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...