Have seen a couple of articles lately (such as this one at
USCCA) which have been talking of the need for de-escalation skills.
The
gist of the article is we are living in a more 'aggressive' time than
in our past. Popular media and culture rewards people who 'get in your
face' and 'assert their rights' in an overly aggressive manner. Being
quiet, not looking for the spotlight seem to be denigrated. An example
is the amount of flaming done on online forums. Ad hominem attacks seem
to be on the rise (attack the person, not the issues), especially in our
political discourse.
Here are a couple of quotes from the article I thought relevant.
1. "I was never taught to get emotional about a threat whether it be natural
forces, a human threat or an animal threat. I was not taught to
posture. I was taught to deal with threats quickly and logically in
order to protect my life and the lives of my loved ones. However, all
around me now I see people arguing, posturing and even fighting in
public with total disregard to consequences. I see such lack in impulse
control."
2. 'This is written as a warning to everyone reading it. If revenge and
settling matters to a standard of emotional satisfaction are part of
your operational protocols, then you greatly increase your odds of
needing to use that carry weapon, and you increase your odds of dying.
Also, you increase the odds of family and friends with you dying as
collateral damage due to escalating such situations."
3. "Be careful who you engage in any sort of confrontational manner whether
it be body language, verbally or in the language of road rage using your
motor vehicle as the extension of your body. The next time you feel the
adrenalin start to pump, control it. Do not let it control you. Think
of the things coming out of your mouth before they slip passed your
tongue. The physiological fight or flight response of an adrenaline dump
is actually a bad thing to have going on when it does come time to
physically defend yourself. In many people, it will shut down their
ability to use fine motors skills needed to successfully manipulate a
firearm during a lethal threat encounter."
In
closing, as practitioners of some sort of self protective arts, we are
expected to remain calm, look at the situation as dispassionately as we
can, and look for the least amount of force to effect a solution. Are
your daily actions in congruence with this? Just something to think
about.
