The changing face of violence

Discussion in 'Self Defence' started by Smitfire, Jul 17, 2017.

  1. Smitfire

    Smitfire Cactus Schlong

    Does anyone have info or insight into whether approaches to violence are changing or evolving? Attack choices, tactics, etc?
    In particular I feel that mugging (in the UK) is changing. It used to be general good advice to give up your wallet or purse as that is less valuable than trying to defend it and risking physical harm. Give the attacker what they are after and they will take it and run. They want an easy pay day.
    But it seems to me that these days muggers are far more likely to hit or attack as their first step and take your possessions afterwards. Rather than try and intimidate with threats without going physical.
    In many ways the violence/attack is the primary act and with the theft an opportunistic add-on.
    Reports I see off muggings where I live (not a particularly violent place) seem to start with an attack as the opening gambit. The most recent one was a man waking up with a broken nose and all his stuff missing. Had to piece together what had happened after the fact.
    Or could this be reporting bias? Where the less violent muggings just don't get the same attention?
     
    Van Zandt likes this.
  2. Van Zandt

    Van Zandt Mr. High Kick

  3. cloudz

    cloudz Valued Member

    I tend to agree, but man something like this happened to someone I know recently..

    My father in law was attacked not long ago, around 5 weeks ago now. 75 years old..
    He was left with brain damaged after the resultant fall. Fractured skull in two places.
    He probably won't walk again or be able to do normal stuff, somedays he barely interacts - thank god he still can do a bit of that..

    He was a really sweet old guy and harmless. The police think he was targeted for his wallet and possibly car keys.
    How they could not have got these without hurting him puzzles me, but then so many people don't care about consequences anymore..

    It happened in Lithuania though, but tbh I think this is typical of a shift in values that's reflected all over Europe and beyond..
    Perhaps, I don't really know to be honest, but it sure feels that way sometimes.
     
    Smitfire likes this.
  4. David Harrison

    David Harrison MAPper without portfolio

    It's impossible to say really, I've never seen stats in-depth enough to make that kind of analysis.

    A few guesses:

    1. Crime goes through fads and fashions, just like everything else, it is subject to cultural influence, so maybe someone in your area came up with a mugging method that worked for them and others are emulating it.

    2. Money:

    a) There are 20,000 less police officers kicking about, so perhaps a more violent approach brings less risk these days (the interview stage being the most dangerous for the mugger, but offset by the risk of committing a more serious offence).

    b) Maybe there are more fit, young people feeling the need to mug people - most weedy junkies don't actually want to hurt anyone, but are compelled to get money for their habit somehow. Sometimes "give me your money" is a genuine and desperate request, not a demand!

    3. Coincidence, reporting bias etc. etc...
     
  5. David Harrison

    David Harrison MAPper without portfolio

  6. Van Zandt

    Van Zandt Mr. High Kick

    It seemed that way at first. I think acid attacks are/were popular in regions where it's considered acceptable to disfigure or kill someone to retain a sense of honour. But it appears like it's becoming a weapon of choice in robberies (see BBC News for an article where two lads on a scooter committed multiple such offences in a single day).
     
    David Harrison likes this.
  7. David Harrison

    David Harrison MAPper without portfolio

    Difficult to express my feelings about the kind of people who would do that while staying in the MAP ToS.

    Very little you can do to defend against it either.
     
  8. Smitfire

    Smitfire Cactus Schlong

    Seems to be gang related too. Read a HORRIBLE piece on knife crime in London and how gang related victims are often stabbed in the buttocks and rectum to try and shame them and leave them with long term issues (colostomy bag etc.). Rather than a "cool" scar or stab wound elsewhere. Lovely, lovely people.
     
  9. EdiSco

    EdiSco Likes his anonymity

    I thought violent crime had been going down year on year for quite some time now? I'm talking about Scotland. England seems like a very violent place these days...but then again the media tend to sensationalize everything!
     
  10. David Harrison

    David Harrison MAPper without portfolio

    Yup, it's safer out there than it was in the 90's and early 2000's.

    It doesn't help that governments keep changing the way they record stats to keep the crime figures down though...
     
  11. Rataca100

    Rataca100 Banned Banned

    Join neigborhood watch or look at the crime statstics published or the police website which publishes them. Also i have had a shooting in my area and a stabbing. And people sometime sget mugged as well.

    Not like it changes anything i wont be comfortable leaving my house wothout SD classses behidn my belt or carryign a weapon or with somone else. XP

    My area doesnt really get orginised crime past drugs. From what i know.
     
  12. David Harrison

    David Harrison MAPper without portfolio

    I've never seen police stats that differentiate between muggings with or without an interview stage.
     
  13. Rataca100

    Rataca100 Banned Banned

    Not off police stats, off of local news and social media. they give diffrent stats on weapons involved and not and GBH i belive though.
     
  14. Van Zandt

    Van Zandt Mr. High Kick

    Mad Max: Fury Road was actually a documentary about England's council estates.
     
    axelb, Shmook and Dead_pool like this.
  15. Rataca100

    Rataca100 Banned Banned


    Pretty accurate, but it fits australia better.
     
  16. Van Zandt

    Van Zandt Mr. High Kick

    We invented Australia.

    Literally.
     
    Hannibal, Shmook and Dead_pool like this.
  17. Rataca100

    Rataca100 Banned Banned

    By the way, you shoudl join neighborhood watch or your polciign authroties email list anyway, it will send you alerts on common/recent scams etc
     
    axelb likes this.
  18. Simon

    Simon Administrator Admin Supporter MAP 2017 Koyo Award

    Fixed that for you. :D
     
    Hannibal, Dead_pool and Van Zandt like this.
  19. Van Zandt

    Van Zandt Mr. High Kick

    I'm simultaneously shaking my fist violently at you, and crying into my glass of Nesquick. :(
     
    Simon likes this.
  20. VoidKarateka

    VoidKarateka Valued Member

    I can't find any statistical evidence to support other than the alarming rate of media reported violent crimes being committed now. My opinion however is that for some reason or another we are seeing a rise in process predators in comparison to resource predators. Or possibly a blurring of the lines between the two. Why that is I have no idea (and I'm not sure any sort of social studies are being done to find out) but I do know I personally feel more apprehensive about the risks of a potential attack now than I did, say 10 years ago.


    Mostly filmed on my street. I'm sure there's going to be a sequel because we have some crappy and loud banger-mobiles racing up and down our street lately.....
     

Share This Page