44 AMP said:
In his own words, "it's exactly what I was looking for!"
Those are my words, but not all of my words: they have been removed from context, and that makes them easier to misinterpret (should one choose to).
My words were:
"If a group then starts to follow me or moves to intercept me, that's not completely unexpected--it's exactly what I was looking for.
"If that group then decides to attack (despite my changing direction away from them), that's also not completely unexpected; that possibility is why I decided to go armed in the first place, and why I went to condition orange."
That's a clear statement that I am alert to my surroundings, and LOOKING FOR signs of an impending attack precisely so I can change direction AWAY from the potential attackers; and that I go armed because I realize that simple avoidance may not always be enough to prevent that attack.
44 AMP said:
I believe the speaker intended to tell us the kind of behavior he was being alert to spot, so that he could avoid trouble.
Of course. I hope that the reason that you believe that (besides simply your generous spirit of giving everyone the benefit of the doubt) is that I made that clear, by both the context of that remark, and by the context provided by my other remarks at TFL.
A. The context of that post. I wrote the words you quoted in response to an assertion that "It is most likely that the confrontation will be completely unexpected." I was therefore talking about my alertness, and why I believe it is therefore not true that, when I am confronted (as in "confrontation") it will "most likely" be "completely unexpected."
B. The context of my other remarks in this forum:
--About what to do when a vehicle trespasses on your property:
"Umm, maybe:
"Call 911
"Videotape (be sure to get license plate if possible) from safe distance
"If they come after you...retreat as far as safely possible; then respond appropriately to any threat if forced to do so"
--About the proper attitude toward shooting in self-defense
"Originally Posted by Lohman446
"'I did not want to shoot and I only shot to stop the attack'
"Yes. The attack that I believed I could not safely retreat from, and that I believed would otherwise cause me grave injury or death.
"I think that sentiment, engraved on your heart as it were, is as important to your self-defense as to your legal defense."
And: "I would NEVER choose to use a round based on its being 'more lethal'...
"I would shoot to stop...
"No way, no how would I shoot to kill. Ever."
--About my previous experience in confrontations:
"I know how many times I've been approached in a threatening way, how many times I've been attacked...and how many times I've been surprised." Indicates that we're not talking zero experience here; and yet, somehow:
"...I've never had to fire a gun in self-defense..."
Perhaps it should be obvious that being alert is a violence-prevention strategy; and that by being alert I give myself the option of avoiding trouble before I'm even sure there IS any trouble; avoiding it well before an attack is imminent. And that's why I choose to argue the benefits of being alert (as opposed to implying that being alert doesn't matter because, no matter what, "It is most likely that the confrontation will be completely unexpected").
As one of my instructors mentioned, having to use lethal force to defend yourself is a failure: it means you are in mortal danger, and that EVERYTHING that you did or could have done to prevent that has failed.
Or, as Rory Miller puts it, self-defense is recovery from stupidity or bad luck. Self-defense is that short list of things that may get you out alive when you are
already screwed.
Sounds to me very much like a self-defense situation is something I should work hard to avoid.
Hope that's clarified things, for any future plaintiff's attorneys and DAs out there.
Wow. It can sure take a long time to defend oneself around here. Not sure if your using my words for your example perhaps might appear to support the notion, "Why worry about 'iffy' modifications, since even a completely innocent remark or action can or will be twisted into something nefarious?"