What, me worry?

[VirusType2]

Sadly on a physical basis I can't really avoid appearing "weak". I'd say most typical college students probably appear weak to muggers.

Are you kidding? In the shape of your life? College students are not the easy target for a punk ass mugger. You'll be alright. Especially if you are with a friend.

 

[sinkoman]

Sadly on a physical basis I can't really avoid appearing "weak". I'd say most typical college students probably appear weak to muggers. Anyhow, I took a look at my uni's police department tips and they seem to recommend the "be aware and avoid" route:

Lol, a college student is probably a muggers worst nightmare, right up there with skateboarders and bike riders on the list of people they probably shouldn't have tried to **** with. I guess it does depend the person though.

My point was that if its obvious that you're looking over your shoulder, walking at a quickened pace, with your eyes wide, and your eyebrows tilted outwards, and scanning the scenery every 5 steps, then you'll probably end up without a wallet or with a butthole the size of Canada.

If you venture out into the jungle with a limp, then all the aminals are gonna be all "**** yeah easy prey, let's get our eat on".

Same deal.

 

[dfc05]

Lol, a college student is probably a muggers worst nightmare, right up there with skateboarders and bike riders on the list of people they probably shouldn't have tried to **** with. I guess it does depend the person though.

My point was that if its obvious that you're looking over your shoulder, walking at a quickened pace, with your eyes wide, and your eyebrows tilted outwards, and scanning the scenery every 5 steps, then you'll probably end up without a wallet or with a butthole the size of Canada.

If you venture out into the jungle with a limp, then all the aminals are gonna be all "**** yeah easy prey, let's get our eat on".

Same deal.

Totally different. One of these is ready to run and force you to chase them down. The other is physically disabled. That's like saying, "Don't walk around with crutches." The way I see it, everyone is equally weak -- compared to a guy with a gun -- unless you happen to be especially large/muscular. And so the most aware person is least likely to fall victim.

If we're going to continue with animal analogies, probably EVERY hunted animal keeps watch for predators -- deer, prairie dogs, rabbits, gazelle.... when a lion notices that its prey has already spotted it, it probably thinks "crap it saw me and is gonna run away now" instead of "hey that one's looking around for me, let me go chase that one!" Otherwise there would be no reason to sneak up on someone.

Anyways, I can see how your argument might be valid -- I admit I sometimes feel retarded looking around as I'm doing it... but I think I'll continue with my watching and avoiding strategy, and Virus and Sinko can beat up people or whatever it is they plan on doing in that situation .

 

[knut]

I like how sinko and virustype are so defiant in there Rules of tha Street 101 that they feel comfortable enough to say pretty firmly what WILL and what WON'T get you mugged, because it's pretty obvious in the end there's no real way to blanket the entire thing and the only way to really have any say in any of it is to have actually been victim to such a thing. Not to say either of you haven't... I'm sure you have. In this day and age, who hasn't? I've been mugged, attempted to be mugged, attacked or threatened in a large number, on my own, in the middle of the night in a empty street to the middle of a day in a shopping center, whilst looking like a rabbit in headlights and whilst casually enjoying the day without a fear in the world. I know of so many other people who have had exactly the same run-in's and many, many more that really, there's no way to get out of these kind of things sometimes. To me, it's an environmental thing. I won't go to this part of town at this hour or I won't cross through that estate on a Thursday night, etc.

Where I'm from, walking around like you own the world, as if you haven't a thing to fear and by pretending everything is OK is probably the fastest way to get mugged if simply because you either look like a cocky bastard or are bringing attention to yourself by looking different to the rest of the dribs and drabs of grey and black that grumble on by. I'm being a little melodramatic there, I know, but that's just talking from experience. Who hasn't heard that the best way to avoid being mugged is to not look like a weaker target? That shit doesn't work for **** where I'm from and I'll be damned if it's not the same for a thousand other places, too.

I'm pretty at ease with knowing that there is no difference between looking cautious and looking calm, but when it comes to walking through a city or a dodgy area I'm much more comfortable with being cautious and keeping an eye on my surroundings much to like dfc05 feels. Least that way I've got a chance to see anything building up or about to kick off.

EDIT: Students in Wolverhampton are also a muggers best prey, and again... I'll be damned if that's not for a thousand other places with universities and colleges too. Though I say that and I wouldn't be surprised if some of Wolves' finest scum wouldn't attempt to mug a police officer if they were without a baton or spray or whatever. The drug fiends are so off their tits they haven't got a ****ing clue or care who they mug, long as they get some money.

 

[Viperidae]

burglarized.

Burgle is a verb, you know.

 

[VirusType2]

Totally different. One of these is ready to run and force you to chase them down. The other is physically disabled. That's like saying, "Don't walk around with crutches." The way I see it, everyone is equally weak -- compared to a guy with a gun -- unless you happen to be especially large/muscular. And so the most aware person is least likely to fall victim.

If we're going to continue with animal analogies, probably EVERY hunted animal keeps watch for predators -- deer, prairie dogs, rabbits, gazelle.... when a lion notices that its prey has already spotted it, it probably thinks "crap it saw me and is gonna run away now" instead of "hey that one's looking around for me, let me go chase that one!" Otherwise there would be no reason to sneak up on someone.

Anyways, I can see how your argument might be valid -- I admit I sometimes feel retarded looking around as I'm doing it... but I think I'll continue with my watching and avoiding strategy, and Virus and Sinko can beat up people or whatever it is they plan on doing in that situation .

I don't agree with Sinkoman about looking weak or being cautious or watchful or whatever. Being cautious is good. My point is, that a college student is youthful yet not naive, probably very poor, and probably quite physically fit.

It's not a good target, to be frank.

The peak of fitness is at about 18 years of age, according to medical science. A little older than that is good, that's where the naivety can be lost, and even more physical strength can be had. That doesn't make you exempt from danger, or even safer in the wrong place/wrong time, obviously.

The other thing is, you can prepare for everything and stay in your house and never do anything, yet you can still die or be hurt in this situation. A house fire, a random stray bullet through yoru window... ways to die x infinity.

I'm saying, be cautious. Don't temp fate, by riding a subway alone at night in a miniskirt and thong, with diamond necklace, etc. I mean, you can do this if you want, it's a free country, but it's not advisable.

So I'm not saying what will keep you safe and what won't. Here's the thing. Why was my neighbor standing on the street corner on a weekend night (where our street meets the main street). Was there any purpose to it? Did he deserve to get shot or look weak or rich? I can safely say that he was a star athlete on a small allowance of money. So.. maybe it was drugs or girls, or alcohol, or trash talking... who knows. I wouldn't have been standing there, personally.

So, my thing is, I don't fear the unknown. Like, when I say I fear nothing, not even death itself (or whatever) it's a principle. It's not that I do not respect the strength and intent of an angry Mike Tyson looking mother****er who wants to kill me. It's just that - well, hard to explain. You don't go up to a killer dog without a great deal of respect, yet if you are shaking in your boots, he's going to have you for lunch. [strike]Act like[/strike] believe that you belong here on this planet, because you do.

Exactly because you cannot be prepared for all of the 'what could happens', then you shouldn't fear it.

I hung out with gangsters and crooks and criminals since I was about 8 years old, for the record. Bad neighborhoods, friend's older brothers as influence and 'schooling', no father figure, no supervision, in a financially poor neighborhood, it's a recipe for disaster.

These days, I stay to myself and do everything legally. Prison is a real buzz kill.

 

[dfc05]

Ok I can agree with that. Sad to hear about the kid that got shot. I keep hearing from international students that in places like Korea and Singapore, people walk around past midnight all the time without having to worry about anything. Wish it were like that here. I'm planning on going to a concert (probably by myself) in a couple of weeks which could be really stupid, but I've heard from other people that the area is pretty safe. There have been so many times I get pissed off when I feel like I can't go out and do things at night, so this time I'm just like "Screw it, I'm going."

 

[VirusType2]

Ok I can agree with that. Sad to hear about the kid that got shot. I keep hearing from international students that in places like Korea and Singapore, people walk around past midnight all the time without having to worry about anything. Wish it were like that here. I'm planning on going to a concert (probably by myself) in a couple of weeks which could be really stupid, but I've heard from other people that the area is pretty safe. There have been so many times I get pissed off when I feel like I can't go out and do things at night, so this time I'm just like "Screw it, I'm going."

If you don't feel safe somewhere, then don't go. Can't you get somebody to go with you?

Your situation may not be how I imagine it, therefore, you can heed my words, but trust yourself first.

I may be overlooking the fact that ... college students ... here we have thousands of electronically hooked up people, all tightly grouped together. I suppose it's almost like the holy grail for someone looking to rip-off some cellphones and mp3 players.

I believe that many thieves don't see themselves as bad people, they see themselves as [the thief boy in Aladdin], (sorry, I can't think of a better example)

By the way, my neighbor lived. I suppose I saved his life! They left the bullet in his chest - it was too close to the heart, making it dangerous to remove.

 

[Danimal]

Going to concerts alone is pretty lame unless you're absolutely wasted, anyway.

Even then, u gnna get mugd.

 

[dfc05]

Well there's only been two muggings and one "assault" at that intersection in the past three months. So by December it'll probably be overdue for another incident! :|

Going to concerts alone does suck, but when you listen to a genre like post-rock in a town that seems to be completely oblivious of its existence, it's hard to find people to go.

 

[sinkoman]

You know, I actually never said "don't be so cautious" or "cruise around like you've not a care in the world".

The only thing I said is if you're looking around a lot and obviously skurred, shit'll go bad. I made no claim to being an all knowledgeable overlord of the streets, just speaking what I think.

 

[Saturos]

Oh, my bad mr big bad hardass.

You haven't got a clue about anything, huh? all signs here point to "ignorant **** who has absolutely no clue about anything because his entire image of the world is crafted by the media".

(I need a cigarette...)

I admit that I'm not a hardass, not by a long stretch, but that doesn't mean that I'm a goddamn pussy either.

I bet alot of menfolk these days wouldn't have the balls to save a member of their family who was about to be stabbed (or shot) to death.

 

[Sledgehammer]

I admit that I'm not a hardass, not by a long stretch, but that doesn't mean that I'm a goddamn pussy either.

I bet alot of menfolk these days wouldn't have the balls to save a member of their family who was about to be stabbed (or shot) to death.

You should be a pussy. That'll save you, being a hero won't.