Threat Management - Paranoid And Scared?
I heard an observation from someone who had read my post regarding a knock at the door. He asked whether I was paranoid or what was I scared of. Interesting conclusion, and after reading that post again, I just couldn't find that conclusion. So, either I was not clear initially, or the reader has not had any experiences that would lead one to think that perhaps allowing a stranger access to you could place yourself at risk. But, I digress, as I have no knowledge of his background and would not want to make any erroneous conclusions myself.
Instead, I'll attempt here to answer his questions. I think of paranoia as an irrational fear of something. And, that something would be some event that wouldn't likely happen. In this case, that would mean if I'm afraid of opening my door to a stranger, I must illogically think that the stranger could cause me harm. The truth, if my thinking isn't logical, would be that no person would ever knock on my door that I should be concerned with, since all people are good and kind.
I choose not to believe that. Some people are not nice and that is indeed a part of life. Since I have already had two people try to do me harm after beating on my door, and in both instances law enforcement was called and they took care of the problem because I did not open the door to the strangers, I think I have experience on my side. If you've not ever been involved in a situation where you were being threatened and you knew that the situation could easily escalate to guns, then consider yourself fortunate that you've enjoyed a life without such inconveniences. Care to believe that these things couldn't happen to you, then please do hope that you will continue to be fortunate. Because you've never had something happen means only that, it has not yet happened. It isn't proof that something couldn't happen in the future. I would hope you would be prepared for the possibility of something negative. If it doesn't happen, what have you lost by being ready for it?
What am I afraid of? Many things. I don't like rattlesnakes. They don't even make very good boots. I don't like heights at all. I'll climb up on the roof, get up on tall ladders, even climb down rock bluffs with a couple of ropes, but I don't have to like it one bit. I am also afraid of getting dead because I have done something stupid. One example of stupid is putting myself into a situation where it is possible I will get shot when an alternative exists.
The alternative can be as simple as not getting involved, or as incredibly simple as not opening my door when I hear someone knocking until I am completely aware of what's on the other side. And by being prepared in a situation where you're just not sure what is happening, you may just have the advantage so much on your side that a possible bad outcome for you (in a case where you were supposed to be the victim) turns completely in your favor and the idiot decides that he or she made a bad mistake and wants to go home. Citing personal experience, a weird situation late one night on my front porch got very quiet when the trespasser saw the 12 gauge riot gun I was holding.
Paranoid and scared? I don't think so, but of course I could always be wrong. Regardless, I am right about one thing - I'm still here. Alive and always working to be better prepared. I intend to manage threats. I won't allow them to manage me.
Instead, I'll attempt here to answer his questions. I think of paranoia as an irrational fear of something. And, that something would be some event that wouldn't likely happen. In this case, that would mean if I'm afraid of opening my door to a stranger, I must illogically think that the stranger could cause me harm. The truth, if my thinking isn't logical, would be that no person would ever knock on my door that I should be concerned with, since all people are good and kind.
I choose not to believe that. Some people are not nice and that is indeed a part of life. Since I have already had two people try to do me harm after beating on my door, and in both instances law enforcement was called and they took care of the problem because I did not open the door to the strangers, I think I have experience on my side. If you've not ever been involved in a situation where you were being threatened and you knew that the situation could easily escalate to guns, then consider yourself fortunate that you've enjoyed a life without such inconveniences. Care to believe that these things couldn't happen to you, then please do hope that you will continue to be fortunate. Because you've never had something happen means only that, it has not yet happened. It isn't proof that something couldn't happen in the future. I would hope you would be prepared for the possibility of something negative. If it doesn't happen, what have you lost by being ready for it?
What am I afraid of? Many things. I don't like rattlesnakes. They don't even make very good boots. I don't like heights at all. I'll climb up on the roof, get up on tall ladders, even climb down rock bluffs with a couple of ropes, but I don't have to like it one bit. I am also afraid of getting dead because I have done something stupid. One example of stupid is putting myself into a situation where it is possible I will get shot when an alternative exists.
The alternative can be as simple as not getting involved, or as incredibly simple as not opening my door when I hear someone knocking until I am completely aware of what's on the other side. And by being prepared in a situation where you're just not sure what is happening, you may just have the advantage so much on your side that a possible bad outcome for you (in a case where you were supposed to be the victim) turns completely in your favor and the idiot decides that he or she made a bad mistake and wants to go home. Citing personal experience, a weird situation late one night on my front porch got very quiet when the trespasser saw the 12 gauge riot gun I was holding.
Paranoid and scared? I don't think so, but of course I could always be wrong. Regardless, I am right about one thing - I'm still here. Alive and always working to be better prepared. I intend to manage threats. I won't allow them to manage me.
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