i think generally that's a good solution for people who are mobile - go somewhere that you don't feel unsafe.
we have very high (especially recently) rates of petty property crime, mostly car break-ins and shoplifting, but violent crime doesn't worry me. at all. my kids and wife and i (or just them, or just me) walk all around everywhere we need to go and don't ever feel unsafe. and while i encounter occasional a-hole drivers, nobody throws s*it at me on my bike.
the most dangerous places in the country do NOT match the rhetoric you hear on certain national media outlets.
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Yeah, not exactly the same here, but very similar. I
am concerned about the rise of petty / property crime in Los Angeles, and I might even step in to stop petty crimes that I oberve if I assess the situation and I like my odds. But I'm not in a panic about it, I've lived through worse. We pretty much go anywhere we want to go, but we look sharp and do our best to be ready to take care of ourselves.
You can flip someone off without losing control.
Theoretically possible, but rare, and why waste energy on some random? Who cares? Sounds like the aggressor in this situation is an EDP. There is absolutely no percentage in engaging at any level-- giving the finger, reasoning with him. All a waste of time.
Being a landlord, I have had to deal with all kinds of creeps, male and female.
If I just let them abuse me verbally it just all goes down hill.
Not a great analogy. You have a business relationship with a tenant, you don't with a random.
YOU HAVE TO STAND UP FOR YOURSELF !
Depends so much on the situation. I've experienced one or two street muggings where I actually threw the first punch because it really looked like the best option-- where running would result in a worse beating, and when I'd probably go down if I waited for the other guy to make a move. That's extremely unusual.
In other situations, I've completely ignored my assailant, or run like hell. In many, I've talked my way out, pretended to be crazy or a junkie, used intimidation, cracked a joke-- there are a lot of options. Sometimes, there is no good response, and you're going to get the crap kicked out of you no matter what you do.
My mom once was dragged into a dark alley by a guy on the street. She happened to have a mild convergence problem with her left eye, so she made her eyes look two different directions, held her hands cupped in front of her, plastered a demented expression on her face, and asked the guy, "Would you like to clean my toilet?" The guy took off-- and our family has been laughing at the poor sucker for half a century. THAT is a much better way to stand up for yourself, IMHO.
On a bike, usually there are more options than for a pedestrian-- except on narrow paths or streets where you can't jump onto the sidewalk, bang a 180, or just dodge the person by riding on to the grass.
I agree with the general idea that there are situations when you do have to stand up for yourself, when backing down or ignoring someone can actually be more dangerous. But the middle finger has never accomplished much in my experience.