not to say that you always expect the worst from every person and situation.
but that you understand the probable risks involved in certain places and activities.
IF all of us are to go about our dailies with little effect, good but especially bad, on others,
then there will be little conflict, and most of us will get home without issue or story.
things are seldom so uncomplicated. we are all vulnerable to emotions.
and our social environment tells us how we ought to manage our emotions.
and our social environment does not always provide the best guidance.
so while i won't say it is impossible to live with zero impact on anything,
(and even if that were possible who knows if it would be good for anybody),
even if you were to do the best you could on any given day,
that doesn't mean everyone else will also.
now. WHEN another person you encounter on your dailies for some reason takes issue.
(because it will happen. and you may or may not respond according to social powers.)
HOW you respond is what dictates whether you or they or both of you get home without issue.
if you can keep your head, refuse to engage, and have a usable exit; that is a sound tactic.
if you can keep your head, engage with level words, and have a usable exit; also sound.
IF you perceive their intent to use force, or force has ALREADY been applied;
the game has or will become physical and you need to move away from or into the center.
none of this matters if your head is not kept and you succumb to emotional social violence.
responding by yelling, responding by moving towards the party with issue, NOT LEAVING, etc.
in the context of when law enforcement arrives and someone is hurt and there are witnesses,
you are either "one of the fighters", "the party who was attacked", or "the party who attacked".
who do you think has the best shot at not being handcuffed?
well, if these considerations haven't crossed your mind before, sit and digest that for a bit.
next post will discuss articulating how what you did in this DEFENSIVE situation
was not only necessary, but was also your only option.
