Comments on: Weapons on the Great Adventure

By: Rua Lupa

Rua Lupa — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 01:19:33 +0000

If I ever needed a weapon to harm, I would likely just use my hair pin instead. My knife is a tool and I only think of it as a weapon if I get jumped by a mountain lion or bear and it is easily at hand. At most I carry bear spray, and that’s just for bears or cougars and because I’m in the woods. And that’s it. I’m a backwoods person, and live in Canada, so the whole gun thing doesn’t make any sense to me and most of my fellow citizens at that. Most Canadians are more likely to own a pocket knife than a gun for the same reason. And a lot of us don’t understand the obsession our southern neighbors have over guns. Gun protection is just not on our radars. To us it is illogical and as useless as Drew describes, and we like to use charm in the same way he describes too. Its not “the enemy of my enemy is my friend”, its “why have enemies when you can be friendly?” C’est way more fun! Going about life always fearing being jumped is no way to live.

By: Drew Jacob

Drew Jacob — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 15:37:08 +0000

I’m sorry you’re in that position Ken. I agree with your overall philosophy though and especially the confidence of how you carry yourself. It makes all the difference.

I hope your “take the other guy out first” policy means pepper spray or a stun-gun. Both will do the trick and are unlikely to take a life.

By: Ken Ra

Ken Ra — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 16:16:55 +0000

I used to only carry a pocket knife ( small) I have studied a martial art more to get my own anger under control than for protection. My teacher said that the best way to “win” a fight is by running away. He was right.

Living in some very bad neighborhoods the best defense is attitude. Confident aware and looking dangerous scares away most trouble. Trouble wants an easy target. Having a knife or gun and not looking like you can and WILL use it is an open invitation. See I really cant defend myself but I am “dangerous” so I have GOT to have something worth taking.

Now that I have problems walking I feel vulnerable and so I an much more willing to take the other guy out first because I will not have a second chance. sad.

By: Drew Jacob

Drew Jacob — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 21:52:05 +0000

Maybe I should learn to do emergency trach…

By: Drew Jacob

Drew Jacob — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 21:48:03 +0000

Ah good link Niall! I recommend people check it out…

By: Drew Jacob

Drew Jacob — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 21:47:07 +0000

Nicely said. I always forget the bit about the Greek antecedent; I’ll remember from now on.

By: Kira

Kira — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 04:14:36 +0000

Oh, okay, though I was curious to see how you’d describe it! I picked it up in Seljuk, Turkey, when I was visiting Ephesus – they call them “evil eyes” though actually they’re a ward against the evil eye and bad luck in general. You see them all over Turkey; pretty much every business and taxi and bus sports one. They actually date back to ancient Greek times, when blue beads invoked Hera’s protection. I was given a few on jewelry and whatnot by my students back when I was teaching over there, and it seemed like the sort of thing best received as a gift…

By: Drew Jacob

Drew Jacob — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 00:57:32 +0000

Hehehe… I’ll let Kira answer that one…

By: Drew Jacob

Drew Jacob — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 00:56:30 +0000

Ahh I wish I could’ve been there! I guess I do need to write more about the daily experience. I will soon…

By: Drew Jacob

Drew Jacob — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 00:54:46 +0000

Thanks Doc. I totally agree with you about guns.