Have a go heroes...... Would you be one?
 

I suppose most of us probably think/hope that if we saw someone in trouble we would go to help, and if the roles were reversed, someone would come to our aid

But would you be a 'have-a-go hero' ?

Would you help and run the risk of being stabbed five times trying to stop a gang picking on someone, an old person being mugged or a drunken row between a man and a woman where the woman is getting pushed about / hit...

Ok, we are lucky it doesnt happen really here in UAE, .....but you could be put in this position in the UK from time to time in any town centre on a typical Friday night.

what do you do ?

Re: Have a go heroes...... Would you be one?
 

Too old now...but in my 20s, I frequently stepped in to stop a fight where one of the two was a friend of mine. Confidence came from my fast style of karate (Shukokai) and training in close-quarter fighting.

Unlikely to do it now...unless it was family.

Re: Have a go heroes...... Would you be one?
 

Family is different. Your not being a 'have a go hero'

In Glasgow: nope
In London: nope

Don't fancy a knife in the groin from a chav over none of my business.

In Dubai, definately...

Re: Have a go heroes...... Would you be one?
 

Maybe it is us, the general public, not the police, the parents or the politicians, with our apathy, who have created an environment where mindless violence and bullying can take place ?

If more people stepped in to help someone in trouble, maybe there's less liklihood of the incident taking place in the first instance.......probably a bit after the horse has bolted now though, as persoanlly think we are too far down the line for change now ?

Re: Have a go heroes...... Would you be one?
 

God BM I agree totally and it would pain me to walk away from seeing something that I detest.

Every bone in my body would want to get involved, but I wouldn't for the reasons I state above.

So now the thugs have won, the horse has bolted

Re: Have a go heroes...... Would you be one?
 

did we just bond.....I felt something....

Re: Have a go heroes...... Would you be one?
 

Man up ffs, I'd never bond with a cockney

Re: Have a go heroes...... Would you be one?
 

I think it depends on the circumstances, Newcaslte Quay Side and some drunken tart and her fella having fisty cuffs? no chance.

Re: Have a go heroes...... Would you be one?
 

I would intervene every time, and often have done.

As a 19-year-old, my best friend was the girl next door (literally). Not an intimate or sexual partner, just a brilliant friend.

One night as we left a pub, she waited outside while I went for a pee. She was attacked by three guys, one of whom made Sylvester Stallone look like an Oxfam appeal poster. Then I appeared.............

He was the only one that DIDN'T end up in hospital.

Sadly my wonderful friend didn't make it this far - she died of a heart attack four years ago, aged 45.

Re: Have a go heroes...... Would you be one?
 

Will you appear if I whistle???

Re: Have a go heroes...... Would you be one?
 

was told the following steps which has worked a couple of times with varying degress of success...

step 1. grab your phone and call the police, even if you don't have time to get a full message out to them, just a quick couple of words about what's going on and where (fight at such-and-such). if you can, don't hang up
step 2. use your mouth, make a distraction, take the attention away from what they're doing (think of it as trying to throw a bucket of water on a pair of shagging cats)
step 3. ... ***** knows... it'll all probably go south from here but at least you've changed the dynamic and (hopefully) not made it any worse...

Re: Have a go heroes...... Would you be one?
 

Call the police then distract them.

Most of it is about confidence. If you appear to know what you are doing and you know back up is coming, it's easier to front them up.

5 years in Shotokan helps, but all that gives is confidence. There is always someone bigger and better.

A big fewkin gun helps too.

Re: Have a go heroes...... Would you be one?
 

If I was certain the thug in question was unarmed I probably would and have done in the past...otherwise never unless I was carrying a firearm I could reach quickly.

So that rules out the UK because citizens are not supposed to defend themselves against knife and gun carrying criminals there.

N.