Saw an interesting contrast on the way to work this morning...

[Ezekiel]

You all know what that is? In a situation where someone is yelling or whatever at you as you're driving you stare straight ahead and pretend they don't exist. That's the New York Stare.

I know EXACTLY what that is, which is why I am NOT threatened and these [other] folks frighten me: their Freudian fear of anything different then themselves, itching to let loose with their handguns, makes me ill.

"They should grow some balls."

This is NOT difficult, unless you've "justified" youself into a corner that -- hopefully -- twelve citizens would not let you escape from if you're an IDIOT.

"You may fire when ready, Gridley."

Sad, really.

[doczinn]

Are you going to brandish a firearm if a nine-year-old demands your Rolex?

No, but if he tries to take from me I'd be justified in doing so.

The "threat" of deadly force is EXACTLY THE SAME as using it.

Nope. Sorry. Not even close. Try again.

I am seriously considering if you can be trusted with a firearm...

I'm terribly sorry if refusing to live my life so as to cause all others the least possible distress causes you to fear me. Why don't you come try to take it?

[Ezekiel]

Why don't you come try to take it?

Because you do not deserve to have it.

Dolly Parton HAS big boobs, you, however ARE...

[Ezekiel]

Are you going to brandish a firearm if a nine-year-old demands your Rolex?

No, but if he tries to take from me I'd be justified in doing so.

Wow.  You're AFRAID.  And NOT someone who should be "armed."

EDIT: I thought about this for a bit.

...long pause...

"No."

Don't desire you armed or in my neighborhood.

[doczinn]

Why don't you come try to take it?

Because you do not deserve to have it.

Dolly Parton HAS big boobs, you, however ARE...

Wow. I've tried everything possible to keep this on a logical, adult level, and you've digressed to talking about Dolly Parton's breasts?

Pathetic.

[Ezekiel]

Why don't you come try to take it?

Because you do not deserve to have it.

Dolly Parton HAS big boobs, you, however ARE...

Wow. I've tried everything possible to keep this on a logical, adult level, and you've digressed to talking about Dolly Parton's breasts?

Pathetic.

I'd much rather discuss them then views that are troglodyte.

[Ezekiel]

Why don't you come try to take it?

Because you do not deserve to have it.

Dolly Parton HAS big boobs, you, however ARE...

Wow. I've tried everything possible to keep this on a logical, adult level, and you've digressed to talking about Dolly Parton's breasts?

Pathetic.

Your presence in my area is going to lead to a gunfight because someone scratched you car...

I've seen less rationalization in children.

[doczinn]

Your presence in my area is going to lead to a gunfight because someone scratched you [sic]car...

Now you're outright inventing *expletive deleted*it. Seek help.

[Ezekiel]

Your presence in my area is going to lead to a gunfight because someone scratched you [sic]car...

Now you're outright inventing *expletive deleted*it. Seek help.

Today 14:26:01: Are you going to brandish a firearm if a nine-year-old demands your Rolex?
No, but if he tries to take from me I'd be justified in doing so.

"Blow me."  You're asinine.

I think a nine-year-old "threatening" you is significantly LESS dangerous then someone scratching your "possession."

You, who go seeking confrontation with your "gun mentality" of ANY force demands deadly force.

"SAD."

Thinking like this is why many Americans trust not arms for all.

"I can see why."

[brimic]

I, too, think Brimic should consider a different route if he feels unsafe, not "go in strapped" (my words), with a mere preference to not shoot anyone.

Sure, send me an extra $30 a week for gas, and an extra Ben Franklin for my time per week and I'd consider it.
Letting the threat of violence from criminals dictate where you drive on public streets isn't much different than leaving your door unlocked so that they can rummage through the change jar on top of your dresser.

My time is valuable to me.

[brimic]

I think a nine-year-old "threatening" you is significantly LESS dangerous then someone scratching your "possession."

I think you might have missed some of the news of what has been going on in Milwaukee over the last couple of years. There have been several incidents of 'wolf packs' of kids of mixed ages, with some as young as 9, beating people to death.

[Perd Hapley]

The rules of conduct here are what you would expect in any civilized home: be civil to others, don't advocate commission of capital crimes and keep the language and the imagery tame.

Read a book... [sic]

Very well.  I read my dictionary, Mr. Brady, and here are a couple of definitions I found online as well.  

Escalate:  to increase in extent, volume, number, amount, intensity, or scope

To increase, enlarge, or intensify

The screaming racist bum aside, pulling a gun on someone who is actually threatening or using force against you may very well de-escalate the "encounter" if it causes the bad actor to run away, shut up, or take a well-deserved bullet (if things become that serious).  The mere presence of a gun doesn't necessarily escalate anything, and may often prevent violence.  By your own faulty definiton of "escalate," you're still wrong if the other party has a weapon of comparable or greater lethality.

[280plus]

I think a nine-year-old "threatening" you is significantly LESS dangerous then someone scratching your "possession."

I think you might have missed some of the news of what has been going on in Milwaukee over the last couple of years. There have been several incidents of 'wolf packs' of kids of mixed ages, with some as young as 9, beating people to death.

This is relatively new to the U.S. (?), in certain countries overseas it is very old stuff. I got robbed by a group of ~10 yo's in the Philipines way back there in '77. Only once though, I thought they were playing but while a couple distracted me another one hit me from behind hard enough to stun me so they could rifle my pockets and run. After that I quickly learned to avoid the groups of young boys playing on the street and confront them ready to defend myself if they pursued me.

[Stand_watie]

...By definition, a firearm escalates ANY encounter...Escalating a situation due to the presence of a nickel-plated metaphorical penis is sad, especially when the moronic introduction of said variable is often what initiates a fatal situation...

That sounds like a Sarah Brady quote.

[Ezekiel]

I just re-read my most recent post.

"I was out of line."

Not because I think this way, but my expression was classless.

I'll learn to not mix posting and Guinness.

I'll not edit the prior post because, well, "when you're an ass, don't hide it: accept responsibility."

[Ezekiel]

may very well de-escalate the "encounter" if it causes the bad actor to run away, shut up, or take a well-deserved bullet...

Any sentence that begins with "de-escalation" and ends with "well-deserved bullet" is moronic.

It merely proves the inherently dangerous point of introducing a firearm into a situation where deadly force has not come to light.

"Gun Mentality(tm)"

[Ezekiel]

...By definition, a firearm escalates ANY encounter...Escalating a situation due to the presence of a nickel-plated metaphorical penis is sad, especially when the moronic introduction of said variable is often what initiates a fatal situation...

That sounds like a Sarah Brady quote.

You read her?

It's mine (the quote), and it is valid.

"I've borne witness."

[Ezekiel]

Escalate:  to increase in extent, volume, number, amount, intensity, or scope

"Yup."

That's what happens the moment a firearm is introduced into an equation.

Doing so demands that it be done wisely and with judgment: in the face of deadly force.  "That's not what I've been hearing about/seeing in this thread."

[Stand_watie]

...By definition, a firearm escalates ANY encounter...Escalating a situation due to the presence of a nickel-plated metaphorical penis is sad, especially when the moronic introduction of said variable is often what initiates a fatal situation...

That sounds like a Sarah Brady quote.

You read her?

It's mine (the quote), and it is valid.

"I've borne witness."

I hear her quoted frequently by anti-gunners and your statement has as much validity as those I suppose.

Tell us about your firearms and what sorts of penises they represent.

[Ezekiel]

Tell us about your firearms and what sorts of penises they represent.

"Nicely done."  

I own a couple of large-caliber handguns designed to do their job.  Hmmmm, "decent metaphor."

[Stand_watie]

Tell us about your firearms and what sorts of penises they represent.

"Nicely done."  

I own a couple of large-caliber handguns designed to do their job.  Hmmmm, "decent metaphor."

Are you attacked at the gun range every time you "escalate the situation" by introducing your "metaphorical penises"?

[Ezekiel]

Tell us about your firearms and what sorts of penises they represent.

"Nicely done."  

I own a couple of large-caliber handguns designed to do their job.  Hmmmm, "decent metaphor."

Are you attacked at the gun range every time you "escalate the situation" by introducing your "metaphorical penises"?

Is there a situation at the gun range to be escalated?

[Perd Hapley]

Last night, in Ezekiel's bizarro world, the Williamsons were taking a walk in their neighborhood when they were set upon by machete-wielding maniacs.  Before Mr. Williamson even knew what was happening, his wife was on the ground holding her eviscera, as the second assailant hacked off the arm of his youngest son.  He pulled the .357 from its holster and aimed at the nearest perp.  Steel clattered to the ground as the two men ran from the scene.  Waiting for the ambulance to collect his bleeding family, Mr. Williamson reflected on his decision to "escalate the encounter by introducing his firearm."

[Ezekiel]

Last night, in Ezekiel's bizarro world, the Williamsons were taking a walk in their neighborhood when they were set upon by machete-wielding maniacs.

Sounds like we're already at the deadly force level, to me: no possibility of escalation.

Now, walking around with .357 unholstered and cocked in the possible event that I or my family, walking nearby, are machete-wielding maniacs is definitely going to generate a response from me and others: escalation.  Due to the presence of an ugly variable in a situation without deadly force evident, except that introduced by the GUN, "*expletive deleted*it is going to go down."

Now, which world is bizarre?  The one featuring attacking machete-wielding maniacs as "justification", or the one existing in reality?

(sigh)

"Gun mentality(tm)."

[Perd Hapley]

So you were wrong to say the following?

By definition, a firearm escalates ANY encounter.

You think machete-wielding maniacs don't exist?  That would just be another bizarro world.

Funny you accuse me of having this "gun mentality" when I don't even carry one.