Chair commando sickness?

[Heavy Metal Hero]

A thought came to me today while playing "Ultimate Frisbee" with a group of friends and acquaintances. As we were playing two kids came up to the table where we had our stuff (about 100 or so yards away depending on what part of the field the game was on) and began physically looking through it. Now before anyone tells me it wasn't a good idea to leave our stuff that far away, I live in a very safe area and never had any problems before.

So someone on my team spots them and a couple of the guys run over there shouting, "Hey! Get away from that!" The whole ordeal ended peacefully and we all kept our stuff. My real question is that during the situation I found myself sizing up the two gangbanger-wannabes. By sizing up I mean I thought to myself, "Oh I wonder if I could kick his ass (etc.)" This isn't the first time I have sized people up in my head. Sometimes, just walking around on campus or at the mall I do it to. I find myself looking at someone and thinking about what I would do if they did this or that and trying to find a physical weakness. Now I am not a violent person, but I can't help but feel that this "survival sense" is a hint of chair commando.

Do any of you have this similiar issue? I will refrain from calling it a problem unless you all diagnose it as one.

 

[TexasRifleman]

Yes it's a sickness.

It's called Condition Yellow and more people should have that sickness and there would be much less crime.

Being aware of your surroundings and working on a "what if" plan when something seems out of place is a perfectly fine way to go through life.

 

[raghorn]

"Be polite, be professional and always have a plan..."

Sounds like you've got it.

 

[DontBurnMyFlag]

it is definately not a bad habit to size up potential threats and be aware of your surroundings.


It is a bad habit to go from "yellow" to "Red" at the drop of a hat like so many people Ive met...or who have posted on THR.

"I saw a shadow, so I took out my GenIV Night Vision and my 1911. I racked a shell in my shotgun and loaded up the Garand incase the perp had Ceramic plates in his bodyarmor."

or

"someone asked me for directions on the street today. Im pretty sure it was a potential mugging. I went into tactical alert right away and didnt leave my car for 20 minutes until I was sure I was safe"

or

"well I have the a good vantage point up here on my mountain. I could take out about 23 JBT's before they got a round off. I mean after all, Im using my south african surplus .308 and I got the Mrs. on the Browning M2 "ma deuce"."






I hope I illustrated my point. What you did was 100% acceptable.

Theres just a fine line between "prepared" and "gecko45"

 

[damyankee]

I do that to pretty much any other male that crosses my way on planet earth. I practice martial arts and stuff tho.

 

[answerguy]

These two comments seem to be in conflict: "I live in a very safe area" &
"two gangbanger-wannabes"

 

[spartan20]

It seems alittle harsh to me.

I take more of the "Can I defend myself from this person/in this situation etc..." than wondering if I could just beat someone up.

The way you make it sound doesnt seem too far from a "gangbanger" mentality itself IMO.

 

[tbtrout]

I typically size up everyone I meet. Old habits die hard.

 

[AndyC]

I find myself looking at someone and thinking about what I would do if they did this or that and trying to find a physical weakness. Now I am not a violent person, but I can't help but feel that this "survival sense" is a hint of chair commando.

No, athletes and soldiers do the same thing - it's called visualisation. You imagine the situation, see what your opponent is doing and how you would react (or pre-act, as the case may be).

Quite common, although as previously mentioned more people should be doing it. Just don't overdo it and see danger *everywhere* - keep a healthy mental balance

 

[Heavy Metal Hero]

These two comments seem to be in conflict: "I live in a very safe area" & "two gangbanger-wannabes"

Ok then, two kids (color doesn't matter so I wont bring it up) with pants at their knees, backwards caps, and rags on their heads, chains, $300 shoes, etc. If you don't call them gangbanger-wannabes then feel free to label them what you wish.

I take more of the "Can I defend myself from this person/in this situation etc..." than wondering if I could just beat someone up.

The way you make it sound doesnt seem too far from a "gangbanger" mentality itself IMO.

I didn't mean I walked around sticking my chest out as I drank domestic beer and ate red meat. I more so meant that I wonder if I ever had to, could I? Again, I do not pick fights. I try to take the high road as much as possible.

 

[Pax Jordana]

I think that you're not sick at all. Thugs size people up, looking for people to rob. Law-abiding citizens size people up, hoping to see trouble before it starts. The same way a surgeon and an interrogator will both cut you.. it's intent, my friend.

Besides, those yutzes stuck their noses wayyyy into your scene - digging through your stuff? I assume they weren't wearing salvation army uniforms...

And it'd be even more stupid to initiate a confrontation without considering the possible threat they pose. Good way to end up in the hospital. If you didn't "size them up" you'd have been better off leaving them free to pick through your things.



Edited, to add: Yo homie... is that my gym bag?

 

[torpid]

I typically size up everyone I meet. Old habits die hard.

tbtrout visiting a day care facility:

Ok, children, let's all say hi to our special guest visitor, Mr. tbrout.

(He steps in front of room and takes a quick scan.)
"I could take him.
I could take him.
Him too.
I could take her.
I could take him.
I could take her.
Not a problem.
I could take him..."

"Good mornin' kids!- who wants hear a story about dinosaurs?"

 

[Heavy Metal Hero]

Torpid that is too funny!

Pax too bad I left my USP at home that day.

 

[Koz]

Its called being a guy

 

[Christianninja]

Torpid: That was one of the funniest posts I've ever seen.

As far as the OP goes, it's more than normal: it's healthy. Now, mine seem too often to slip into daydreams involving multiple coordinated threats and some acrobatic feats I know I'm incapable of, but in general it is good practice.

 

[innerpiece]

problem is, sizing someone up dont tell you much about their capabilities..

size can have little to do with the outcome of an altercation, if skill is a factor for either side..

I wouldnt call it a problem, just a false sence of instilling ones security.

ip.

 

[Fulcrum of Evil]

> problem is, sizing someone up dont tell you much about their capabilities..

Then you're doing it poorly. It's just an idiom - there's nothing to do with size.

 

[ctdonath]

Torpid:

 

[1911 guy]

Sizing someone up.

It's normal, relax. It's a 1) guy thing and 2) helpful if you intend to live to old age.

Sizing someone up isn't about "I'm bigger than him", it's about paying attention to fitness level, alertness, mobility, agility, coordination, obvious or apparent skills, availability of a weapon, where are his buddies, what's his position relative to my vulnerable areas, etc. In short, knowing ahead of time what you'd be in for if he went bonkers and tried to hurt you. Don't laugh, I'll tell you all a story sometime about my friend and a stabbing death.

 

[Roadwild17]

Its normal as long as you don't jump of you instants unnecessary.

I noticed i started doing it a lot after I started lifting weights and working out.

Then it changed to being more like "Hummm, if these few gang-bangers do this, what would I do."

 

[30 cal slob]

tbtrout visiting a day care facility:

LOL. If it was barney the dinosaur i'd have some reflexive trigger finger twitching ... darn barney the dinosuar purple pistol targets.

But seriously...

I am MOST paranoid and ALWAYS am in condition yellow when in daycare with my own kids. In a lot of jurisdictions daycare facilities are gun-free victim zones and probably the most vulnerable targets for bad guys.

You better believe I'm sizing everyone/everything up in a daycare facility.

 

[Byron Quick]

The daycare farce scenario dredged up an old memory.

I was on Lumpkin Road in Augusta, Georgia one day in the late '80's. I'd tracked down a skip customer and was in his living room informing him that I was repossessing his furniture. He informed me he was going to get his gun and walked down the hall.

I said,"OK, I'll be here."

(This less than appropriate mindset is why I quit that job within a couple of years, returned to college, and today work as a registered nurse. My mindset-and actions-grew worse over the next two years. I was going to wind up in a funeral home or a prison.)

I was armed and was really, really getting tired of this type of behavior.

Well, my customer's son was still in the room observing the procedures-maybe eight years old. And, as things turned out, rapidly adding two and two together: "1)My daddy is going to get a gun. 2) This man is just waiting for him to come back with it. 3) This man has his own gun and is planning on shooting my daddy before my daddy shoots him. 4) ATTACK!

The young boy suddenly snatched up a tire tool leaning against the wall, raised it up above his head, and rushed me in berserker mode. He was a little scrawny weed but there was no doubt in my mind...I was about to be injured. Badly. I didn't think I could adequately articulate my fear of grave bodily injury to justify using lethal force so I ran like hell.

But there is no doubt in my mind. That eight year old was going to do a number on my big butt. I'd trained in martial arts for years. Including full speed disarms against club wielders. I had no desire to attempt such against that young boy. He had convinced me.

Down the road, I stopped at a pay phone, called the customer up, and discussed the criminal warrants I was prepared to take out on both him and his son. We decided that I was going to return with my truck and he was going to load it with the furniture.

I don't know what happened to that boy or how he turned out. I know one thing, though. I've a lot of respect for his courage.

 

[Heavy Metal Hero]

Boot to the face Byron.

 

[logical]

As long as you aren't sizing guys up at the urinal wall.

 

[Correia]

Again, I do not pick fights. I try to take the high road as much as possible.

And sometimes taking the high road requires you to punch somebody in the face.