# Situations where doing the "instinctive" thing will kill/maim/get you in trouble **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 2, 2016, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954 "2016-07-02T21:26:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/1 "2016-07-02T21:26:14Z")
I am looking for a list of scenarios where doing the “instinctive” thing will actually backfire and make the situation much worse. The ones that come to mind are: If you have a grease fire in the kitchen, do NOT throw water on it; that will make the fire rage out of control suddenly and you will probably suffer massive burns. If you are piloting an aircraft and it is in an aerodynamic stall, do NOT pull back on the controls; that will just make the stall persist. If you are caught in a rip tide; do NOT swim against the current; you will exhaust yourself. You need to swim in a different direction that will take you out of the current. If you face a wild wolf; do NOT run away, that will trigger the pursuit instinct and make the wolf pursue you. Walk away slowly backwards, facing the wolf. If your clothing is on fire, do NOT run around; that will make the flames worse. Stop, drop, and roll on the ground to extinguish the flames. If you are scuba diving, and you encounter a situation that causes panic (losing your regulator, etc.) do NOT rush to the surface of the ocean; that will give you the bends. For a scenario that has less to do with physical harm: If you are arrested by the police, do NOT immediately loudly protest your innocence and tell “your story” after you have been Miranda’d; stay silent and demand a lawyer. Anyone think of other examples? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/2 "2016-07-02T23:06:33Z")
Running into a burning house to save a pet. Running out of a house during an earthquake. When an earthquake starts, waiting to see if it gets worse before seeking shelter. Going to the seashore to see how big the tsunami is going to be. Waiting for that tornado to get close enough so you can get a really cool YouTube upload. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/3 "2016-07-02T23:40:22Z")
Mine are pretty tame (since they’re things I’ve done)… Don’t stiffen up if you get blown too high while hang-gliding. This causes you to tilt the control bar and send you even higher. And stall. And then plummet. The other one was explained to me by a Ski Patrol friend as I lay on my back in the middle of my first snowboarding experience: If you’re used to skiing, when you get going fast you instinctively sit back to slow down. Well, when you put your weight on your back foot, it wants to be the front foot and spins you around. And apparently down (hmmm, more plummeting… a lot of falling in my recreational career). ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/4 "2016-07-02T23:50:23Z")
A few having to do with coming to aid those in distress: Do not race into check a collapsed colleague in a confined space. There could be poisonous gas or a lack of adequate oxygen. Do not rescue a drowning person in deep water without proper training and equipment. They will instinctively attempt to climb a would-be rescuer. If electrocution is suspected, do not approach the victim until the source of the current is clear. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/5 "2016-07-03T00:22:26Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Going to the seashore to see how big the tsunami is going to be. This isn’t acting “instinctively”; it’s acting stupidly and suicidally. I’d add anyone who disobeys evacuation orders during any natural disaster. It’s amazing how many people do idiotic things like this. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/22080_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/6 "2016-07-03T00:35:42Z")
Don’t jam on the brakes when your car starts slipping or spinning on ice. ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/7 "2016-07-03T01:32:51Z")
when flying in the clouds trust your instruments not your senses. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/8 "2016-07-03T02:22:27Z")
Don’t attempt to swerve around a deer that jumps out in front of you. Don’t put your arm out to break a fall (like from a bike); much less chance of a broken wrist if you keep it in tight. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/9 "2016-07-03T02:33:37Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > This isn’t acting “instinctively”; it’s acting stupidly and suicidally. See, my instinct is to run toward the spectacularly interesting, once-in-a-lifetime natural show of force. Thinking it through to the consequences is what that overcomes that urge, sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/10 "2016-07-03T02:47:58Z")
Rushing to look out the window when you hear gunfire. Stomping on a flaming paper bag on your porch. Trying to catch a falling knife. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/11 "2016-07-03T03:04:07Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Trying to catch a falling knife. … with your foot. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/12 "2016-07-03T03:13:09Z")
Resisting arrest. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/13 "2016-07-03T03:20:06Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > If you face a wild wolf; do NOT run away, that will trigger the pursuit instinct and make the wolf pursue you. Walk away slowly backwards, facing the wolf. I’m going to beat \*\*Oakminster \*\*to the punch and ask what the fuck I’m going out in the woods without my shotgun. But not before I shoot the wolf, as I was lying when I said I was out in the woods without my shotgun. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/14 "2016-07-03T03:59:27Z")
Run toward an ambush, not away. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/15 "2016-07-03T05:22:36Z")
A car that goes into a front-wheel skid while turning will start to go straight. The instinctive thing is to turn the wheel more to try to make up for it. The right thing is to straighten out the wheel until the wheels start rolling again, and then re-start the turn. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/16 "2016-07-03T05:35:09Z")
When driving, looking at an accident on the other side of the road. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/17 "2016-07-03T05:57:41Z")
Provide an answer when someone asks “does this make me look fat?” ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/18 "2016-07-03T06:07:13Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Trying to catch a falling knife. > [@wolfman](#): > > … with your foot. Or glass jar (Spanish goalie missed the Japan/Korea world cup doing exactly that). ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/19 "2016-07-03T06:33:34Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I’m going to beat \*\*Oakminster \*\*to the punch and ask what the fuck I’m going out in the woods without my shotgun. But not before I shoot the wolf, as I was lying when I said I was out in the woods without my shotgun. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/20 "2016-07-03T08:39:06Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > Run toward an ambush, not away. Is this the old “rush a gun, run away from a knife” advice? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954.md?page=2)