# OTC Self-defense Sprays Don't Work! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 13, 2022, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/otc-self-defense-sprays-dont-work/960967 "2022-03-13T02:38:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 66
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/otc-self-defense-sprays-dont-work/960967/66 "2022-03-14T21:14:40Z")
To avoid a hijack, posted this as its own thread FYI… > [@Origin of "don't yell 'help!', yell 'fire!'"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-dont-yell-help-yell-fire/961051): > > To avoid hijacking another [thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/otc-self-defense-sprays-dont-work/960967/55) thought I’d ask this. This fact is pretty much ubiquitous, I’ve heard it both as a real life advice and heard it movies. The idea (as its usually relayed) that in a crime-ridden big city no one is going to rush to help someone in trouble yelling “help!” or “rape!”, but a fire threatens them directly so they will come running if you yell “fire!” Is there any actual evidence this is true? Where did this “fact” come from? I realize there may be some less jaded … --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/otc-self-defense-sprays-dont-work/960967)._