckily, the Police managed to find the attackers VERY quickly (this really surprised me, as police actually catching people in North London is a bloody rarity), and they've already been convicted
Now as soon as I heard this, I automatically did what I always do when I hear about people being attacked: I automatically mentally put myself in the shoes of all of the victims to see as best as I can how I would have reacted. Normally, I can see some method of ending up in a relatively good position, but in this case, everything ends up as a lose:lose situation.
So let me put myself in the position of Tom: the attack was so sudden and unexpected, that there's relatively little I would have been able to do. I might have been very lucky and my reaction might have been to automatically intercept the first punch and sort out the first guy. Let's say I got this far. After that, there would still have been 2 guys hell-bent on violence, and chances are with knives. This could end up with any of the following:
1. Me sorting out one of the remaining guys before he can get out a weapon, and the accomplice being scared enough that he just runs for it. Chances of this happening: very slim.
2. Me sorting out one of the remaining guys before he can get out a weapon, and then his buddy stabbing me. Chances of this happening: mediumish.
3. The two accomplices both finishing me before I'm fully done with the first guy and ready for them. Chances of this happening: very high.
So ultimately, by doing anything whatsoever, I have a higher chances of dying than if I do nothing.
Now let me put myself in the position of one of Tom's friends. I'm taking this from the point at which Tom is on the floor.
1. I sort out the first guy, and am finished by his two mates. Chances: high.
This is the only thing I can think of other than running - which would probably keep Tom in better condition as well.
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Do you guys see my dilemma here? I can't see myself getting out of a situation like this not unconscious as a minimum. In Tom's position, if I'm not out after the first guy hitting me (which is what's likely to happen to me due to the "surprise" nature of the attack), then his buddies are going to do me in; and in Tom's friends' position, interfering is likely to make things worse. As a result, having any kind of martial skill is what makes this situation go from dangerous to deadly for me - ie my training results in me being worse off.
Argh this is doing my head in...
It turns out that on his way back from a new years eve party with 3 other friends, he was savagely attacked.
All he remembers is walking with these three friends, and then suddenly three people appearing, and one of their fists ending up in his face a split second after. Then, going down from that (the three friends had pegged it at that point), he was kicked in the head until he was unconscious by the three attackers. The attackers then made off with his glasses (I mean seriously - his glasses? What value are they going to have?) and his wallet (more understandable).
Just to describe Tom briefly, he's about 5foot10.5 and a half, very good looking (his nickname is "smoking" Tom ), and although having lived his whole life in the city, has Scottish blood and is naturally very well built in the way someone who has worked fields there whole lives is. So he's not weedy or vulnerable physically by any means.
So anyway, he ended up being taken to hospital to check for concussion and whatnot, but he's okay now, and just has a severely bruised/swollen face to live with until he recovers. Luckily, the Police managed to find the attackers VERY quickly (this really surprised me, as police actually catching people in North London is a bloody rarity), and they've already been convicted
Now as soon as I heard this, I automatically did what I always do when I hear about people being attacked: I automatically mentally put myself in the shoes of all of the victims to see as best as I can how I would have reacted. Normally, I can see some method of ending up in a relatively good position, but in this case, everything ends up as a lose:lose situation.
So let me put myself in the position of Tom: the attack was so sudden and unexpected, that there's relatively little I would have been able to do. I might have been very lucky and my reaction might have been to automatically intercept the first punch and sort out the first guy. Let's say I got this far. After that, there would still have been 2 guys hell-bent on violence, and chances are with knives. This could end up with any of the following:
1. Me sorting out one of the remaining guys before he can get out a weapon, and the accomplice being scared enough that he just runs for it. Chances of this happening: very slim.
2. Me sorting out one of the remaining guys before he can get out a weapon, and then his buddy stabbing me. Chances of this happening: mediumish.
3. The two accomplices both finishing me before I'm fully done with the first guy and ready for them. Chances of this happening: very high.
So ultimately, by doing anything whatsoever, I have a higher chances of dying than if I do nothing.
Now let me put myself in the position of one of Tom's friends. I'm taking this from the point at which Tom is on the floor.
1. I sort out the first guy, and am finished by his two mates. Chances: high.
This is the only thing I can think of other than running - which would probably keep Tom in better condition as well.
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Do you guys see my dilemma here? I can't see myself getting out of a situation like this not unconscious as a minimum. In Tom's position, if I'm not out after the first guy hitting me (which is what's likely to happen to me due to the "surprise" nature of the attack), then his buddies are going to do me in; and in Tom's friends' position, interfering is likely to make things worse. As a result, having any kind of martial skill is what makes this situation go from dangerous to deadly for me - ie my training results in me being worse off.
Argh this is doing my head in...