Poll: Mugging

[megalomania]

So I have within the past few hours experienced my first mugging attempt in the 5+ years that I have been a London resident.

I have always been curious as to how I would react to being mugged; I also think that how you 'wish' you would react and how you actually react are probably wildly different. Tonight I got to learn my real response vs. my dream response.

I would like to point out that I was not held at weapon point directly - this may have a bearing on how I react in a situation.

The mugger approached me from behind and grabbed the back of my neck, I twisted, grabbed him and pushed him against the wall (less than a foot away) at which point I shoved the cigarette I was smoking within an inch of his eye. He reached in his pocket and threatened me with (what I am now was certainly ) an imaginary weapon (he said 'I will kill you') so I shoved him into the wall and retreated into the main road and towards the door of the 24 hour shop which was very close.

The reason I bring this up is to ask people this: how do you think you would respond in a mugging, and if you have been mugged, did you respond the way you thought you would?

Edit: I think it is worth pointing out that I always 'hoped' I would respond with a Bruce Lee-esque combo but never expected to respond thus so I am not trying to big myself up - I was genuinely surprised when I realised I had my smoke close enough to burn his retina! (Although I am proud of myself for reacting the way I did!)

 

[irbullz]

i did a barrel roll

 

[maddawg IAJI]

Strangely no. I go to school in a pretty bad neighborhood and though I have been robbed on multiple occasions, I have never been mugged.

 

[megalomania]

i did a barrel roll

*chuckelz*

 

[MorsePacific]

Two people tried to jump me once in my freshman year of high school. I responded by punching one in the face hard enough to knock him down. The other one ran.

That's pretty much how I always envisioned my reaction would be, as well. I'm not one to act submissively to some punk.

 

[xHipaboo420x]

I replied 'submissively', but to elaborate what happened was that they sprung out of nowhere and knocked me out before I could really do anything (although seeing as how I was unfathomably drunk they could have emailed me about it two hours in advance and it would still seem like the speed of light). Woke up in an ambulance.

Moral of the story? Don't get mugged.

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

I have yet to be mugged but i always have a trusty little pocket blade just in case.

 

[Manhattan2112]

I wish I'd do something cool, but I'm too much of a pussy. I once let a kid beat me up because I didn't want anyone to see me hit him in fear that I'd get in trouble.

 

[Kinguendo]

Nah, no one has ever attempted to mug me.

I live in a fairly bad area... a lot of stories of people being raped, murdered, mugged and on some rare occasions... helped. :O

I do walk around alone quite a lot but then again I was raised in the area so I am used to the stuff... also I am 6 foot 4, not entirely sure if that is a deterrent but I am saying thats why I havent been mugged until I do get mugged.

 

[Daveman]

epic win for you

I would hope I'd quote Dirty Harry... but I'd more likely shit myself.

 

[SulfuricDonut]

It depends whether he attacks me first or simply threatens me while standing not to close.

I've never been mugged, but if I was, I would probably respond in a passive-aggressive manner.
I am very good at convincing people by simply speaking calm logic, yet somehow be threatening, especially when they are angry or exited by something, because people are then generally not thinking as logically.

I probably wouldn't book it, but I also wouldn't attack first either, preferring to use logic. Unless they jumped me from behind then I tend to attack by instinct. I once reflexively punched my brother in the face in like a quarter of a second when he popped around a corner and yelled 'BOO!'...

 

[Koeryn]

I have never been mugged, but I hope that should I ever be, I would respond in a way that would make my martial arts background and combat drills be more than just an interesting exercise.

 

[Jedoro]

Never been mugged, but I make sure to not look like the kind of person that you'd want to mug.

That, and I carry two knives with me.

 

[DeadlyYellow]

Nope. I tend to avoid questionable areas, plus I'm built fairly big.

I'd imagine I'd act violently, likely ending in grievous bodily harm to both of us. I don't like being threatened and am very tightly wound.

 

[Lullabye]

Been "mugged" twice now, both times living here in Calgary.
1st time was just a guy pushing me over and stealing my wallet.
Second time I was walking down the street and cut through an ally way at 3 in the morning, so it wasn't unexpected. Buddy jumps outta nowhere and roughly shoved me up against a dumpster. He asked for money so I hand him the 20 I have in my pocket. He didn't have a weapon and frankly I was in a rush so I hoped he would go away, but then he started asking me to give him all I had on me. I had bus fare and my PSP. So I showed him the fair money, he took it, then tried to take my PSP. He failed terribly. He tried reaching into my pocket while still holding me with his other hand, which left him wide open for a headbutt tot the nose. I also believe it to be perfectly acceptable to kick people when they're down, especially when they tried mug you. I also believe it's the only reason I managed to get away safely.
Moral of the story? Practice headbutts. Seriously, few people ever train to defend against them.

 

[EnzoHonda]

I'm 6'5" and look like a cop (short hair and a goatee). I've not been mugged. When I was 13, six guys tried to take my bike. I just road away really quickly.

 

[Visulth]

I've never been mugged, but it's easy to see when people get into actual "fight" situations, where your life is really at stake, what you imagined yourself as goes right out the window. I learned that first hand when my friend and I got into a fight with three much older, much more muscular guys. It had been my first serious life-threatening fight ever, and I mentally kick myself to this day on all the things I should've done.

But really, I'm glad that happened. Now I know, and next time, it won't happen again.

OT: A friend of mine got mugged in Toronto. He was walking on the street, passed an alley. Some guys hit him in the back of the head with a baseball bat and he went down. They stole his wallet and ran off. He was "fine" (no concussion, etc) but it definitely was one hell of a surprise. In most cases people never see it coming.