h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Anyone breaking into your home forfeits ALL human rights, and therefore the homeowner should be able to defend his/her home with all means at their disposal including sharp pointy things and other things that go BANG!!

Nobody ever forfeits all human rights, and the world would be a better place if *everyone* remembered that.

Doctor so you think it is reasonable to say tie someone who breaks in up. Then torture them for some years then kill them just for breaking in to steal a TV?

Not for years...after a few months I would get bored but the general principle: yes.

The trouble, surely, with something like torture is not just that it violates the human rights of the victim but also that it has an potential impact on the torturer. In the same way, I hope I would have the strength of purpose to kill if necessary to defend my loved ones, but I wouldn't exactly feel happy about it afterwards.

If a intruder got into my house i would get very vey angry.

Torture is a demonstration that the perpetrator is feeling powerless and out of control - both over the victim and over himself. It's not justifiable. Nobody has the right to demand a feeling of absolute power over another. And that includes children.

As would I. I'm just worried that my anger would manifest itself in writing a strongly worded letter of complaint to someone. I'm Enlish, it's in my genes.

Who would you write it to?

>>Then torture them for some years then kill them just for breaking in to steal a TV?<<

Hey, it would reduce the prison population.
Perhaps all new homes should be built with torture chambers.

"As would I. I'm just worried that my anger would manifest itself in writing a strongly worded letter of complaint to someone. I'm Enlish, it's in my genes."


Do you think it would make any difference?

Just been catching up on this...some people (several pages back) have suggested a swift kick to the nadgers as a method of disabling an attacker.

Can I just say...try it. On a willing volunteer, for practice. The volunteer needn't worry, because most of the time *you'll miss*. Kicking someone in the testicular area is one of those things that sounds easy in theory but is difficult to achieve successfully.

Unless you practice. So get to it.

RF

Hmmm, I seem to manage well enough at training, quite by accident, my opponents have all taken to wearing athletic cups

As would I. I'm just worried that my anger would manifest itself in writing a strongly worded letter of complaint to someone. I'm Enlish, it's in my genes."


Do you think it would make any difference?'


It doesn't usually.

>> Hmmm, I seem to manage well enough at training, quite by accident, my opponents have all taken to wearing athletic cups <<

This is (i) accidental, so doesn't count, and (ii) during close-quarters combat (wrestling? Chinese/Japanese martial art? I know not).

For those that don't regularly wrestle, try kicking a volunteer in the balls whilst you're both in a standing position. This is the likely scenario when you will be trying to disable an intruder in this way.

RF

>>wrestling? Chinese/Japanese martial art?<<

Medieval fencing/swordfighting/polearms comabt and Viking-rules wrestling, actually, mixed with a bit of modern self-defense

But true, he did have to teach us to aim. For one thing, you have to be in closer than you think, knee's easier to hit with than the foot...

In answer to 134, I agree with you.

I spent a brief time learning judo when I was young. It struck me that all the throws relied heavily on me being able to get a good strong grip of my opponents jacket and I couldn't help wondering how I would deal with an opponent wearing a sweatshirt.

'In answer to 134, I agree with you.'

Good.

>> Medieval fencing/swordfighting/polearms comabt and Viking-rules wrestling, actually, mixed with a bit of modern self-defense

But true, he did have to teach us to aim. For one thing, you have to be in closer than you think, knee's easier to hit with than the foot... <<

My point exactly! Practice, practice, practice, people!

OK, here it is...the perfect way to knee someone in the groin (far more accurate and effective than a kick):

1. As Mal says, you need to get in close.
2. You also need to get the groin exposed. It's no good if your assailant is hunched over.
3. An effective way to do this (especially if you're shorter than your assailant, which in a large proportion of female/male encounters is the case) is to push your open hand upwards at their face, particularly with fingers outstretched towards their eyes. Not than you need to gouge or anything, just push...the natural reaction is for your attacker to lean back away from you, with legs separated and bent backwards for balance...
4. ...leaving the nadgers perfectly exposed for you to get the knee in.
5. Now try this at home with your lab partner.
6. Explain how sorry you are and buy your lab partner several

RF