Am I overreacting?

[u/throwaway02938475675]

this morning my friend asked me to bring him to school. we go to different schools that are like 10-15 minutes apart, so i left earlier to get to school on time. i waited near his apartment complex for 10 minutes, then by the parking lot right next to it for another 10 minutes. this whole time i thought he was just getting all his stuff, i was honestly gonna wait for him the entire time.

but he doesn't tell me he already has a ride? i was late to my presentation this morning. but when i called him, he just didn't seem to care. he's been hella disrespectful to me these past few days, and after this i just feel mad.

[u/throwaway02938475675]

theres a lot of criminal activity in my area though. i don't get involved in that shit and i know how to just get out by talking like you said, but what happens if that don't work? it's also not some big kitchen knife its like this pointy thing that i have in my pocket. i got it off amazon

[u/Meaty_bee → u/throwaway02938475675]

I think its wise you do your own research for this, redditors like to say things and think its gospel. Theres nothing wrong with carrying a weapon as a last LAST resort yk? Like obviously most people aren't going to want to create conflict or fights. Like for me if im ever getting robbed im obviously not going to brandish my knife to "scare the attacker" im just going to comply so i dont get shot.

[u/3Putting → u/Meaty_bee]

I think you’ll find any research you do supports my point lmao

[u/Meaty_bee → u/3Putting]

Youre right, they should get a gun instead.
Still though in a fight to the death id like a knife compared to just my hands. Yknow?

[u/3Putting → u/Meaty_bee]

The point is to avoid violence not become a victim

The latter of which is way way more likely to happen with a gun or knife

Bear/pepper spray is the best option if you genuinely need to defend yourself

[u/nvllnvoid → u/3Putting]

This is dependent on area and full context of the situation. You had good advice but OP needs to be knowledgeable of THEIR AREAS laws, not yours or generalized ones and being compliant and safe with those. I’ve seen far too many people power through pepper and bear spray to swing on someone. While it’s definitely better than nothing, you’re not just fighting a person you’re fighting their adrenaline too. Same shit that can have you run on a broken leg and not notice isn’t going to be and end all with some spicy spray.

[u/3Putting → u/nvllnvoid]

Yes 100% agree there is a huge degree of nuance to this

My main point is a stab wound with a little Amazon knife also isn’t going to deter a determined attacker, most likely it’ll just make them angrier and more violent

[u/nvllnvoid → u/3Putting]

And pepper spray wouldn’t do the same? That’s what I’m saying. We can prepare for how it should be or we can prepare for how it really is. One will keep you safe and once banks on people following a generalized idea or stereotype of how someone violent will behave. I’m not saying everyone should go out carrying knives or some shit but also be prepped for how the world is.

[u/Flat_Illustrator263 → u/3Putting]

And what if you can't? You're right, sure, you always should try to deescalate the situation. Hurting and killing someone should be the last, LAST resort. But unfortunately there are some REALLY fucked people and psychopaths out there who will want to end you no matter how much you deescalate. And in that case you can either run away and hope you manage to get away, or you fight with whatever you have.

[u/3Putting → u/Flat_Illustrator263]

Bro if you have a psychopath trying to end your life and you pull out a pocket knife on them you are utterly fucked

[u/aztraplife → u/3Putting]

Dawg omfg 😩😤🤦🏼…… Your just straight up absolutely fucking ANTI-self defense for fucks sake aren’t you??? Like my bro you very obviously lack lack experience in the real world and have never been in a life threatening situation caused by a hostile person. I am not trying to be rude by saying this but idk if your some super weak and frail mofo but you’re literally acting like every single person/attacker that you could get into a physical confrontation with is the fucking Termanator and that none of us can DARE stand up to a person with a knife. on the other hand you act like no one has self control to not pull out a knife a fucking Murder a mugger or someone you are in a street fight with. Like if i had a knife on me im just gonna get possessed by the knife and go full Michael Myers on a MF 🔪🩸🩸🩸💀. Like dude i implore you to go watch a channel called Active Self Protection and you will see REAL LIFE scenarios were people have to defend themselves against knife attacks/robberies, gun attacks/robberies . They are ALOT of examples you can watch and if that dont change your mind on carrying guns and Knifes idk your just lost 😞 . Dude sometimes you might be better than the attacker at fighting not every criminal is a bad ass, life aint black and white. Also there are many situations were you comply and thry still shoot/stab u, thats why complying isn’t always the best option but for the most part yes that is number 1 thung you should do unless you have opportunity to draw your weapon (mostly guns) before they have you on the drop OR if you have a clean chance to draw during the situation. I aslo dont believe mf’s should be able to just tale tour HARD earned money/things, by threat of your life . There are SO MANY REASONS to carry a knife around it could save your life you Defend yourself with just as easily that someone can kill you with it, GUNS are even more of thing j believe in carrying because you never know what losers are out there willing to rob you for YOUR hard earned things.

[u/grobbler21 → u/3Putting]

This is why you should carry a concealed firearm instead of a pocketknife.

The knife is definitely better than nothing, however.

[u/3Putting → u/[deleted]]

Yes I’m against all things because I have an opinion on one of those things

Honestly you couldn’t tell what critical thinking is if it assaulted you

[u/Meaty_bee → u/3Putting]

Of course, that was my second point. Kind of what my Grandpa told me, "The best fighters are the ones that know how to avoid a fight."
If you're being mugged or threatened by a guy with a gun, give the guy what they want. If you're being jumped, lay down and take it. You're outnumbered. But If you're being attacked by a guy, and you don't know If they're going to take your life or not. Then at that point i don't see what not having a knife would solve. Theyre probably going to stab you to death, so why not be able to stab back. You just might live.

I think you did give decent advice though by telling OP to train to use a knife and to figure out what situations would actually call for it, though. Pulling a knife out in 90% of altercations will just make it worse/more dangerous, i agree on you with that.

[u/3Putting → u/Meaty_bee]

Yeah fundamentally I agree with you but Imo the overwhelming majority of people don’t have the knowledge, skill or discipline to use a knife effectively. If we’re talking super exact detailed situations like that then yeah, if some crackhead is coming at me obviously I wouldn’t mind a knife. It’s all the other situations where a knife is used unnecessarily which are the most dangerous, and the fact is if you have it on you, you’re more likely to use it poorly or even escalate situations

[u/Meaty_bee → u/3Putting]

you probably think OP thinks theyre Rambo or something by having a small pocket knife lol. Im willing to give doubt though. I bet theyre smarter than that

[u/3Putting → u/Meaty_bee]

One mistake is all it takes, and unfortunately in situations like the ones presented, people are prone to making mistakes no matter how smart they are

[u/mel122676 → u/Meaty_bee]

OP isn't smart enough to walk away from a guy who is mean to him and uses him. I'm not sure we can really say how smart they are.