I just received this email from my mom. I don't know how much this has gotten out, but I was not too happy with the message.

ErasmusMRA · 2012-09-13T07:31:11+00:00

I have to say that complaining about this kind of stuff on this subreddit looks a little silly since several recent comment threads have been about how silly it is for women to complain about being told there are steps they can take to avoid rape/violence.

can't have it both ways.

nigglereddit · 2012-09-13T09:14:19+00:00

A lot of this is just nonsense.

Elbow strikes can cause terrible damage at close range, but only if you know how. An elbow just swung randomly is actually less effective than a punch for an untrained or physically small person because it carries much less momentum. If your attacker is physically much stronger than you and you're untrained, whatever you do don't try to have a stand up fight. You'll lose very badly. It's very hard to disable a prepared person, but someone who's unprepared or not paying attention can be crippled or killed very quickly and with little force.
If all they want is your wallet, as soon as they have it they'll leave. If they're after you as well, they'll go after you whether or not you throw it away.
This is just ridiculous. You can't kick out the tail lights of many types of car from inside the boot because the bulb and wiring assembly will be the in the way. And even if you disassemble and remove them (without electrocuting yourself since the car is running), there almost certainly won't be a hole large enough for your hand. However, if you look under the carpet, you'll probably find a tyre lever which is heavy and made of metal - although if your assailant is experienced enough to get you into the trunk conscious, they'll likely have removed that too. Sorry.
Most cars now have passenger air bags.
Very few serial killers take their victims in the open. Even for special forces professionals, this is a last resort. It's noisy, dangerous and your victim has the most chances to escape. Most serial killers are by definition experienced killers and according to the FBI research their victims thoroughly, choosing those who fit a specific profile and won't be missed.
Stairwells are a horrible place to fight. If you approach from below you'll be kicked in the face, but if you approach from above your victim will be able to escape down the stairs very fast. A criminal wants to take you with the minimum of noise and fuss, so a highly public, well used area where the fight is likely to take some time is less than ideal.
Running from a gun is unbelievably dangerous. For the first few seconds you'll be within easy range even for an amateur. Don't kid yourself that you're in the matrix folks, that shit doesn't work in real life. Find another way to deal with it.
Preparing yourself for meeting Ted Bundy's a bit of a waste of time. He died in the electric chair in 1989.
This is an urban myth, or "bullshit" as I like to call it.

Equa1 · 2012-09-13T08:07:20+00:00

Wait.. so it's ok now to tell women to take preemptive steps to protect themselves from unforeseen threats? I was under the impression that it was victim blaming..

ErasmusMRA · 2012-09-13T09:15:07+00:00

I'd be more worried that some of these give really bad advice.

2012-09-13T08:25:39+00:00

I don't really see a harm in the list being sent out, considering they can all apply to men and women. Rewording it would be nice I suppose to include everyone in it but I have to agree with what whyohwhydoidothis.

Legolas-the-elf · 2012-09-13T10:19:06+00:00

This e-mail should probably be taken seriously because the Crying Baby Theory was mentioned on America 's Most Wanted when they profiled the serial killer in Louisiana.

Then that's a great reason not to take this email seriously, because anybody who did the slightest amount of fact-checking on this email would find that the police task force assigned to the case explicitly denied this rumour. Check out the Snopes link somebody else posted.

If the person who put this email together fell for an implausible lie and didn't bother doing the most rudimentary fact checking, why should any of the rest of it be believed?

ENTP · 2012-09-13T13:53:36+00:00

I think being cautious is always a good idea. There are bad people out there, both men and women.

Dranosh · 2012-09-13T13:58:38+00:00

Sigh, I'm so glad my fiancee is getting her CCW permit along with me, that way we can stop the robber male or female.

rottingchrist · 2012-09-13T08:36:29+00:00

I don't really give a shit about this stuff anymore. Let them live their lives in fear if they want to.

But I will certainly not take responsibility as being male for them acting that way.

It is not my problem. At all.

ThePigman · 2012-09-13T12:10:13+00:00

ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs, but beware of men who offer you coffee.

hardwarequestions · 2012-09-13T07:24:39+00:00

Sounds like you need a new mo...nevermind.

Reallynow3 · 2012-09-13T07:53:36+00:00

Being paranoid keeps you alive longer.

Gingor · 2012-09-13T09:25:39+00:00

As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP

If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get aguard/policeman to walk you back out.

Thats are the only ones that bother me really. (Well the "women are victims" thing going on in all of isnt nice either)

Oh, and this:

If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lightsand stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy

I have never seen a car where it would have been possible to kick out the back lights from the trunk.

Kronik_NinjaLo · 2012-09-13T11:10:43+00:00

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mdoddr · 2012-09-13T12:06:26+00:00

Who cares? As long as it doesn't say:

"How to prevent Assault: Men, stop assaulting people."

DavidByron · 2012-09-13T16:33:43+00:00

Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger side.. If a black man is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get aguard/policeman to walk you back out.

Yeah nothing wrong with that sort of sentiment is there....

A lot of it sounded like the usual urban legend stuff and some of it very bad advice.

Boss_Monkey · 2012-09-13T10:35:59+00:00

If you ever find yourself in an action/thriller movie...

For people who want more drama in their life, we can always imagine.

AnnArchist · 2012-09-14T04:48:35+00:00

Another Safety Point: Someone just told me that her friend heard a crying baby on her porch the night before last, and she called the policebecause it was late and she thought it was weird.. The police told her'Whatever you do, DO NOT open the door..' The lady then said that it sounded like the baby had crawled near a window, and she was worried that it would crawl to the street and get run over. The policeman said, 'We already have a unit on the way, whatever you do, DO NOT open the door.' He told her that they think a serial killer has a baby's cry recorded and uses it to coaxwomen out of their homes thinking that someone dropped off a baby.. He said they have not verified it, but have had several calls by women saying that they hear baby's cries outside their doors when they're home alone at night.

If this is true.... then spread it everywhere... even if much of that is garbage..

Snopes?

rightsbot · 2012-09-13T07:14:20+00:00

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VerySpecialSnowflake · 2012-09-13T14:50:51+00:00

You know, it kind of floors my how so many users here insist that teaching women how not to get raped, how to defend themselves and 'be responsible' etc., is not victim-blaming, but then something like this comes along and the same people get all bent out of shape b/c it paints men as attackers and women as innocent victims. WHICH IS IT???

Kronik_NinjaLo · 2012-09-13T11:45:00+00:00

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