Are the days of the good samaritan over? You see a man hitting a woman on the street. You have never met these people before…
What would you do and why? As in all conflict the age old advice “look before you leap” is probably the best option before launching into something that you have no real idea of what is actually happening.
If you enter directly into someone else’s argument you had better be willing to go all the way. If you think that you can just go and try to reason with a mad, angry, inflammed situation…you are dreaming!! If you make the choice (I hope that you have had some space to make the choice and are not just acting out of your own ego generated need to be a super hero) to enter into anothers fight then your only option to protect you and your family is to take out the antagonist very quickly….before he or she has a chance to pull a gun or a knife.
If you are willing to step in, the bottom line is you are putting your life on the line…end of story. And if you are willing to put your life and your families security on the line over what would probably end up being a cut lip, broken nose and a bruised ego at most then I commend you. But before you comment, ask yourself…why am I really doing this?
You need to think about these things.
What is the best strategy and what would I really do? You really need to think about your own personal security and look at various scenarios so you have action plans in place.
1. What would I do if I saw a women being beaten up by a man?
2. What would I do if some one approaches my car?
3. What would I do if I hear someone breaking into my house?
4. How do I approach the load party up the road?
5. What do you do when someone knocks you in the pub?
6. What do you do when someone is rude to you or your partner?
Think about what you would do and how you would react in order to best protect yourself, your family and to ensure the best possible outcome for all.
I had a situation a couple of months ago. I witnessed a man get out of his car and start banging on the car window of a woman…abusing her. I simply walked until I was close enough and just stood and watched. When he saw me he turned and aked me what I was staring at (a little more rudely) and I did not comment, I remained still and neutral just watching with my phone ready (to video, to call police or use as a weapon). He quickly settled. The sheer fact that I was present and watching was enough to settle the entire situation. His innate sense of reason settled him. If I had stepped in, it would have inflammed the situation even more and got very ugly very quickly.
Don’t add to what is already happening. Be still, be close and observe.
ANDY
