Then we are also taught not to look directly at your assailant, as this is taken as a threat and could provoke the situation into him/her actually using the knife.
It's pretty difficult not to do this, as we, being humans, do this unthinkingly as we are apt to look at people whilst being spoken to, at least that is what I was taught.
Now we are faced with: "give me your wallet or I'll stick ya" and having to apologise to the bloke for not looking at him while he's talking to you, trying to calm him down, he's going to be really "pissed" and stick it to you anyway! yep...buy a gun, shoot 'im in the knee cap or something and then quietly ask him if he comes from a depraved childhood and offer him some councelling. Speak in a soft, clear caring voice while shaking like a leaf, after all, you have just had a near death experience of almost being perforated with a six inch blade. This is 2007, it's time to take these matters into our own hands (if one is able to) instead of lying in a pool of blood waiting for the bloody ambulance, which I might add, takes forever to arrive.

Thankfully, we no-longer live in South Africa, we emigrated to Scotland just over a year ago.
The memories of the crime is, as you say, way out of control and escalating at a phenominal rate. Thank goodness you guys don't have that crime rate in Aus.
The time will come when the police can no longer help as there are too few of them and the public will indeed take matters into their own hands and no-one can blame them, yep....need gun!

Perhaps then Spanky, we should consider more police and the powers they have.

As far as your and Is Mise's amusing exaggerated caricature of left wing pacifism, allow me to present an equally distorting caricature of the right.

Naturally, when you see that suspect looking fellow approach, you should review whether or not the colourful clothing he wears is gang colours. If there's a handkerchief tied around his elbow, you'd best gun him down before he gets the chance to attack you.
Then there's those suspicious looking folk with other skin colours - if they're not adopting LA knife culture, maybe they're asians considering emulating the triads. Nevertheless, attack first and ask questions later. It could be dangerous otherwise.
If more than say, two youths are together in one cluster, of course, you should call the police. They're obviously up to no good, and may be plotting to blow up your dog, or worse, join the greens. If you've a knuckle duster handy, put it on. Better yet, get a gun. If they get a gun, better make your gun an assault rifle, and maybe a hand grenade. Even better yet, perhaps we should just stop anyone who isn't a nice, safe white person from entering the country altogether.

Ridiculous and stupid? Of course. But I thought I'd join in the fun.

TRTL,
Defend or die, it all leans toward how one percieves a situation, is it threatening?, or we as the victims, over-reacting through fault of watching too many gang related films? Are we reacting in the way Arnold S would react? Considering the latter, the fact still remains, if ones life is in danger, you will protect, you will defend and whatever the outcome, which is only realised after the adrenaline has calmed, one realises the extent of the damage you have caused to your assailant, one hopes you haven't killed him and only hurt him.
In this day and age, if you kill an assailant, you have to prove he was holding a knife/gun, even while he is lying on the floor with the weapon in his hand! They are right when they say that the law is there to protect you, but WHO in fact is the law protecting?

TRTL,
I was speaking of a knife holding assailant not of someone who may have a knife, dress differently or speak differently or have different skin pigmentation, and while I was being sarcastic, was I wrong on any of the points I raised?

Are we not told not to resist?
Are we not told that the assailant may not really intend us harm?
Have the Greens not said that resistance without knowing the real intentions of the assailant is wrong?
Have they and others not said that the assailant may have come from an abusve background and have a drug problem and that they therefore should not be resisted with sufficient force to make sure that they cannot hurt the victim?

My sarcasm was not exaggeration.
Your's was.

hello everyone
There is nothing wrong with using the Army to get our streets back in order.
The practise would be good for them. No I am NOT suggesting they are armed.
We are short of police and there are some areas out of control.

If they were brought into just a couple of the worste areas it would send out a message. Anybody picked up could serve time in the Army lock up.
STG
Who said I was supporting Pauline.? If you read the thread again it says I support her right to freedom of speech.

It also says I dont think she should have gone to goal.

I dont even KNOW her policy on live exports so I would hardly be throwing my hat in to help.

After saying that- Did you know there is a MOU between Labour and liberal NOT to discuss imagration as an election issue.

Some Aussies want this issue raised. Surley they should have that right.
Your gutter lingo is really no surprise to me and you are kidding yourself if you think I dont support SOME of the people who come to Australia.

In Fact I do at great deal of work with Muslim people and they are aware of problem areas.

I dont pull any punches with them and we get along just fine- most of the time.
Our frindships are based on honesty and the WILL to fix problems.

The facts are as well some of those little darlings running the streets are our own little darlings that butter wouldnt melt in their mouths as far as their too rich too busy parents think!


Muslim leaders need more support from the Government to help them get some good programes off the ground to stop these youths going off the rails BEFORE they join gangs.

It iS a fact that knives are a pretty unAustralian Choice of weapon so you figure it out for yourself.

Do not pretend there isnt a problem with knives and those using them.
Because there IS!