The Question Game

[distantvoices]

someone has to be the first after all *rofl* there's no choice about that.

I usually print onesided - so I can make notes on the back or reuse the piece of paper for scribbling and sorta, if I don't like what the printer vomits.

Ora et Labora or Dolce Far Niente?

ps: women and rapists: I reckon They could get rid of any rapist if quick enough with a sharp kick into the rapist's balls. This stops any sexual ambitions short in quick manner. And if he gets a voice several octaves higher, the better.

[Eero Ränik]

Dolce far niente. I'm really lazy. And again, I'm lazy enough to leave the question-asking part to someone else.

[QuiTeVexat]

Asking questions or giving answers?

[rwfromxenon]

Giving answers.

FFVII or FFX?

[Calum]

FFVII all the way!

Optical or ball mice

[distantvoices]

optical. They re simply cool - and way better than those with ball (-s? *winkwink*)

regarding ff... I've finished FFVIII a time ago. WOnder what 's happened to Squall?

sleeping at home or sleeping in a hotel?

[Solar]

I have to dig this one up again. Sorry in advance for the rant, but it's a subject of strong emotions for me.

Learn some form of self-defense or carry a personal alarm with you all the time in case you get assaulted?

<rant>

If your self-defense course was worth its money, they will have given you a personal alarm that was included in the course fee, and after hitting a sandbag a couple of times with foot, knee, elbow, and palm (fist usually hurts yourself more than the opponent), spend the rest of the time (>50%) giving psychological instructions (like, "carry personal alarms", "stay in populated areas", "address people directly instead of just screaming / calling for help", "attack to kill; chances are you're overestimating your power anyway"), before returning to the sandbag to check whether the advice sunk in.

What you meant was probably martial arts - as in, two / three times a week over a couple of years, mastering form, philosophy, tournament, and SD techniques. "Self defense" is usually limited to, like, 10 times two hours on Saturdays spent hopping around in pyjamas.

SD is >75% mental. You have to be aware what will happen - the situation will escalate, and while your chances to avoid the crime will improve marginally, the chances of getting seriously hurt or killed improve significantly. You have to be aware that once you start kicking and punching and biting, all safeties are off. You have to "win" the situation no matter what, because you'd be in deep trouble otherwise.

That's why I hold a deep grudge with those "instructors" that rip you off for, like, 150 bucks, and teach you some basics that will do three things for you:

• make you too self-assured in critical situations, getting you into trouble needlessly;
• make you assume a stance that gives away your intention to fight right away;
• are worth sh*t in a fighting situation where a frightened woman is up against a determined criminal.

SD fighting is the meanest, most vicious thing imaginable. It's not Jackie Chan, it's not Bruce Lee, it's (for women) embrace the man, give him a deep kiss, then bite off his tongue, claw out his eyes and kick him into the jewels that he's singing soprano for the rest of his life. Let him sue you because "she didn't say 'no' before she attacked me" or some bull like that. That will be done in court, not a side alley, which means you have won already.

Any SD instructor giving you stuff about his technique making you able to hold your ground against a bigger, heavier, stronger man is lying, period. Those guys going around attacking people aren't couch potatoes either. I'd say >75% of all martial artists worldwide wouldn't survive 30 seconds against a mediocre boxer, because they never really got punched in the face in their whole MA "carreer".

Carry personal alarms, have a mobile handy that will dial 911 (or 110 or whatever emergency number your country provides) on one keypress, know where people are. If you think that's "weak" and that your SD / MA skills will protect you, get a different instructor that isn't feeding you dangerous delusions.

</rant>

Sorry for the rant. I won't bore you with the personal experiences that made me feel this strongly about the subject, but if you are in any position to consider taking SD courses, make sure you pick the right one. The wrong ones make rape victims into rape & manslaughter victims.

[distantvoices]

For gods sake, I've never had so much fighting as a few rambles in school. From that I've learned: Know when you have chances to stand your place or when it's better to run (ha, and they didn't get me unless they used foul tricks like calling a friend of theirs to hinder me from escape.)

The best hint I've got from someone: never punch with the fists. Get close, use elbows and finish the opponent off as quick as possible because chances are he strikes and hits a better punch and then YOU are in trouble. As Solar and I are saying: A Kick in the balls, and every Man except those wearing special equipment there is stopped short in his intentions - well, and can start a career as high soprano (is this the high voice level?) singer.

Oh: never play the strong one with drug dealers even if you are right. They usually *have* weapons and they *don't* shy away from actually using them. Civil courage goes only so far. Getting stabbed is no option for me so I never play the brave one. I rather trust my legs to carry me away from danger in quick fashion than my fighting abilities to hold stand against bad guys.

Just my opinion.

[Calum]

O... K...

Stripes or Spots?

[Allen_Lazy]

O... K...

Stripes or Spots?

LMFAO ;D
Way to change the subject. Stripes.

Ctrl-Alt-Del or Dominic Deegan?

[Eero Ränik]

Luckily, most of the time, I've never had to worry about my safety. I mean, in my whole life, I've seen drug dealers once, and organized criminals maybe two times. Drunk and aggressive Russians aren't much of a worry in the town I live in, either. Otherwise I would just have to show them that I am one, too, by telling them to get lost in perfect Russian.

(Soviet Union had a devastating effect on Estonia's population by getting rid of a lot of Estonians (by sending them to Syberia) and replacing them with Russians. It would be better if the streets in some towns here weren't filled up with Russian neo-communists, that hate Estonians, and Estonia, but live here because Estonia is a bit richer country with higher living standards than Russia.)

Anyway, the trick is to pass everyone you might have trouble with, without fear. Imagine a mirror around you, and try to memorize lyrics of songs you heard a long time ago. It really helps.

If you get in trouble though, I don't know how effective would punching with elbows be. You can't really hit strong or accurately with them, and getting close to a criminal, you might get stabbed easier, too. Running away is the best idea, and if someone tries to outrun you, just put a leg in front of theirs. They're bound to fall, if they don't have super-fast reactions. If they have guns, they would have trouble hitting you, too. Just strafe a little, and most likely you'll be fine.

A kick in the balls is a fine idea, too, if there only is one criminal. I don't know if it does the same as castrating boys with a good voice (before it breaks) to keep it, in ancient Rome, but it sure enough generates a lot of pain.

[Solar (lazy)]

I brought it up, so I think I have to do my part to bring it down again.

Ctrl-Alt-Del or Dominic Deegan?

Ctrl-LeftAmiga-RightAmiga. (Who the **** is Dominic Deegan?)

Ruby or Python?

[BI lazy]

@eero: the trick is to get quick at him ere he can get hands on his knife and to jam the elbow straight in his solarplexus. That for sure deprives him of breathing for a few seconds.

@solar: if you ask me: c. *rofl*

Mike TeeVee or Johnny Gadget?

[Calum]

Ok, i didnt want to drag myself into this, but what the hey...

THe main idea of a martial arts/self defense course isn't so that you can stand there and beat the crap outta your enemies and assailants, in fact, in Australia, you only get a maximum of 2 hits to incapacitate or stun your attacker before they can have your charged with assault.

Therefore, we simply learn 2 devastating techniques or just things to scare the other person. Believe me, hitting with the elbows is not terribly effective. Sure, you might get more power, but you leave the whole area under your arm, your ribs and side open to a close range attack, like if the opponent was to whip out a knife then you're gone.

There's punch kick combos, even something like a phantom kick to the belly, meaning pulling it really fast just to put the opponent off then run for your life is heaps better than fighting full on.

I choose Mike TeeVee because his name sounds cooler I dunno who either of them are

Playstation 2 or Xbox? (And it has to one of the 2, not "Neither, Gamecube!")

[Solar (lazy)]

PS2, simply because it ain't Microsoft.

And I sure hope neither Eero nor Calum nor BI ever get in the situation. I'd offer you a free course, but even BI would be a bit far away to visit me over the weekend.

Harper Collins or OALD?