I make it my buisness to know how and when to get out of a building if things go pearshaped.
I sit in an isle seat at the movies.
I stay out of crowds at public events. Just in case some [censored] causes a stampead.

People keep on telling me that I am paranoid. I think that they are idiots. And an insult to lemmings.

I am the only one? <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Nope! PHRASECENSOREDPOSTERSHOULDKNOWBETTER. can stampede randomly and completely without need of seeing the original fear/flight trigger. But I tend to sit in the middle of theaters for the best view. However, I do tend to ask how full a theater is before purchasing a ticket. One of the reasons I rarely take in an opening weekend movie is because I don't like sitting with Jabba the Hut on my right and one of the unwashed masses on my left.

On that note, has anyone every had to evacuate a building because of a real emergency? I have once, and the entire building emptied into the courtyard in a fairly orderly and civilized manner (sorry Leigh.. civilised.). Strangely, I'm willing to bet that is actually the norm unless there's imminent danger and mass panic (say an explosion or someone was already harmed).

I'm with Leigh on the just avoiding large crowds too. I like to have a few "outs"

Howdy all,

I'm not trying to make light of this topic but I choose to use humor to make a point. The line is from Men In Black: " A person is smart, people are dumb, stupid, panicky animals and you know it."

Also, it's not paranoia if you're right once. I hate being right. That's my 2 drachmas and I'm sticking to it. See ya all, Bart

I don't think you're paranoid. I too tend to sit in the isles in auditoriums, its easier to get out and for some reason I think the movies just look better from the side. I read somewhere that it has to do with one eye being dominant over the other.

The closest thing to an evacuation I've gone through is when drunk people pull the fire alarm late at night in my college dorm. This normally happens about once a month. It got to the point where the majority of the occupants (my roommate included) would just roll their eyes and try to sleep through the alarm. Kind of scary if you ask me <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

No, you are not the only one who thinks like that. There are dimwits out there. That's why they have to put words like "Remove Before Driving" on Windshield Heat Shields. I'm a close-to-the-door, back-to-the-wall, kind of person myself.

Leigh,
I had to laugh at your use of the phrase "turned all pear shaped...". On this side of the pond, that phrase, I think is refered to as SHTF, or a mass of excrement hitting a large fan.
Fortunately, I watch "The F Word" with Gordon Ramsey on BBC America, so I am familiar with it. Is it an old term used by uncles and aunts over the years or a relatively new one, say no older than Austin Powers?

A small dose of paranoia isn't unhealthy. I agree with your thoughts except about theater seating. I attempt to sit on the outside sections away from center. The rationale is this, if the building is on fire wait until all the PHRASECENSOREDPOSTERSHOULDKNOWBETTER. have stampeded and killed one another and then get up and walk out, you won't be caught in the onslaught. If the building collapses your chances are better near the bearing walls, where if you're lucky enough to get caught in a void you might survive relatively unharmed.
I also avoid the center of large crowded gatherings, prefering to stay on the perimeter to allow rapid egress if necessary.

Capsu78, you might also try "There's defecation in the ventilation"

I'm one of those paraniod nuts that does a bit of recon in new places. For instance, I'm taking night classes at a different campus than before. So, last weekend I did a dry run to figure out a few things. Things like:
How many roads in and out of the campus itself?
What stores, fast food joints, etc are around?
Where's the campus police station?
Where my classroom and how many ways in or out?
I feel like I learned a lot in that one trip, things that some students won't figure out in the whole semester. If the SHTF, I will have at least a clue and be able to act and not just react.

I'm with you. I am usually one of the last off of an airplane, theater, etc. I know where the emergency exits are, and figure that my chances are better waiting, even with the possibility of smoke, than getting squished in the initial rush for the main exit...

I like to sit in the middle of the theatre. If people start running, they won't be running toward the center. I think.

Isn't it funny that the people who think you/we're paranoid tend to be the same people who cause the panic problems? Is this some weird coincidence, or just an evil plot? <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Sue

I believe it always a good Idea to be alert to your surroundings

Just be aware that in a panic or even just a big hurry, people will not hesitate to go *over* the seats, not just down the isles. I remember seeing a video of an FAA airliner evacuation test and the presumably untrained, uncoached volunteers were hopping over seats faster than the people moving up the center isle.

I often request overwing exit row seating when I fly. That way I don't have to trust someone else to figure it out and I can be in a position to be actually helpful.

I don't mean this in a negative way, but...Asking on this forum if being prepared is the same as being paranoid, would be like going drag racing and asking your fellow racers if your engine is too big <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> At one time or another, most of my friends have made fun of me and my EDC. Yet when we are out and about and they need a knife, flash lite, etc, guess who they ask first <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

In Brit Speak: The more understated we get, the closer to TEOTWAWKI we are getting.
And "pear shaped" is for polite company.... <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I face the same thing constantly: "Hey can I see your knife, I know you always carry one." (said sarcastically) The PHRASECENSOREDPOSTERSHOULDKNOWBETTER. make fun of the sheepdog until they really need him. I get statements that are similar to "If TEOTWAWKI happens, I want to be with you." Unfortunately, it is highly unlikely any of them will find me if that was to occur.

Personaly, i like to sit at the back of the room with my back to a wall so i can see all exits. Don't try to be the first person out the room because those people get stomped.

That depends on "How big a boy are ya?" as Roy D. Mercer says. LOL

Also I guess how fast you are. How tall you are (see what goes on in the room, if possible). How many people are in there to begin with can be a factor too.

Plus you don't want something breaking out between you and the exits that traps you in the room/bldg.

No your not paranoid or hyper-vigilant.
Because most emergencies or survival situations are low probability events most people mentally block them out of their mind.
The error is while a low probability event it's not a ZERO probability event. Where the rubber meets the road, if it happens and you have no plan,equipment or more important abilities then Charles Darwin has the answer to the question.
There are a lot of people who don't make it, those who do somehow manage to survive emerge with an interest in preparation,planning, skills and equipment.
For a few with vision (and fewer than most admit) we get on board BEFORE a life changing event.
The difference between discomfort and mortal danger is the ability to look ahead and see what MIGHT happen, not only what is likely to happen.

I haven't thought through the movie theater. Too cheap to go to many movies!!!

I do sit in the back of resturants and plan how to protect my family in the event of a Luby's situtation or the more recent Ruby Tuesday incident in Huntsville where a man went shooting after another said "hello" to his gf.

Thank goodness for CCW laws.

Not paranoid just anti-social, but who isnt that is aware.

I don't think its an infestation as much as government and trial lawyers interfering with Darwinism. One of my pet peeves, if you look on the side of an aluminum ladder there is a warning sticker that says not to lean it against high voltage lines!!! If your dumb enough to do this do we really need to save you from yourself so you can reproduce more idiots? In earlier times people that were dumb enough to do this died, and the people around them learned a lesson if they didn't have common sense to start with. Now a lawyer will tell you its someone else's fault, they should have planned around your stupidity, and you should get paid for being a moron.-ie. the caution coffee is hot on the side of McDonald's cups. Thanks McDonalds, wouldn't have imagined coffee being hot!!!

no you're not paranoid. its really good practice to try and stay away from large, congested crowds. i know from personal experience one halloween. i was walking through a crowd when, in a matter of minutes, it became so crowded and congested to the point the air was literally squeezed out of your lungs and you were at the complete mercy of the wild back and forth sway of the crowd. everyone was trying to move through but no one could. the force against my body was enormous. luckily i was only stuck for about 5 minutes and managed to finally make it out of the crowd. but it was really scary. i can now understand how easily it would be for people to be trampled to death. since then i never try to walk through packed crowds of people.

Google "E2 Nightclub." A beautiful example here in the Windy City.


M

The Tree of Life is self-pruning, but government and attorneys keep trying to prop up the parts that Nature says should be discarded. <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Sue

Similar experience at a Who concert in 73, a number of years before actual loss of life.
Philadelphia Spectrum, outward opening doors and festival seating. Guards yelling "get back!' as they tried to open the doors outward, back into the crowd. Picked right up off my feet and moved 10 feet. DO NOT fall down in a crowd like this.

A few weeks ago I was the one that my work called upon to get people home from work when the blizzard struck Colorado and Wyoming. The comment was (as I was walking away after the fact) "well who else were we going to ask... he was the only one that was prepared for this... " I received a few thanks and a few sideways looks and was even called a modern day Grizzley Adams. When all was said and done, the sheepdog made sure that all the sheep got home to their families.

As far as being in a large crowd of people, forget it. It makes me crazy! I have issues with going to Walmart on a Saturday. Paranoid? Maybe... Crazy? Not likely... Enjoying a life free of the stampeding masses? Definitely!

You made my day Sue! That thought could not have been stated better. Thanks again.