[Kerry]

Self defence? General anger? Protection of another? Not at all ever? Other?

Discuss

[Beastie]

Self Defence. Yes.
In protection of another person who I care about. Yes.

Just in Anger becaause of my own self pitying angered feelings. No.

[Angus]

Well according to the law you are only able to use "reasonable" violence in self defence or in defence of another person - but the definition of "reasonable" is wide open to interpretation.

Personally, I wouldn't be standing there debating with myself whether I might hurt someone "too much" if that person is attempting to harm me or someone I care about. Instinct would kick in and strangely enough I wouldn't be giving a toss about the attacker at that moment.

[lostalex]

i guess it depends which country you're in at the time right? Every country has different definitions of what's acceptable and what's illegal.

In Texas you can kill a person for trying to rob your house, in Britain you'd be considered a murder.

I guess i fall somewhere in the middle as a Californian, i definitely think you have a right to protect your property, but not at the expense of someone else's life. I think you should be able to beat the intruder severely.

I think a baseball bat to the knee-caps would be appropriate.

[joeysteele]

I personally do not believe violence in any form solves anything but obviously if someone is being violent to me and I am unable to get away then I have to defend myself,so in the context of self defence or helping someone else who was unable to defend themselves then I would have to act to get free or help free the other person.

Sadly,you have to be careful just how you look at someone lately,people seem to want to pick fights for no reason whatsoever,then you have the added problem that they are likely to stab you with something. Even worse when alcohol is involved.

[30stone]

Self defence? Yes
Protection of another i care of? Yes

When i feel its needed.. Yes lol.

[ILoveTRW]

When you hate your fellow reality TV housemate.

Youtube video

[Niamh.]

I think self defence or to protect a loved one is acceptable, I mean who wouldn't it's a basic instinct really isn't it? I don't like violence and am not a violent person though.

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

I think self defence or to protect a loved one is acceptable, I mean who wouldn't it's a basic instinct really isn't it? I don't like violence and am not a violent person though.

If you are woken up in the middle of the night, to someone intruding into your house, how do you know their intentions?? how do you know if they are just trying to steal an ipod? or to rape your daughter? what drugs is he on? how would you know? and how much time would you take to decide?

[InOne]

I think I'm impulsively violent, but if there is a chance to calm the situation I would.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by lostalex

If you are woken up in the middle of the night, to someone intruding into your house, how do you know their intentions?? how do you know if they are just trying to steal an ipod? or to rape your daughter? what drugs is he on? how would you know? and how much time would you take to decide?

well, in short you wouldn't but are you going to take a risk that it may just be a friendly intruder wanting to steal your ipod and then regret that fact that your daughter was raped because you gave the intruder the benefit of the doubt?

How much time would it take me to decide? no idea, I have never been in the situation (thank God) and couldn't even hazard a guess at my reaction times if I were.

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

well, in short you wouldn't but are you going to take a risk that it may just be a friendly intruder wanting to steal your ipod and then regret that fact that your daughter was raped because you gave the intruder the benefit of the doubt?

I wouldn't. I'd bash his kneecaps in and wait for the police to figure it out. I'd incapacitate him, make a citizen's arrest, then face whatever justice the courts dole out.

I've seen lots of cases like this in daily mail, where the person protecting their property/family, end up being prosecuted. And the intruder/criminal ends up being made out to be the "victim".

[InOne]

Originally Posted by lostalex

I wouldn't. I'd bash his kneecaps in and wait for the police to figure it out.

LOL it's not like the movies, most people panic under those situations and freeze.

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by InOne

LOL it's not like the movies, most people panic under those situations and freeze.

well atleast those type of people don't have to worry about being prosecuted by thir own government for protecting their own family.

Seems like the government rewards cowardice these days.

[InOne]

Originally Posted by lostalex

well atleast those type of people don't have to worry about being prosecuted by thir own government for protecting their own family.

Seems like the government rewards cowardice these days.

Well it's different for us as it's illegal for us to even carry a knife yet you have the right to bare arms.

[Lee.]

I don't do violence at all.. Obviously I would protect my loved ones in a situation in which they were going to be harmed, but violence would be a last resort.

There's nothing I hate more than unnecessary violence!

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by lostalex

I wouldn't. I'd bash his kneecaps in and wait for the police to figure it out. I'd incapacitate him, make a citizen's arrest, then face whatever justice the courts dole out.

I've seen lots of cases like this in daily mail, where the person protecting their property/family, end up being prosecuted. And the intruder/criminal ends up being made out to be the "victim".

well, the way I see it, whether a person has come into your house to steal your Ipod, rape your daughter or murder you makes no difference, the bottom line is they shouldn't be in your home at all and if something happens to them while they're in there then it's there own fault. I believe the law was changed here not so long ago and you are actually allowed to use force to protect yourself, family or property (about time for it too) not that whether it was legal or not would even enter your head I think if it actually happened, I think you would just react really, the whole fight or flight adrenaline would kick in.

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by InOne

Well it's different for us as it's illegal for us to even carry a knife yet you have the right to bare arms.

weapons don't even matter, the crown would prosecute you for even using the vulcan death grip it seems.

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

well, the way I see it, whether a person has come into your house to steal your Ipod, rape your daughter or murder you makes no difference, the bottom line is they shouldn't be in your home at all and if something happens to them while they're in there then it's there own fault. I believe the law was changed here not so long ago and you are actually allowed to use force to protect yourself, family or property (about time for it too) not that whether it was legal or not would even enter your head I think if it actually happened, I think you would just react really, the whole fight or flight adrenaline would kick in.

Your perspective sounds perfectly reasonable to me.

Basically what yur saying, is, when it comes to violence...

If you are minding your own business, and someone intrudes, the person being intruded upon should get the benefit of the doubt. Not the intruder.

If someone intrudes, they should expect a violent reaction. That's how i feel.

You cannot intrude on someone else, and expect to be considered a victim.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by lostalex

Your perspective sounds perfectly reasonable to me.

Basically what yur saying, is, when it comes to violence...

If you are minding your own business, and someone intrudes, the person being intruded upon should get the benefit of the doubt. Not the intruder.

If someone intrudes, they should expect violence. That's how i feel.

You cannot intrude on someone else, and expect to be considered a victim.

absolutely. It's just a shame, like you said that the court systems seem to be so sympathetic to the criminals. He had a bad up bringing, he's a junkie blah blah blah..... If criminals were punished more severely then maybe they'd think twice before breaking into somebodies house

[Lee.]

Even if it came to an intruder, I don't think I would naturally become violent. The only time I though I had an intruder was when I still stayed at my mams and I was home alone. I thought I heard my OH come in and come up the stairs as we were going out.. After about 2 mins I realised he hadn't made an appearance, so I went downstairs to see where he was..As I came downstairs there was the loudest crash from the living room.. My gut reaction was to run. I remember running so fast down the hall that I could hear the wind in my ears, managed to get myself into the toilet and lock the door.. I was whimpering, shaking and couldn't breath.. Then it dawned on me that my hips were too wide to get out the small loo window, which had been my plan! I opened the door without making a sound, got the phone and locked the door again.The pub next door got a mental, whispery message telling people to come quickly.. My OH and his friends appeared seconds later to "save" me. Turns out my intruder was just a mirror falling off the wall

So, I don't think violence come naturally to people even in panic and when you think you're in danger.

Again though, it would be a different story if somebody was trying to get to my kids.

[lostalex]

happyland, you don't have a family though, you were alone, so only interested in self-preservation. You might feel differently if you had loved ones vulnerable to such an intrusion.

yur reaction in that scenario sounds perfectly reasonble though.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by happyland

Even if it came to an intruder, I don't think I would naturally become violent. The only time I though I had an intruder was when I still stayed at my mams and I was home alone. I thought I heard my OH come in and come up the stairs as we were going out.. After about 2 mins I realised he hadn't made an appearance, so I went downstairs to see where he was..As I came downstairs there was the loudest crash from the living room.. My gut reaction was to run. I remember running so fast down the hall that I could hear the wind in my ears, managed to get myself into the toilet and lock the door.. I was whimpering, shaking and couldn't breath.. Then it dawned on me that my hips were too wide to get out the small loo window, which had been my plan! I opened the door without making a sound, got the phone and locked the door again.The pub next door got a mental, whispery message telling people to come quickly.. My OH and his friends appeared seconds later to "save" me. Turns out my intruder was just a mirror falling off the wall

So, I don't think violence come naturally to people even in panic and when you think you're in danger.

Again though, it would be a different story if somebody was trying to get to my kids.

You're probably right and tbh If it was a man breaking into my home I doubt I'd have much hope of stopping him anyway but If it was a case of protecting your self or your loved ones then you would have to try. I have no doubt if I were home alone and I had the option of just getting out of the house or taking on the intruder, I'd probably just get out and ring the police.

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

You're probably right and tbh If it was a man breaking into my home I doubt I'd have much hope of stopping him anyway but If it was a case of protecting your self or your loved ones then you would have to try. I have no doubt if I were home alone and I had the option of just getting out of the house or taking on the intruder, I'd probably just get out and ring the police.

you can't negotiate with a psycho, and IMO anyone willing to break into someone's house has to be a bit psycho.

CAN'T TALK TO A PSYCHO LIKE A NORMAL HUMAN BEING. (+1 for anyone who knows what song that is)

[Lee.]

Originally Posted by lostalex

happyland, you don't have a family though, you were alone, so only interested in self-preservation. You might feel differently if you had loved ones vulnerable to such an intrusion.

yur reaction in that scenario sounds perfectly reasonble though.

I didn't have kids at the time,but I do now,and yeah I do agree if there was somebody in my house, trying to get my kids, I would do anything to keep them safe.