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Hey, btw, Murdock. Why have you taken self defense classes for years? Not because there are male predators out there, surely?
I started taking them when the homeless epidemic was becoming more and more apparent. I was recently separated at the time and had to walk to my car from my office at night. I also have a baseball bat that I sleep with and affectionately refer to as my home security system.
Yeah. Walking to your car alone at night is scary, because, well, predatory men. Also, it's nice to be protected from predators by a man who is not a predator. See how that works? Good men, mostly, and some terrifyingly bad ones.
I used to have a couple of male students walk me to my car at night when I taught night classes. They were good guys. They were protecting me from one particular very scary guy on campus, and I was so grateful they stepped up. Over the years there were quite a number of rapes on campus.
I’ve actually had a couple close calls… once of which was near the 4th parking structure near 3rd street promenade when I was 19. I was followed to the top and started screaming “fire!” when I realized my car was the only one at the top of that structure and there was a man about 500 yards behind me. Screaming and acting crazy scares men FYI. Screaming fire brings the most attention to any situation.
But I have always trusted my instincts and would not proceed with anything or anyone I felt uncomfortable with. Appointment with licensed professional or not.
I had a man get IN my car and put his hand around my neck at 2am. Scariest shit I ever dealt with. I talked him into getting out of my car. My legs were literally turning to jello as I talked him out of hurting me.
I can’t even imagine what you went through. OMG that is HORRIBLE.
I saw this last night and needed some time to process… I thought about you during my morning meditation and I have decided to share something personal to give you a little more perspective… my father isn’t exactly a good man and he did things out of our house that a father with a wife and small children should not do. I was raised to take over the family business since I was a little girl and my youngest brother is in prison since he was the one who did. To give you a little more perspective, when my youngest was born and my ex was deployed, he brought me a sawed off shotgun that he fastened to the bottom of my 4 post bed that had a swivel so I could roll out of bed onto the floor and shoot anyone who came in. He asked me if I wanted to see my children one last time or if I wanted to know how to get us out alive. I realized this morning that I’ve had a different education fueled by his ego and paranoia. It hasn’t been easy to be his daughter, but I chose a path I am content with now and have accepted my father for who and what he is.
I am sorry you went through this. I think this is every woman’s worst nightmare and I’m glad you got out alive. I wish you healing and peace… and that you never deal with anything like this ever again.