View Full Version : So you're getting robbed...
EverettKings
07-13-2005, 05:06 PM
Corollary to this thread (http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=2859007&page=0&view=colla psed&sb=5&o=14&fpart=1)
Now you're walking down the sidewalk in a big city. Decent sized street but not many people walking on it, and it's just gotten dark. Suddenly someone grabs your shoulder and turns you around, showing a knife that he's got in his hand which is in his pocket (so he doesnt alert the whole city that he's robbing you). He tells you quickly to hand over your money. Whaddaya do?
Stipulations: No police/security around, you can't count on anyone helping you if you yell. You don't have any mace or a weapon and you don't know karate or anything. You're an average sized 20 year old male. The guy is a little bigger than you. Superman is on vacation.
Claunchy
07-13-2005, 05:07 PM
Stick it in his...nah.
tdarko
07-13-2005, 05:10 PM
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You're an average sized 20 year old male. The guy is a little bigger than you.
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why can't i be my actual size because i would rather that?
stabn
07-13-2005, 05:12 PM
Are you trying to work out the EV of robbing people leaving the casino or something?
MoreWineII
07-13-2005, 05:13 PM
These threads are complicated. If I thought I could lay the smack down, I would. If not, I'd get robbed.
swede123
07-13-2005, 05:19 PM
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showing a knife that he's got in his hand which is in his pocket...Superman is on vacation
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This scenario clearly shows the victim is Superman. How else would he know the guy has a knife in his hand, if his hand is in his pocket? So, I'd flex my super pecs and break his jaw. Then I'd hand him over to the authorities and go look for some kittens to rescue out of trees or something.
Swede
djoyce003
07-13-2005, 05:36 PM
you left out blowing a hole in him big enough to walk though out of the choices again. See my point about bringing a knife to a gunfight. we are allowed to carry concealed handguns in texas.
EverettKings
07-13-2005, 05:39 PM
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why can't i be my actual size because i would rather that?
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Because I said so.
Obviously if youre 6'10" and 250 pounds and have a 4th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, you don't have a problem here. The point is if you really don't know if you can beat this guy's ass. If you clearly can or can't, the decision is easier.
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Are you trying to work out the EV of robbing people leaving the casino or something?
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No, that's -.08 EV. I'm wondering if it's +EV for me to try to pull something if someone wants to rob me. Don't forget about gambler's ruin.
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These threads are complicated.
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Didn't mean to make your head hurt. Just thought it was interesting to think about. Kind of like if I had to choose between a bazooka with 3 shells and a 9 millimeter with unlimited rounds in a fight to the death against a guy with the other weapon. I mean, I don't see that situation coming up, but if it does I'm better off knowing ahead of time what I'm gonna do and why. I'd take the 9 btw.
Everett
runner4life7
07-13-2005, 08:35 PM
I'm a cross country runner, and this is why, see ya suckers
If somebody has a gun I'd give them all of my stuff.
A knife in their jacket isn't very intimidating though, knee the f***er in the junk and run as fast as you can.
lu_hawk
07-13-2005, 08:50 PM
anybody who fights back against a guy with a knife to try to save the money they have in their pocket is not thinking straight. who cares if you are bigger, if you have a 0.1% chance of being killed then that is way too high to fight back.
I'm running.
When I was 16 me and two buddies were on our way home from a mtg tournament. It's around 11pm, pitch dark and the train station is deserted. The train station had this thin rather high metal bridge over the rails to get to each platform which we climb up and up there in the middle of the bridge are 2 young 20-something guys talking to each other. As my buddies and me pass them I get a gun stuck in my face and we get told to hand over our money and backpacks. Now we each had about $500 cash in our pockets from selling mtg cards and most of our collections in our backpacks for about another $1000 worth each. All 3 of us instantly started running instantly..funnily all 3 in another direction as I went towards one end of the bridge, a friend towards the other end and the second buddy down the closest stairs to the train-platform. Another funny part was when after running for a few blocks I see this guy come out of his appartment and I started running at him yelling "Hey Mister" cause I want to ask him to use his phone to call the cops. As I'm running at him he starts backing up with a somewhat scared look because as I later found out...he was scared I was going to mug him /images/graemlins/tongue.gif
So yeah, if I'm alone I'm running again, if my wife is with me I'm either jumping the guy or handing the money over depending on how much I think I can take him. If there's more then one I'm gladly handing over the money cause there's no way I'm endangering my wife for some stupid cash.
Rotating Rabbit
07-13-2005, 09:02 PM
I hand over the cash in all cases.
I cant believe there are any responses for fighting/running. This option has a material risk of getting stabbed, no matter how badass you think you are. My friend is a 3rd dan aikido, and 1st dan in karate and he'd hand over the cash instantly (we've had this discussion before). Its just not worth the risk, fighting is a last resort, like if you're backed up in a dead end and you think hes gonna kill you whatever you do.
cbfair
07-13-2005, 09:04 PM
[ QUOTE ]
I'm running.
So yeah, if I'm alone I'm running again, if my wife is with me I'm either jumping the guy or handing the money over depending on how much I think I can take him. If there's more then one I'm gladly handing over the money cause there's no way I'm endangering my wife for some stupid cash.
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In your example, the guys had at least one gun. Can you outrun a bullet? If the answer is no, do you have really good life insurance? Because you are endangering your wife by getting killed whether she's there at the time or not.
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I'm running.
So yeah, if I'm alone I'm running again, if my wife is with me I'm either jumping the guy or handing the money over depending on how much I think I can take him. If there's more then one I'm gladly handing over the money cause there's no way I'm endangering my wife for some stupid cash.
[/ QUOTE ]
In your example, the guys had at least one gun. Can you outrun a bullet? If the answer is no, do you have really good life insurance? Because you are endangering your wife by getting killed whether she's there at the time or not.
[/ QUOTE ]
The gun is usually used as a threat and they will use it if you start fighting, however if you start running they aren't exactly going to shoot you in the back because that accomplishes nothing aside from alerting everybody in a 6-block radius what's going on and then they need to flee before they can get your stuff anyway.
So unless it's some crack-addict tripping and that barely has a clue what he's doing noone is going to shoot you in the back. And a crack-addict is very likely to shoot you no matter what you do.
You could be right though and it's hard to say exactly what one would do untill it actually happens. When I got that gun shoved in my face all 3 of us just ran instantly without thinking. Not one thought entered my mind, it was basically see the gun..heartbeat..run. Now that I'm 26 I might very well do something very different and would not be surprised if I handed everything over if they had a gun. When I was 16 that $1500 meant a whole lot more to me then whatever I might have on me now would be worth to me, even if it would be my lifesavings (not that I'd have that on me of course).
The more I think of it though I'm definately not jumping the guy ever. If it's one guy with just a knife I'm still running though if I'm by myself.
AffleckKGB
07-13-2005, 09:20 PM
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My friend is a 3rd dan aikido, and 1st dan in karate and he'd hand over the cash instantly
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Your friend is pathetic.
DasLeben
07-13-2005, 09:32 PM
If I'm being approached and they have a knife out, I'm pulling my pistol, plain and simple. They have a knife...I have a 9mm. I win.
Close range, it's a bit of a different story. I'll hand over cash without a fight only if I think that he's going to leave me alone once he gets his cash. If I think that he might try to stab me afterwards, well, I'll try to run away to get some position, and then pull my weapon if he's chasing.
I dunno.
PokerCat69
07-13-2005, 09:49 PM
I'd give the guy a quick jab in the face and take off.
mslif
07-13-2005, 10:13 PM
I speak from experience, just let him have whatever he wants... material possessions are nothing compared to your life
PokerCat69
07-13-2005, 10:52 PM
[ QUOTE ]
I speak from experience, just let him have whatever he wants... material possessions are nothing compared to your life
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Are you wearing a pink skirt while writing this by chance?
Allinlife
07-13-2005, 11:24 PM
he probably won't use the knife on you, but I say you are stupid if you take any chance with your life on the line.
fold.
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I speak from experience, just let him have whatever he wants... material possessions are nothing compared to your life
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Are you wearing a pink skirt while writing this by chance?
[/ QUOTE ]
Stupid computer nerd. YOUUU LOOOOVEEEEEEEE CAWNTAR STRIKEEE DONT YOU? This is not a computer game, fool. This is real life we are talking about. You talk like a big man through your computer screen but you are really just a wimp. You'd [censored] your pants just like 90% of us would, so spare us the pink skirt comments.
14 year old nerd.
mslif
07-13-2005, 11:45 PM
yeah and no panties
mslif
07-13-2005, 11:47 PM
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I speak from experience, just let him have whatever he wants... material possessions are nothing compared to your life
[/ QUOTE ]
Are you wearing a pink skirt while writing this by chance?
[/ QUOTE ]
Stupid computer nerd. YOUUU LOOOOVEEEEEEEE CAWNTAR STRIKEEE DONT YOU? This is not a computer game, fool. This is real life we are talking about. You talk like a big man through your computer screen but you are really just a wimp. You'd [censored] your pants just like 90% of us would, so spare us the pink skirt comments.
14 year old nerd.
[/ QUOTE ]
It happened to me and it was one of the scariest event I ever had to go through!
Voltron87
07-14-2005, 12:00 AM
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I speak from experience, just let him have whatever he wants... material possessions are nothing compared to your life
[/ QUOTE ]
Are you wearing a pink skirt while writing this by chance?
[/ QUOTE ]
Stupid computer nerd. YOUUU LOOOOVEEEEEEEE CAWNTAR STRIKEEE DONT YOU? This is not a computer game, fool. This is real life we are talking about. You talk like a big man through your computer screen but you are really just a wimp. You'd [censored] your pants just like 90% of us would, so spare us the pink skirt comments.
14 year old nerd.
[/ QUOTE ]
dead is such a quality poster.
ps- i am so [censored] amped for this series. moose will pwn. i think im going to have to change the avatar for solidarity. and those white shoes arod wore in the AS game, those were [censored] pimp.
astroglide
07-14-2005, 12:06 AM
a mugger with a knife worries me more than one with a gun. i'll let the others elaborate.
PokerCat69
07-14-2005, 12:10 AM
[ QUOTE ]
Stupid computer nerd. YOUUU LOOOOVEEEEEEEE CAWNTAR STRIKEEE DONT YOU? This is not a computer game, fool. This is real life we are talking about. You talk like a big man through your computer screen but you are really just a wimp. You'd [censored] your pants just like 90% of us would, so spare us the pink skirt comments.
14 year old nerd.
[/ QUOTE ]
I've had someone try and rob me before. Stop talking out your ass bud. I did just want I orginally mentioned, a quick pop to his nose and I bolted as fast as I could. Infact I ran so hard and fast my legs were sore for about 4 days afterwards.
Just handing the guy your money is no gurantee he won't hurt you either.
z32fanatic
07-14-2005, 12:17 AM
If I was in a big city and he only had a knife, I would probably either put my hands up and slowly back away like i didn't want to get hurt and was confused, or I would run away and eventually make my way into the middle of the street, which would draw a lot of attention to myself. If that failed, I would give it up.
jakethebake
07-14-2005, 08:29 AM
Are we still in Ecuador?
Rotating Rabbit
07-14-2005, 08:57 AM
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
My friend is a 3rd dan aikido, and 1st dan in karate and he'd hand over the cash instantly
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Your friend is pathetic.
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I think if you saw him you'd change your mind.
Aikido as I understand it specialises in defence against knives and other hand weapons, but all you need is a little bad luck, or for the knife-wielder to actually know how to use a knife properly, and you're in deep trouble. Im sure he'd kick ass over 95% of the time, but its not worth a 5% risk of serious injury over a couple hundred bucks is it?
Rotating Rabbit
07-14-2005, 09:02 AM
Incidentally, this topic is very similar imo to the russian roulette thread.
spamuell
07-14-2005, 09:32 AM
[ QUOTE ]
Incidentally, this topic is very similar imo to the russian roulette thread.
[/ QUOTE ]
I was thinking this too.
Marnixvdb
07-14-2005, 09:49 AM
A dude once tried to rob me on the street and he started beating the hell out of me before he even asked for money. I pushed him off, we struggled some and suddenly he flashes a big tool, likely intending to hit me with it, maybe only to intimidate. I didnt care as I thought: screw this crazy retard and I ran away.
If he wouldve asked for the money first I guess it would have been his now.
Marnix
Man f*ck all that, it's easy to take down a couple of guys. Punch a guy in the neck, kick another in the balls. The 3rd guy, well anything goes. Not about being tougher or bigger, just about keeping it smart and hitting them somewhere that'll take them out.
EverettKings
07-14-2005, 01:01 PM
To anyone who does anything but hand their stuff over all the time, how often do you think your running/fighting/whatever ends up getting you killed (or beaten nearly to the end of your life)? 1 in 1000? Less? More?
In some econ class I took, they stuck a figure on the value of a human life to be something like $10 million. In this case, resisting has an expectation of -$10,000 if 1/1000 times you die. I don't think I've ever had 10 grand on me. Plus theres gotta be some negative figure attached to just getting the crap kicked out of you or stabbed nonseriously.
All the people that want to resist in any case must think that their chances of survival are like 99.9999% (999999/1000000). I think that if resisted a million times, I'd die or get messed up bad more than once.
Barring some weird circumstances, like I remembered the gernade launcher that I had in my backpack, I'll always just hand my stuff over. I do put the bulk of my cash in my shoe or something if I have to carry a lot for whatever reason. I also put on my best "bad motherf--er" face to discourage action, like this /images/graemlins/mad.gif. Worked so far.
NutzyClutz
07-14-2005, 07:51 PM
Does this work. In wallet you keep $200, and credit cards, ID etc. (So they know suspect anything). As you are giving it to them, start running. Rest of $ you keep in leg band wallet.
Blarg
07-14-2005, 10:12 PM
I don't know what I'd do, but I always keep singles and a couple 5's and 10's in one pocket, usually letting the singles pile up into a reasonable bunch, and keep anything that's 20's and up in my other pocket. That way if I flash cash it's going to be a lump of 1's and not 20's or 100's, so the temptation to rob me is a helluva lot less. And also, if I ever do get robbed and have to hand over the cash, a wad of bills might be satisfactory, never mind that they're all lower denominations. I figure plenty of muggers would be happy just to grab it and take off.
I've also read a few times that a very good thing to do is fling your wallet one way and run the other way. Same with bills. If they have to choose between you and your wallet, they're only very rarely going to care about chasing you, when your money is sitting right there. They'll go for the wallet. By the time they get that, you'll be gone and they'll have no use for you anyway.
nothumb
07-14-2005, 10:53 PM
[ QUOTE ]
I hand over the cash in all cases.
I cant believe there are any responses for fighting/running. This option has a material risk of getting stabbed, no matter how badass you think you are. My friend is a 3rd dan aikido, and 1st dan in karate and he'd hand over the cash instantly (we've had this discussion before). Its just not worth the risk, fighting is a last resort, like if you're backed up in a dead end and you think hes gonna kill you whatever you do.
[/ QUOTE ]
I've been stabbed before by a guy bigger than that. If he's got the knife still in his pocket he is clearly looking to get you to hand it over with no hassle. Give him any trouble and he's gonna fold like an XFL franchise.
Why would your friend take all that time to learn martial arts if he's not going to use them to defend himself from an obviously inept robber? Your friend is a total donk.
Against one guy, he would have to really scare me and I would have to be really far from help in order to hand over the money. More likely I pretend to hand it over and kick him in the junk. Get the money out and let him get his eyes on it and then smoke him.
Against several, again, if only one shows a knife (and it's in his pocket) I'd consider flight, but I wouldn't fight.
With a lot of money I'm even more likely to run.
BTW, this poll was horribly written and designed.
NT
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