The Knockout Game

There are those among us within American Society whose lives are so fraught with helplessness, frustration, pain, and anxiety, that they have apparently taken to traveling in groups whose purpose appears to be the random victimization of other citizens by way of a "game" called Knockout.  Publicly available videotapes of such attacks generally show a group of persons traveling in one direction, and a lone individual traveling in the opposite direction. At the point where the lone individual is just passing by a single person from the group, the single group member suddenly strikes the lone individual in the head, in an attempt to execute a single-blow knockout. Their apparent goal is to demonstrate the devastating effectiveness of their members' punching ability, thus validating the strength of the group by demonstrating the strength of a single group member. One of  the key factors in successfully knocking someone out in this manner is the element of surprise. Without it, the proposed "victim" would be both psychologically and physically prepared for attack, making a one punch "knockout" highly improbable in most cases. In the event that such a group of persons comes upon someone like myself, who is ready and totally willing to transition from tranquility to causing extreme pain and suffering in an instant, that group member, who would evaluate my body language, demeanor, and attitude, would clearly understand that I am not the kind of person they're looking for. In the past, while walking alone and approaching a group that is somewhat taking up most of the sidewalk, I have decided to walk right through the center of the group, forcing a couple of their members to respect my right to access a portion of this public way. In each case, they have silently acknowledged my presence as their equal, by making room for me to pass by without incident. The thought that I project into their minds is that I am the type of man that they strive to become, strong, fearless, and defiant in the face of apparent potential adversity. Relaxed confidence best describes the attitude that I project. This comes with the understanding and practice of what I call in my book, "security awareness". Not all of us by nature will be able to transition from peacefulness to utter barbarism in an instant, nor should that be one's goal. Many soldiers who have survived life and death circumstances are both appreciative of having survived these ordeals, but in doing so through the exercise of violence on another human being, have come to despise the barbarism that survivalist rage evokes in one. Administering pain and suffering unto another human being is contrary to our nature as creations of God, and should only be undertaken in the most extreme and irreversible of situations. As to the "Knockout Game", I would strongly advise all persons who do not possess a fighting spirit, to remain aware of the persons in their immediate vicinity, pay attention, and smoothly avoid crossing paths in close proximity with such groups of individuals. Instead, if one must yield the sidewalk to these persons, stop, at a location where you have room to move to one side or the other, and keep your body at a 45 degree angle to the individual who will come closest to you. As that individual walks past you, maintain relaxed, nonchalant, eye contact with that person. In your minds eye, visualize yourself being able to instantly incapacitate this person, as though you have a secret weapon with which you can stop all aggression on their part, instantly and permanently. The goal is not to "out tough" the other person, but to communicate the fact that you are NOT the victim he thought you were. At some point in time, a group of these sad individuals will probably lose some of their members through violence at the hands of someone who only wanted to make it home safely, even if it costs the life of a fool in the process. PEACE.