October 18, 2013

[unregrettable]

Okay ladies and gents, let's talk personal safety. The sparkles are to get your attention, not because this isn't serious. What the prefects and teachers are saying about buddy systems and staying indoors after dark is all well and good, but the truth is, no matter how many preventative measures you take, it's impossible to avoid danger entirely. However! You can prepare for it, and that goes a hell of a long way.

• Trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, that's because it probably isn't. Your brain is very good at picking up on subliminal signals, and that gut feeling you get about certain people or situations? That's your subconscious trying to tell you something. Listen to it.
  
  
• Always be aware of your surroundings. I don't just mean keeping an eye out for masked assassins lurking in bushes, but consider your exit routes. Be aware of dead ends, and areas with low or no lighting. Think about what you could duck behind if someone fired a curse at you. And on that note...
  
  
• Don't wait to be attacked. If you feel threatened, attack first and ask questions later. Be on the defensive. If you're mistaken about someone's intentions, you can always apologize. But in case they do want to hurt you, make sure you get in the first shot. It could make all the difference. No need for fancy hexes -- your basics will cover you. Think Stupefy, Flipendo, or Expelliarmus. Even Protego can knock someone off their feet if you cast it with enough force.
  
  
• Practice, practice, practice. You want the above spells to be as natural as breathing. You need to react without thinking. If you do something enough times, it becomes a muscle memory. This is also true of spellcasting.
  
  
• Keep your wand somewhere accessible. It's your greatest asset. Make sure you can put your hand on it within seconds. But...
  
  
• No-maj self-defense moves are also helpful. I think we all know how effective kicking a guy in the nuts is, but don't forget other weak points: eyes, nose, ears, throat, knees. Don't be afraid to do as much damage as possible. Your aim is to incapacitate your attacker so you can get the hell out of there.
  
  
• RUN. This sounds like an obvious point, but it needs saying. Don't stick around to try and fight an attacker if you don't need to. Your ultimate goal should always be to get yourself to safety. (Also, I'm sure as hell not going to tell anyone they shouldn't wear tight skirts and high heels, but make sure you can run in them. Hopefully it will never be necessary, but just in case.)

I still think this masked assailant is just some asshole who got carried away by the thought of Halloween, but knowing how to protect yourself is something that everyone should learn. Chances are you'll never be in a situation where you need to use this information, but at the very least you'll feel more confident.

Comments

[noblewon]

These are all excellent points, in general as well as in response to this latest fiasco.

I'll just add, make sure your first line of defense is nonlethal. Focus on incapacitation, not permanent damage. I know some people can get overzealous when they're scared.

[unregrettable]

Thanks.

I think I implied that. Not that I'm overly fussed about whether this knife-wielding jerk ends up permanently damaged or not, but hey.

[noblewon]

I've found that if you imply something instead of outright stating it, people are quick to try to use it as a loophole. No sense in any of us getting charged with murder before we're even legal to drink.

Het

[quinning]

Look, I'm not trying to pry, and I'm not asking this as a prefect; just as your friend. But somebody mentioned that it took you guys close to half the day to hike to your OE campsite, so... what were you doing back here on Saturday night? You didn't even let us know you would be back at all, but then you even hiked back out to the campsite? At night??

Het/Quinn

[unregrettable]

What are you talking about? I never left the campsite to come back here.

Het/Quinn

[quinning]

I'm positive I saw you on the Jay Trail when I was walking back to camp.

[reehobbs.insanejournal.com]

Not that we should wait to be attacked, but if we all start shooting off hexes the second we feel threatened with nerves running this high? Yeah, someone's gonna get hurt by another student.

[unregrettable]

Which is why I recommended people stick to basic defensive spells.

[icovington.insanejournal.com]

This is very comprehensive.

[unregrettable]

Hopefully it's not too wordy. I tried to keep it concise but there was a lot to cover.

[icovington.insanejournal.com]

It seems perfectly appropriate to me.

[addytives]

You're my hero, bb.

If anyone wants to practice their punching skills,ps, I've taken no-maj self defense!
On that same note, public, plz be aware that if I do find out someone's been doing this to be a dick, you will no longer have one :)

[unregrettable]

And you're mine for making that dick comment.

No-maj self defense classes were so much fun. Our mom made me and Theo take them and we spent the rest of that summer sneaking up on each other in order to practise what we'd learned.

[addytives]

Ty ty be here all year.
AND RIGHT!?! SO MUCH FUN! I practiced on my sister! Reason 8763 Lily spent like a year not talking to me tbh

[sylla]

Self-defense and awareness in one's surroundings is extremely important, I do agree.

My mummy also says if one is wearing high heels, a well-aimed stiletto with enough force and pressure can be a very keen weapon to defend one's self if one must resort to hand to hand combat wand-less fighting.

[unregrettable]

We're lucky that we don't normally need to think about this kind of thing at Gooseberry, but it's probably best if people ditch the headphones until this is sorted out.

Also a good suggestion!

[fillefidele.insanejournal.com]

This is why my nonna always said to carry your keys in your hand so you can jab 'em in someone's eyes.

[unregrettable]

Ah, that's a classic. Your nonna is a sensible lady.

[fillefidele.insanejournal.com]

She's kind of a badass. Some punk tried to mug her once - she jabbed him in the belly with her stick, and when he was down beat him over the head until the cops arrived.

[thecourtier.insanejournal.com]

Hear hear, Gray.

[unregrettable]

Thanks. I thought it needed to be said since I wasn't sure how much of this stuff people already knew.

[thecourtier.insanejournal.com]

A reminder isn't gonna hurt anybody even if they do know, I think.

[neattrick]

HET I APPRECIATE YOUR DEDICATION TO SPARKLE AND FLAIR BUT ID LIKE A MORE ROBUST SECURITY SYSTEM THAN "BE PREPARED TO RUN FROM MEN WITH KNIVES"

[unregrettable]

BE PREPARED is the most important part of this post so I'm glad that message got through at least, but I think you missed the bits where I talked about actual defense?

[sylla]

Perhaps we can arrange some sort of practice group in the near future?