hrm...

[lyssie]

Was talking to this woman tonight. Carole, I think. Anyway. She'd had her car overheat, so she came into the PC to use the phone. Been there, so I said sure.

After she was done talking on the phone, we chatted a bit. And a few of the comments she made were kind of... irritating. In a way. Not like, nasty irritating, but... Maybe I'm just too violent.

We were talking about walking down bad streets, and she was worried and I suggested carrying a tire iron. And the Look she gave me. Like that was a really stupid idea, it wouldn't work, and HOW could she even think of defending herself??

Didn't say it. But.

And it irked me. Not because I think a tire iron will do any good against a gun. But. If you *look* like you're going to be trouble to approach, most people aren't going to (this from reading pysch crap out of newspapers. Yeah, pop psychology, here I am). Of course, I'm willing to ram that tire iron where the sun don't shine. Him or me. Her or me. Either way, I'm coming out on top (physically fit or not.)

A bit later, she was lamenting being single, 'cause, y'know, men are so useful for car stuff.... Yah.

Not like I can't change the oil, a spark plug, my own tire...

But it's the attitude, really, that got me. Like, she *has* to have someone to take care of her. She *was* small, yes. But Tappy/Lise/Sabia/several others I know are tiny people. And they can kick ass as much as they please.

It's got to be the attitude. That feeling that you're willing to do anything, or learn anything. And I know I'm not being very clear here.

But. I've changed my tire after midnight in a bad part of town. Two people went by me, one car actually asked if I needed help.

hedgkjdhfg

Anyway. Rambling now. Entertaining thoughts of violence... Hrm.

Comments

I'd have been irked too.

[paradisacorbasi.livejournal.com]

Yeah, okay, I had a "if I'd had an SO, I wouldn't be in the pickle I am now" moment myself, but that was blind hysterical panic talking at the time.

For the most part, yeah. I carry things with me that will let me defend myself, and look like trouble.

This is why I, a native New Yorker, can proudly say I have never been mugged.

[queenieb.livejournal.com]

Argh! I know this woman. I know her well. She pisses me off to no end.

Dude, you got hands... use 'em! That's what they're for.

At the end of the day, all you really have is yourself anyway. It's time more people started learning that and living that instead of being so codependant. And yeah... you can be codependant even if you have no one to be codependant with. And that's even more pathetic. :-)

I'm with ya, gal.

Re: I'd have been irked too.

[frobisher.livejournal.com]

I'm a native new yorker and haven't been mugged since college. And that was the only time. I think I'm still doing ok. :-)

[frobisher.livejournal.com]

Please don't hurt me...

*cowers*

[dkphoenix.livejournal.com]

That woman would have irked me on many levels. A flat tire is one thing... I have trouble changing those, because I lack the upper body strength to break the lug nuts loose, especially if said lug nuts were tightened using an air wrench. That's where a can of Fix-A-Flat, or a cel phone and AAA come in. But... her car overheated. If you're strong enough to open a 2-liter bottle of pop, you're strong enough to open the resevoir cap and pour in more water.

And yes, a tire iron is a marvelous equalizer. It adds 6 inches to your height, 50 pounds of muscle to your frame, and can be seen from a greater distance - in the dark, even - than a can of pepper spray. Really, though, the best thing is being aware of what and who is around you, and not having the attitude of a victim. Y'see, I was mugged once... or rather, I was the target of an attempted mugging. I noticed this kid following me as I was leaving a Walmart late one night. I kept an "eye" on him, and when I heard him running up behind me to grab my purse, I stepped sideways, stuck my foot out, tripped him and sent him sprawling on the pavement, then slammed him with my fully loaded shopping cart for good measure.

Violent? Nah.