# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/21 "2016-07-03T08:45:53Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > 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. Then once you’ve got that response firmly ingrained in your brain (inbrained?), you find that if you are piloting an aerobatic aircraft and stall while under negative g, you should indeed pull back. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/22 "2016-07-03T08:48:21Z")
Broadly speaking, the instinctive thing to do in any unexpected situation is to do _something_, often the wrong something. The correct thing to do most of the time is just _nothing_. Take a second to assess that what is happening is what you think is happening, _then_ you can apply the correct response, if you know it. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/23 "2016-07-03T12:19:31Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > Is this the old “rush a gun, run away from a knife” advice? Nope. Military infantry tactics at squad/platoon level. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/24 "2016-07-03T12:48:57Z")
Whenever my gas light comes on when I’m on the highway, my first instinct is to go faster so I can get to a gas station faster :smack: I really have to fight myself to stick to as close to 55 (or sometimes slower) as is safe under local traffic conditions. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/25 "2016-07-03T12:51:25Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Rushing to look out the window when you hear gunfire. According to a newish video being shown on college campuses, (Shots Fired on Campus) if you and some others need to hide from the gunmen, you need to overcome the instinct to huddle together with the other people. The logic behind spreading out as much as possible so it’s harder to shoot you all quickly is sound, but boy, that must be hard to make yourself do. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/26 "2016-07-03T12:56:55Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > … > > 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. > > … Additionally, if you are scuba diving and run out of air DO NOT hold your breath as you ascend to the surface\*. The change in ambient pressure will cause the air in your lungs to expand, stretch and likely pop one or both lungs. This leads to very bad things\*\* (collectively called barotraumas) that are a bit different than the bends (aka [Decompression Sickness](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decompression_sickness)). Instead you [need to](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controlled_emergency_swimming_ascent) keep your airway open and exhale gently the entire way up. The pressure drop will cause the air in your lungs to expand and keep your lungs full the entire way up. Feels weird but it works. - First choice once you have run out of air is to go to your buddy and share air with a spare regulator. If that has failed only then will you do a swimming ascent solo. \*\*Pneumothorax, subcutaneous emphysema, medistinal emphysema, or Arterial gas embolism. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/27 "2016-07-03T13:18:37Z")
Slapping a scorpion crawling up your leg. ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/28 "2016-07-03T13:28:03Z")
If you’re on a horse and feel unbalanced, (or are getting run away with) don’t curl up go fetal position, and don’t try to hold your balance with your reins. You are top heavy so curling forward with knees coming up and heels to your butt will land you on the ground. And those reins are light leather attached to a large and muscular moving object - no stability there at all! ---
**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, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/29 "2016-07-03T15:27:00Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > 😃 Weren’t all your guns lost in that boating accident? ---
**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, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/30 "2016-07-03T16:40:29Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > Nope. Military infantry tactics at squad/platoon level. By the time you know to run away from or toward the ambushers, they already are within firing rage. If you run away, you are by definition turning your backs on them, prevenging you from shooting back. and unless your name is Barry Allen or Pietro Maximof,you’re not outrunning their bullets. But you can run in an evasive pattern (zigzagging) toward your attackers, giving you the opportunity to fire at them. The odds still favor them, but it’s still a better solution than running away. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/31 "2016-07-03T18:44:20Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > Don’t jam on the brakes when your car starts slipping or spinning on ice. and when you fishtail on ice be sure also to turn _into_ the same direction your rear wheels are sliding ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/32 "2016-07-03T19:12:08Z")
> [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > Broadly speaking, the instinctive thing to do in any unexpected situation is to do _something_, often the wrong something. The correct thing to do most of the time is just _nothing_. Take a second to assess that what is happening is what you think is happening, _then_ you can apply the correct response, if you know it. often, do nothing _is_ the correct response, but not always. When you fall through the ice on the pond/river during the winter, do not panic! calmly (heh) and quickly hoist yourself back up on the ice while spread eagling your weight as much as possible while sliding/slithering/crawling on hands and knees back to safer environs (known from experience) ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/33 "2016-07-03T19:30:28Z")
> [@Iggy](#): > > Additionally, if you are scuba diving and run out of air DO NOT hold your breath as you ascend to the surface\*. The change in ambient pressure will cause the air in your lungs to expand, stretch and likely pop one or both lungs. This leads to very bad things\*\* (collectively called barotraumas) that are a bit different than the bends (aka [Decompression Sickness](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decompression_sickness)). > > Instead you [need to](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controlled_emergency_swimming_ascent) keep your airway open and exhale gently the entire way up. The pressure drop will cause the air in your lungs to expand and keep your lungs full the entire way up. Feels weird but it works. > > - First choice once you have run out of air is to go to your buddy and share air with a spare regulator. If that has failed only then will you do a swimming ascent solo. > \*\*Pneumothorax, subcutaneous emphysema, medistinal emphysema, or Arterial gas embolism. Have they stopped teaching buddy breathing from one regulator if the one with air left does not have a second regulator? ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/34 "2016-07-03T19:45:34Z")
> [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > Broadly speaking, the instinctive thing to do in any unexpected situation is to do _something_, often the wrong something. The correct thing to do most of the time is just _nothing_. Take a second to assess that what is happening is what you think is happening, _then_ you can apply the correct response, if you know it. To add to Richards good advice, ‘think about undoing what you last did if the problem happens soon after that action.’ ( but be careful ) Also some ‘new to acrobatic flight’ forget that the aircraft may be pointed straight down but is actually moving in another direction and a wing/wings may be in a stalled condition. #2 Ground reference maneuvers often have little to do with your movement in relation to the local air mass. Funny, pilots are taught that from the get-go but many, many seem to forget it after a few years except during take-off and landing. Then things get tight close to the ground and … Keeping a few strategic pieces of knitting yarn in key spots like sailplane pilots like to do can really help a pilot learn about an aircraft he plans on doing any acrobatic or low altitude flaying with. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/35 "2016-07-03T19:58:09Z")
The Styles Clash is a pro wrestling move named for its innovator, AJ Styles. The move starts with both wrestlers in a standing position. The attacker places his opponent’s head in between his legs, then grabs his opponent’s legs and lifts their legs up over his shoulders as if preparing for a powerbomb; he then steps forward to place his own legs in front of his opponent’s arms, and then falls forward, slamming his opponent on the mat beneath him. ([Here’s a video of what it looks like](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xeX82Af1CI).) In most pro wrestling moves that involve getting dropped on the mat (e.g. piledrivers), the standard procedure (and what you’d probably do in real life) is to tuck your chin inward so that your shoulders will hit the mat first and absorb the blow. With the Styles Clash, however, you need to do the opposite; if you tuck your chin, you’ll land on the back of your head and you can potentially break your neck, which has happened with multiple wrestlers who took the move wrong. You actually have to do pretty much the opposite, and stretch your neck out, so that your chest hits the mat first. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/36 "2016-07-03T20:00:56Z")
If lost in the woods, don’t keep walking and get more lost. Think. If you are a rescuer, don’t become someone that needs to be rescued. Lots of caveats to the above depending on skill level and a thousand other things. ---
**Author:** ![spamforbrains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spamforbrains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spamforbrains)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/37 "2016-07-03T20:21:49Z")
if the firework didn’t go off, don’t pick it up and hold it in front of your face to see what went wrong. ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/38 "2016-07-03T20:48:57Z")
If you fall out of the boat in the rapids, don’t try to stand up. ---
**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, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/39 "2016-07-03T20:51:21Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Weren’t all your guns lost in that boating accident? Yes. Very sad. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/40 "2016-07-03T20:58:35Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Waiting for that tornado to get close enough so you can get a really cool YouTube upload. Back in 1966, jsut fifty years aga, a massive tornado tromped my city, Topeka Kansas. There is litlte video of the storm because cell phone cameras, or video camers and such weren’t ubiquitous then. One guy, with a movie camera he’d been going to film with at a little league game, got most of the existing film of the tornado. Many years later, in an interview, he said he’d been mesmerized by the storm, finding it hard to turn away from it. Then, he said, his wife yelled at him to come inside, “and she used words I didn’t even know she knew!”😃 If that storm came today I expect a lot of idiots would be killed because they got hit trying to get the best video. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954.md?page=3)