I think this video really shows how predators get their victims. I have been taught to be super aware, to avoid men when I am walking alone, to walk with a huge amount of confidence and to let potential perps know I will not be an easy target.
Here's what my dad trained me to know since I was little. It's called the three T's, or the three things predators do before they attack. (He got it from a victims advocate guy on t.v. years ago and it's only one part of a whole bunch of stuff my dad taught me to keep safe!)
1. TEST. Predators always test their victims to see if they will be an easy mark. They do this by asking for the time, or for a light or by saying hi to a woman or child who is in a vulnerable position, like be herself, or in a darkened parking lot, etc. They test to see if the potential victim is polite, helpful or timid. My dad taught me that if I was by myself, no man should ever approach me to ask for anything. He should go find another man to ask. One night years ago, I went to meet my brother at the neighborhood bar. It is a pretty safe neighborhood except it gets a little less so near the bar. I was walking towards the bar, just about a building away from it, when some guy across the street said, "Hey, miss! Do you know the time?" My reply, "Go screw yourself! Keep the he!! away from me, got it?" He didn't say another word. He just turned on his heel and walked away. Make sure to fail their test!
2. THREATEN. The next thing predators do before an attack is threaten. This could be verbally, like "Come with me or I'll shoot you." This could be physically, by invading your personal space - getting closer. This could also be by saying something scary, not about you, but to show you they are dangerous. This too happened to me one night. I was out with some girlfriends (again, years ago). Some guys came and sat at our table. One guy sat next to me and talked to all of us. He gave me the creeps. At one point he told me how he "had" to hit his girlfriend the week before. I took that as a threat to my own safety, especially the manner in which he said it. So, I looked him dead in the eye and told him, "Any guy who ever hit me would find himself dead. You wife beaters have to sleep sometime." He left soon after that.
In the video, I think this guy threatened her by invading her space. He stopped to let her pass. Why? He was maneuvering closer and I think that was threatening behavior. When this creep moved aside to let her pass, she should have been immediately aware that that was dangerous body language and veered right into the middle of the street while looking hard at him with a fierce look on her face, as if to say, "I see you and I know what you are up to buddy. Don't even try it." She should not have meekly passed him by. Keep your body or at least your head facing the perp and keep space between you and the predator. Do not let their threats work. Show no fear, only confidence. Don't let them come close and never turn your back on them.
3. TRANSPORT. The last T is for transport. Predators always transport their victims before the attack. Even if it is just around a corner. You must fight tooth and nail not to let that happen. Because once they have transported you, you could be dead. My dad used to drill me on what to do if someone came up behind me and said they had a gun and to come with them. The answer is to not go, but instead to scream, yell and run, or all of the above. I would rather be shot in the open, where I might be able to get medical help, than go with some freak who might torture me repeatedly before they killed me. So never let them transport you. The gal in the video should have let her feet go out from under her like a dead weight, while screaming as loud as she can and thrashing violently. You know how hard it is to move the dead weight of an adult? You can see by her legs that she walked along, even though she may have been trying to dig her heels in or to get free from his grip. Dead weight, would have been better as well as gouging with her fingers at his face, or his groin. This is it. This is the time to fight like the devil. Fight like a viper and they may give up. Predators like easy targets, not fighters.
I don't know why I chose to write all this right now it's just that this video sparked something in me. It is the scenario my dad always told me about and trained me to avoid or get out of. This is scary stuff. I'm glad my dear ol' dad trained me well!