Posts
Fer Fal could you critique this guy's actions? I think it would be better to stay inside the theater.
-Tom
.
Hi Tom, sure thing.
Long story short, the link above is about a guy’s experience during the Rodney King Riots of 1992 in LA. The author called Robert, wife Karen and their children are in a theater in a Hollywood premiere when the riots start outside on the street on April 29. The security guard in the theater locks the doors, kills the lights so that rioters cant see inside an eventually Robert, Karen and the kids go to the underground parking, get in their car and drive home.
In a nutshell, that’s the story.
As for lessons learned, first we must understand we’re talking about a self-confessed “Hollywood liberal” movie screenwriter and the entire story reeks of such mentality, very different from a prepper or survivalist.
His wife clearly wears the pants and Robert sounds like the typical liberal beta male. His wife is the hero of the story at one point because she’s the one with a flashlight in her purse…
When rioters start throwing stones at the building, his wife Karen doesn’t even flinch. Robert believes his wife’s face has the determined expression of a “seventeenth-century general” with nerves of steel. In reality what he’s describing is anything but and is in fact resignation and being frozen by fear. This is not to be confused with determination, but it’s a very typical reaction among those that aren’t prepared and simply “cant believe this is happening”. Its basically good old denial.
Lessons learned? Well, getting caught in Sunset Boulevard the day of the verdict would be a big one. You need to be aware of the world around you, of what’s going through those “inner city youths” mind. If they had done that they would have realized that specific day could get complicated fast and they would have let this socializing event pass.
Of course not even having a flashlight (or a CCW which the author later regrets) that’s another big fail. You need to have a few basic EDC tools with you and a flashlight is one you should never be without.
Now maybe the biggest questions is, should they have bugged in and waited inside the theatre or did they do well in going to the parking, getting into their car and escaping while they could?
In general, the standard reply for the best course of action when there’s civil unrest is bugging in and sheltering in place. Now that is particularly good advice when you have a known, secured location such as your home. A more exposed place like a theatre were rioters can break in any moment may be a different story.
Personally, if I have the chance and I see I have the room to do so, I would get into my vehicle and evacuate unless I gather more intel about the situation that convinces me otherwise.
These people, they easily could have been cornered, make a wrong turn and get pulled out of their vehicle and beaten to death.
In a defendable home, armed, then experience tells us that you are far more exposed and likely to get pulled out of your vehicle and attacked if leave the shelter.
As for driving during riots and civil unrest. It’s a bad idea to speed and just crash against anyone standing in front of you. I’ve honestly been caught in more riots, crowds and protests than I could possible remember. For years after 2001 it was practically a weekly occurrence for me, maybe even more often than that at times. What I can tell you is that you don’t want to floor the gas pedal, you want to move slowly but surely. Don’t stop, keep moving at slow speed pushing people out of the way and letting those that can, move out of the way themselves. Make no eye contact, stay calm and under no circumstances get off the vehicle, even if people start hitting your car.
FerFAL
4 comments:
Thank you for an interesting read.
However, you might want to practice avoiding thinking in exaggerated stereotypes. If you imagine a person that would consider you a "typical Argentinian thug", unfortunately you might be getting more psychological similarities with that person than you might want.
Um, did you read the linked article?
Stereotypes exist for a reason. In the absence of other information they help us make decisions that had survival value in the past. Striped and toothed probably means hungry tiger. That has survival value in that you can move to avoid the tiger WITHOUT having to determine his hunger level first hand.
Stereotypes also convey a lot of information quickly in a sort of 'shorthand'. Since NO ONE is hurt by the observation, and a lot of information is conveyed succinctly, I think there is little downside to using the stereotype.
I was in Hollywood for the riots. My employer's building was set on fire (and extinguished before any real damage occured). I (and one of my co-workers) passed the angry crowds on Western Ave just 20 minutes before they erupted into violence, looting, and arson. Smoke was blowing in my front door and I could see dozens of fires.
The next day I went in to work past still smoldering rubble where businesses had been the day before. Of course the rioting started back up and came toward us again, so we went home and stayed there until the National Guard was deployed. If you are not American, you probably can't really understand how WRONG is felt to see armed soldiers standing on street corners in Hollywood.
My roommate was attacked by a gang of thugs in a racially motivated attack. He and his wife were beaten with fists and broken bottles and were hospitalized. He's got a nice scar on his face from the attack.
One co-worker and his family had to flee their home in the middle of the night. Another spent several sleepless days at his mother's house, shooting at looters and arsonists.
Rioters were shooting FIREFIGHTERS. It was a crazy few days.
The article describes a turning point in the guy's life. And all you got from it was bothered by the stereotyping of a beta male?
That is really sad. But hey, come SHTF, one less guy I need to worry about....
nick
I read his story and disagree with your conclusions. He apparently has ex-comrades in the IDF and has been, by Hollywood Standards a flaming conservative. He seems to genuinely love, respect and admire his wife, and it seems to be reciprocated. I've been reading and enjoying his blog for some time, which may be the reason for a different take.
I have read the article. Quite informative and interesting, but I view it simply as info. The stereotyping itself doesn't bother me, I'm a bit concerned about FerFal.
I like his blog, so it would be unfortunate if he gets stuck in a belligerent psychological loop, similar to people who re-post ideologically charged click-bait on social media. I doubt he would actually start doing specifically that, but it might affect practicality of the content.
Post a Comment