Post # 3 Situational Awareness - The Knockout Game

Reference Notes

http://abcnews.go.com/US/punching-attacks-states-investigated-links-knockout-game/t/story?id=2101108...

http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/22/justice/knockout-game-teen-assaults/

http://t.today.com/news/knockout-game-teens-attack-innocent-people-just-fun-2D11648773

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/11/22/knockout-game-arrests/3676649/

Based on some recent news reporting I want to jump ahead in this conversation about Situational Awareness (SA).  I am not making this stuff up.  Above I have given to you the news links to news reporting.  While there is some counter reporting from "Slate" media, suggesting that these are pranks and or much to do about nothing, the stories are still there and the police are investigating.

Here is the essence of the storyline as background.

An innocent person walks along the city streets and is approached, either from behind, by surprise or without warning from in front.  It may be a single individual or, most often, multiple individuals.  The unsuspecting victim, or from an SA perspective, the unaware victim, is suddenly and without provocation punched in the face.  Based on the videos available there have been victims who were rendered unconscious and injured.

Whether a prank or a real phenomenon, this is stupid and dangerous.  For the victims this is avoidable.  In every case the attackers must get inside striking distance to the victim.  Unless you are in an overly crowded area, there is no need to be so close to potential attackers.  When you allow strangers to get so close as to present a physical threat to you, you can easily find yourself a victim of pickpockets or iPhone thieves and other crimes.

Among the essential concepts of SA is that you remain alert when moving about in public or uncontrolled environments.  There is an acceptable time and place to be distracted by your phone, or working on your laptop, etc.  If you must be on the phone, and I should say, I cannot image that it would so often be necessary.  You can do so with some form of visual awareness remaining in place.  Keep your eyes up, keep observation of where you are and what is happening around you, just as you should when driving your car.

When moving about you should always remain alert to persons approaching or passing you.  You should always remain able to manage your personal property when in public.  Examples include sitting in your local coffee shop or working on your computer.  Or sitting in an airport or transit terminal, with briefcases, purses or luggage.  What about walking through the supermarket pushing a basket.  This is especially true for women who place their purse in the cart and can be momentarily distracted when retrieving items from shelves.

There are so many examples.  How about with your kids.  Hopefully you taught them how to safely cross traffic streets.  You instructed them to always look both ways.  Why would you not give them a similar instruction to pay attention during all their movements.  Shouldn't you do the same?  These "clocking" criminals are not the worst and only threats we face from our lack of awareness.  How often do we hear of children being approached by strangers on the street, or grabbed and taken away in cars...Rhetorical Question...the answer is too often.  It should not happen and need not happen.

That is why I am writing this blog...so that these things no longer, or at least less frequently happen.

Or am I mistaken, are any of you out there ok with these trends?