# If Harrison Ford were getting mugged, would he defend himself with a whip or a lightsaber? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 20, 2010, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-harrison-ford-were-getting-mugged-would-he-defend-himself-with-a-whip-or-a-lightsaber/525703 "2010-01-20T15:28:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-harrison-ford-were-getting-mugged-would-he-defend-himself-with-a-whip-or-a-lightsaber/525703/1 "2010-01-20T15:28:16Z")
Harrison Ford’s been going through the interview circuit for his new movie Extraordinary Measures. [In this interview](http://chicago.metromix.com/movies/article/q-and-a-harrison/1712208/content), Matt Pais over at the Chicago Tribune asked him if he were getting mugged, would he fight back with a whip or a sword. Harrison’s answer is that he would run away. Harrison then pokes a little fun at the question over at the [AV Club](http://www.avclub.com/articles/harrison-ford,37144/). I think we can all agree that the question was a pretty moronic one, obviously Han Solo only used a lightsaber once and that was to cut open the fallen tauntaun to keep Luke alive so he could build the shelter. **Duh**! Ford has probably been asked that a dozen times or more, but I’m not sure if I’ve actually ever seen it in print. Is this the first time? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-harrison-ford-were-getting-mugged-would-he-defend-himself-with-a-whip-or-a-lightsaber/525703/2 "2010-01-20T15:46:34Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > Harrison Ford’s been going through the interview circuit for his new movie Extraordinary Measures. > > [In this interview](http://chicago.metromix.com/movies/article/q-and-a-harrison/1712208/content), Matt Pais over at the Chicago Tribune asked him if he were getting mugged, would he fight back with a whip or a sword. If that assailant were brandishing a blade, Ford would reach for a handgun. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-harrison-ford-were-getting-mugged-would-he-defend-himself-with-a-whip-or-a-lightsaber/525703/3 "2010-01-20T16:25:42Z")
Han Solo doesn’t use lightsabers. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-harrison-ford-were-getting-mugged-would-he-defend-himself-with-a-whip-or-a-lightsaber/525703/4 "2010-01-20T16:39:10Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > Han Solo doesn’t use lightsabers. That’s what I said. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-harrison-ford-were-getting-mugged-would-he-defend-himself-with-a-whip-or-a-lightsaber/525703/5 "2010-01-20T18:21:38Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > Han Solo doesn’t use lightsabers. Excellent point, but I think you’re missing the bigger issue. Harrison Ford is an actor who simply played the roles of Han Solo and Indiana Jones. He’s not really those people in real life. Don’t worry, it’s an easy mistake to make. ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-harrison-ford-were-getting-mugged-would-he-defend-himself-with-a-whip-or-a-lightsaber/525703/6 "2010-01-20T18:43:18Z")
A [lightwhip](http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Lightwhip)? ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-harrison-ford-were-getting-mugged-would-he-defend-himself-with-a-whip-or-a-lightsaber/525703/7 "2010-01-20T18:47:37Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > A [lightwhip](http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Lightwhip)? I think using a lightwhip is just asking for trouble. How would you not slice your leg and/or everything else around you? I guess if you’re an evil force-using witch, you don’t really care about what’s around you. ---
**Author:** ![Satchmo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/satchmo/32/4223_2.png) [@Satchmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satchmo)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-harrison-ford-were-getting-mugged-would-he-defend-himself-with-a-whip-or-a-lightsaber/525703/8 "2010-01-20T18:48:47Z")
Han Solo is a man to never bring a whip to a blaster fight. Don’t know about Harrison Ford. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-harrison-ford-were-getting-mugged-would-he-defend-himself-with-a-whip-or-a-lightsaber/525703/9 "2010-01-20T19:01:24Z")
> [@Greg\_Charles](#): > > I think you’re missing the bigger issue. Harrison Ford is an actor who simply played the roles of Han Solo and Indiana Jones. He’s not really those people in real life. For what it’s worth, though, Harrison Ford was once told to play the role of Indiana Jones by using a whip to disarm a swordsman – and replied, in real life, by saying he’d prefer to ignore the script and pull out a gun. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Levolor\_the\_Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bc8723/32.png) [@Levolor\_the\_Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Levolor_the_Blind)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-harrison-ford-were-getting-mugged-would-he-defend-himself-with-a-whip-or-a-lightsaber/525703/10 "2010-01-20T19:04:02Z")
Well, seeing how a whip is a real weapon whereas a lightsabre is fiction, I’d suggest he go with the whip. Otherwise things might turn out like this: [http://video.adultswim.com/the-venture-bros/fat-henchman-vs-brock.html](http://video.adultswim.com/the-venture-bros/fat-henchman-vs-brock.html) ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-harrison-ford-were-getting-mugged-would-he-defend-himself-with-a-whip-or-a-lightsaber/525703/11 "2010-01-20T19:21:24Z")
Did anyone see the “Armegeddon” spoof on Robot Chicken in which a crew is picked to go in space consisting of Harrison Ford and Aerosmith? Ford protested, saying, “Why the hell did you pick me? I’m just an actor, for crying out loud.” [http://video.adultswim.com/robot-chicken/meteor.html](http://video.adultswim.com/robot-chicken/meteor.html) ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-harrison-ford-were-getting-mugged-would-he-defend-himself-with-a-whip-or-a-lightsaber/525703/12 "2010-01-20T19:45:45Z")
Neither: “Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid.” ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-harrison-ford-were-getting-mugged-would-he-defend-himself-with-a-whip-or-a-lightsaber/525703/13 "2010-01-20T19:53:57Z")
My first instinct was that he’d use a blaster and shoot the mugger dead before the other guy could even blink. But I was apparently mistaken. As it turns out, the mugger would unaccountably shoot first. ---
**Author:** ![Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uosdwis_R.Dewoh)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-harrison-ford-were-getting-mugged-would-he-defend-himself-with-a-whip-or-a-lightsaber/525703/14 "2010-01-20T20:04:17Z")
Harrison Ford would just beat the mugger with his stick i.e. Callista Flockhart. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-harrison-ford-were-getting-mugged-would-he-defend-himself-with-a-whip-or-a-lightsaber/525703/15 "2010-01-20T20:40:00Z")
It’s a silly question, since in both of his biggest roles, he’s preferred handguns to melee weapons (at least, when it comes to actual fighting). I imagine that Indiana Jones would have no problem using a blaster, nor Han Solo with a gunpowder pistol.