# How do you react walking up on this situation? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 11, 2010, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-react-walking-up-on-this-situation/556736 "2010-10-11T00:54:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-react-walking-up-on-this-situation/556736/1 "2010-10-11T00:54:05Z")
> **[Boy stabbed repeatedly in New York restaurant - CNN.com](http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/10/09/new.york.boy.stabbed/index.html?iref=NS1)** > > An 8-year-old boy, who was repeatedly stabbed at a Long Island, New York, restaurant, was recovering from a punctured lung and other wounds Saturday, police said. Random 8 yr old stabbed multiple times by 22 yr old stranger in arcade. You are dad and walk up on this in progress. How does it end? ---
**Author:** ![Otara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a88e4f/32.png) [@Otara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otara)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-react-walking-up-on-this-situation/556736/2 "2010-10-11T01:02:26Z")
It was the father who subdued the attacker, are you saying what would I do if I was him? To be honest Id probably be more focussed on helping my son with first aid in that situation rather than catching the attacker if he was doing a runner. But its a pretty short article, maybe his partner is a doctor or whatever. Otara ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-react-walking-up-on-this-situation/556736/3 "2010-10-11T01:21:55Z")
I’m a mom not dad, but it ends with the man’s eyes clawed out and about 20 strangers having to pull me off of him (or perhaps help me claw his eyes out). Are you KIDDING ME? (not you, the situation). I mean, I can’t imagine a single parent who would come up in the middle of this and NOT go Rambo on the guy. Wow. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-react-walking-up-on-this-situation/556736/4 "2010-10-11T01:46:52Z")
It ends with the intestines of the guy who attacked my kid being hung on at least three separate video games. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-react-walking-up-on-this-situation/556736/5 "2010-10-11T01:49:41Z")
> [@CanvasShoes](#): > > I’m a mom not dad, but it ends with the man’s eyes clawed out and about 20 strangers having to pull me off of him (or perhaps help me claw his eyes out). Or, translating - it ends in you getting stabbed! Anyway, I guess tending to the wounded child takes priority over revenge. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-react-walking-up-on-this-situation/556736/6 "2010-10-11T02:18:24Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > > [@CanvasShoes](#): > > > > I’m a mom not dad, but it ends with the man’s eyes clawed out and about 20 strangers having to pull me off of him (or perhaps help me claw his eyes out). > > Or, translating - it ends in you getting stabbed! > > Anyway, I guess tending to the wounded child takes priority over revenge. But you said “you walk up on this in progress” NOT “after it was done with”. If it’s in progress the man is still going to be attempting to stab my child…DERRRR If I walk up on it in progress, my instinct is going to be to protect my child and that DOES mean going bonkers on him, to get him OFF my child and away! Of course if I come upon it after the fact I’m going to immediately tend to my child. ---
**Author:** ![Amblydoper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@Amblydoper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amblydoper)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-react-walking-up-on-this-situation/556736/7 "2010-10-11T02:27:25Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > Or, translating - it ends in you getting stabbed! > > Anyway, I guess tending to the wounded child takes priority over revenge. Priority one is, because my hypothetical child’s life is in danger, to put myself between him and the attacker, even if that means putting my own life at risk. Priority Two is to neutralize the attacker (Eye gouging, disembowelment, whatever). Priority Three is attending to my kid’s wounds and confirming that someone has already called 911. If I took a few slashes in the process, well, the ambulance is already on its way, right? ETA: I agree with **CanvasShoes**. ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-react-walking-up-on-this-situation/556736/8 "2010-10-11T02:49:14Z")
Stop the attack immediately. For me, that means 4-5 rounds of .45ACP in the spine and head. Begin first aid for child while instructing others to call 911. Mama grizzlies only \*\*think \*\*they’re as mad as me when someone messes with my cheerins. ---
**Author:** ![Al\_Bundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@Al\_Bundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al_Bundy)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-react-walking-up-on-this-situation/556736/9 "2010-10-11T11:28:45Z")
I think the first move is to make lots of noise and grab anything that could be used as a weapon. A belt buckle can do harm if used properly. A shirt over the hands can protect from a knife-sometimes. It’s hard to tell exactly how you will react. It pays to have a mindset and attitude about these things ahead of time. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-react-walking-up-on-this-situation/556736/10 "2010-10-11T13:09:39Z")
My dad was a combat vet, back when infantry actually didn’t really have all the bells and whistles, but a gun and a knife. I would go to the hospital, the attacker would get picked up by the morgue. Save the state the cost of a trial. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-react-walking-up-on-this-situation/556736/11 "2010-10-11T13:18:43Z")
I’d like to think that I’d get between the attacker and any 8 year old child. I know you never know how you will act in such situations but I’ve put myself at risk before for total strangers so hopefully I’d do it in that situation as well. If behind the attacker I’d hit him in the head with the biggest and heaviest thing available and worry about the law and his potential death afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-react-walking-up-on-this-situation/556736/12 "2010-10-11T13:30:22Z")
He’d be dead. No silly fantasies about revenge, it’d be quick -neutralize his threat then tend to my son. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-react-walking-up-on-this-situation/556736/13 "2010-10-11T13:33:20Z")
I know some serious self-defense. I once took down a guy trying to abduct me. This animal would be really, really hurting when they took me off of him. ---
**Author:** ![ratmanizhere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b5ac83/32.png) [@ratmanizhere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratmanizhere)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-react-walking-up-on-this-situation/556736/14 "2010-10-11T13:54:43Z")
Even if I wasn’t the parent, I would be making sure the 22 y/o would be leaving the arcade in a body bag. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-react-walking-up-on-this-situation/556736/15 "2010-10-11T14:10:57Z")
One of the reasons I chose a hickory cane was it’s (admittedly unlikely) use as a weapon. One blow to the cranium should do it. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-react-walking-up-on-this-situation/556736/16 "2010-10-11T17:43:02Z")
Man, do we have a lot of Internet tough guys & gals. You really know how to make a turnip tremble! ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-react-walking-up-on-this-situation/556736/17 "2010-10-11T17:57:34Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Man, do we have a lot of Internet tough guys & gals. You really know how to make a turnip tremble! Dude, it’s your offspring. I don’t know for sure how I would react, but my guess is that I’d completely snap and try to kill a man I found stabbing my(hypothetical) son. (I’m not a violent person, I’ve never even been in a fight in my life, but knowing myself, I would lose all sense of self and go into focused adrenaline mode. It’s happened to me in other stress situations where the adrenaline kicked in, so that’s what I’m basing my guess on.) I don’t think this is “internet tough guy.” I think this is just human instinct. ---
**Author:** ![Chanteuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de053/32.png) [@Chanteuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chanteuse)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-react-walking-up-on-this-situation/556736/18 "2010-10-11T18:50:32Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > > [@VinylTurnip](#): > > > > Man, do we have a lot of Internet tough guys & gals. You really know how to make a turnip tremble! > > Dude, it’s your offspring…I don’t think this is “internet tough guy.” I think this is just human instinct. This, for certain. I just may be one of the world’s most NON-confrontational people, but when I had a dream that my husband severely spanked our then 5 month old son just for crying (something he NEVER would’ve done, don’t know why I’d dream something so awful), I went nuts. In my dream, I was hitting him as hard as I could and frustrated because all my blows seemed to have no force, when what I _wanted_ to do was knock his damn block off. Then I woke up, trembling with the sheer magnitude of my rage. By now, of course, I _knew_ it was only a nightmare–but I was still so angry that it took every ounce of my willpower to not sit up and beat the crap out of my still-sleeping husband. Because of a DREAM. While I hope with all of my being that I never have to find out, I can’t even imagine that if someone hurt my babies in the real world that I would stand passively by and let it happen. The words “dead meat” come to mind when I think of any would-be attacker. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-react-walking-up-on-this-situation/556736/19 "2010-10-11T18:53:27Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > > [@VinylTurnip](#): > > > > Man, do we have a lot of Internet tough guys & gals. You really know how to make a turnip tremble! > > Dude, it’s your offspring. I don’t know for sure how I would react, but my guess is that I’d completely snap and try to kill a man I found stabbing my(hypothetical) son. (I’m not a violent person, I’ve never even been in a fight in my life, but knowing myself, I would lose all sense of self and go into focused adrenaline mode. It’s happened to me in other stress situations where the adrenaline kicked in, so that’s what I’m basing my guess on.) > > I don’t think this is “internet tough guy.” I think this is just human instinct. Agreed. I’m not a tough guy (gal) at all. I’m basically a weenie. Except when it comes to my kids. I once witnessed a much larger child _shoving_ my child and I wanted to take him down. Actually stabbing my kid? You’d better believe I would unleash whatever fight I have in me to stop it from progressing. I’m a scrappy thing, too. Claws and kicks and bites for that mofo. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-react-walking-up-on-this-situation/556736/20 "2010-10-11T19:47:54Z")
I can guarantee that if someone was stabbing me in front of my mother she’d jump in and at the very least try and take every stab for me. I’m 39. I’m her baby and always will be no matter what I do or say. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-react-walking-up-on-this-situation/556736.md?page=2)