greg
Its a G thing
Learning a martial is a good idea but isn't going to solve the problem of personal safety IME apart from minor incidents.felix said:Spot-on Isaac.
Tenson, I do hope you're on a wind-up but I fear you are not. Go learn a martial art if you really feel like that; far more potential for coming out on top, without getting stuck yourself; and the discipline that goes with such training probably means you're less likely to get into such a negative situation.
Most people carry a knife to back them up when people they know are a threat are in the vicinity. They would rather risk being caught in possession by the police than be caught without a weapon by the people they fear.
Isaac - your experience is one of an unknown. Ie. if you had grown up in the area there would be people or groups you would need to avoid which you would come across now and then.
When I left my home town the number of incidents I was involved in dropped dramatically. Once I arrived at my destination I never felt worried or anxious, yet before I felt worried and anxious most of the time and my destination was St. Pauls in Bristol - reknown for being a tough area.
The difference was I was no longer a face. I was a nobody. I knew the worst I could expect was to be mugged so so long as I avoided the St. Pauls / Easton underpass at night I'd be fine and I was.
I think it's easy to be incredulous when you haven't had the same experiences as others.