http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/DC-Serial-Butt-Slash-Suspect-Identified-129371533.html?dr
We often imagine the kinds of attacks we might have to deal with as we train. As we exit our training hall, hopefully we are more mindful of potential threats around us. We envision a street person or thug approaching us with ill intentions in some bad part of town, and that is enough to get us in a mood to throw some smack down. What about people who do not look very threatening?
Do you keep your awareness up in peaceful places, such as a shopping mall in broad daylight? How about the situation mentioned in the previous post: your own living room with your cousin?
As much as I hate using anecdotal evidence to justify paranoia or worse, hysteria, having even one guy doing minor knife ambushes in a shopping mall gives good cause to never assume you are in a safe place.
It is probably not happy living to be on constant lookout for a potential attack at every turn or from every person within ten feet of you, but this news piece gives reason to be a little more careful.
How many victims become victims because they just don't believe it would happen: 1) To them, 2) In that place, 3) At all, or 4) From that particular person.
So what to do about it and how careful to be? That is up to you. Should you be acting like Inspector Clouseau on guard for Kato's ambush attack at any moment? Probably not. Personally, I think one should be aware as one can reasonably be (and this can be improved upon all the time) and be ready go at a moment's notice. It will come when you least expect it.
Although the butt-slasher is a unique and strange case, the psychotic behavior is not. Make sure to have your radar on! If something doesn't feel right, you don't have to be polite! I read a rape study about a home invasion and the lady couldn't get her self to slam the door on the rapists face because her brain kept saying "Slamming doors on people is rude". Don't pick up stuff for people!
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