# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/41 "2016-07-03T21:31:39Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > Don’t jam on the brakes when your car starts slipping or spinning on ice. Actually, now that ALBS are so ubiquitous, I think the thing to do is jam on your breaks and let the car handle the pump breaking as it can do a better job at it than the driver can. ---
**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, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/42 "2016-07-03T22:23:02Z")
> [@GusNSpot](#): > > Have they stopped teaching buddy breathing from one regulator if the one with air left does not have a second regulator? Buddy breathing is an optional skill for open water certification. It is still required for divemaster or instructor certifications. A second regulator, known as an octopus in dive lingo, is the rule now. There are a few versions that integrate with the BC inflator that would require the donating diver to give up the reg from his mouth and switch to his own backup since the alternate’s hose isn’t long enough to donate to his buddy\*. - That’s what \*she \*said. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/43 "2016-07-03T22:40:47Z")
Target fixation, particularly while driving. Look away from the hazard and find an escape route, because the instinct to focus your attention on it increases the odds of hitting it. And if you don’t have ABS and need to swerve to avoid an object, the instinct to slam on the brakes is exactly wrong because the wheels will lock up and be unable to turn. Swerve, then brake. ---
**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 4, 2016, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/44 "2016-07-04T00:58:02Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > and when you fishtail on ice be sure also to turn _into_ the same direction your rear wheels are sliding Actually, this is instinctive. Say your rear wheels are sliding to the right. That will cause your car to turn left, so your instinct will be to turn right to counteract this. It’s when your front wheels are sliding that your instincts are wrong (as I’ve already mentioned here). ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2016, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/45 "2016-07-04T01:15:11Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Don’t attempt to swerve around a deer that jumps out in front of you. Yep. Veering away from any animal smaller than a cow or maybe a large hog is a terrible idea. The Fellow is currently teaching the teen girl to drive, and I’m already dreading the day she comes home in tears because he won’t let her swerve to miss a squirrel or a possum (or worse.) ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2016, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/46 "2016-07-04T01:57:59Z")
If the fire alarm sounds, leave the building. Do not assume that it is a false alarm ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2016, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/47 "2016-07-04T04:16:31Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > 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. … which is also why you should rush a gun, even though people in that situation typically don’t have a gun of their own and are in an even worse position to defend themselves. Similarly, you _can_ outrun a knife, unless your assailant is a trained knife-thrower. Of course, getting into a knife fight with a knife-thrower is still a bad idea, so running away is still your best option. Also, “prevenging” is a very **Skald the Rhymer** word and I’m going to use it in some time-travel scenario one of these days. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2016, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/48 "2016-07-04T04:43:14Z")
If you are in the middle of turning left, and a car rounds a blind curve at double the speed limit aimed dead center toward T-boning you… don’t hit the brake. Hit the Accelerator… Hard. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2016, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/49 "2016-07-04T10:54:29Z")
When you step off a curb in England don’t look left. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2016, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/50 "2016-07-04T14:20:39Z")
I don’t care if an ambusher has a gun or a knife - this unarmed dude would be better off scramming. > [@Chefguy](#): > > Running into a burning house to save a pet. Despite the known risks involved, I would probably do so anyway. Unless of course there’s flames shooting out every window and a huge fireball blows out the front doors off its hinges. > [@Spiderman](#): > > 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. But better having your hand breaking your fall than your head. If only it was that easy going into a nice military roll every time you bailed. > [@Chefguy](#): > > Stomping on a flaming paper bag on your porch. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2016, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/51 "2016-07-04T16:38:37Z")
Any thing smaller than a medium sized truck or SUV, I will totally swerve around a deer. In a sedan or coupe I’ll put my money on ability to maneuver safely over my chances with a deer’s ass coming through the windshield. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2016, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/52 "2016-07-04T16:57:15Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Don’t attempt to swerve around a deer that jumps out in front of you. This is the first thing I thought of when I read the OP. When a deer jumps out onto the road ahead of you, hit the damn thing. **Don’t swerve**. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2016, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/53 "2016-07-04T17:11:23Z")
Dropping another hit of acid a half hour after the first because you’re not feeling any effects yet. Chasing a grizzly bear away from your lunch. Chasing tornadic storms … seriously … why? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2016, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/54 "2016-07-04T17:28:19Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > Any thing smaller than a medium sized truck or SUV, I will totally swerve around a deer. In a sedan or coupe I’ll put my money on ability to maneuver safely over my chances with a deer’s ass coming through the windshield. Yup. As long as there is no other vehicle traffic around you. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2016, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/55 "2016-07-04T17:35:49Z")
If you are holding a sharp knife in your hand and walking with it, blade held out in front of you, and the tip _tonks_ into something unexpectedly, with the result that the knife stops moving and is sliding backwards through your surprised hand, _ **DO NOT** _ respond to that by reflexively tightening your grip on it. ---
**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 4, 2016, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/56 "2016-07-04T20:14:12Z")
Thanks, great responses so far - but I must nitpick that some of the responses aren’t about instinctive responses, they’re about foolish responses - i.e., trying to take video of a tornado or ignoring a fire alarm. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2016, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/57 "2016-07-05T00:38:02Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > When you step off a curb in England don’t look left. Well, you should always look both ways, but your comment formed some sort of Monty Pythonesque “Unless thou shalt also looketh unto the right” routine. ---
**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2016, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/58 "2016-07-05T00:56:05Z")
> [@saje](#): > > 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! That would be my response, immediately! What’s a more sensible response? ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2016, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/59 "2016-07-05T03:52:13Z")
When rock climbing and some one above you yells ‘below!’ Don’t look up to see what they are shouting about. . ---
**Author:** ![Whiskey\_Dickens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc348/32.png) [@Whiskey\_Dickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whiskey_Dickens)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2016, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954/60 "2016-07-05T13:40:53Z")
When changing directions on a motorcycle, you turn the handle bars to the **opposite** direction you want to go. It’s called [Countersteering.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Countersteering) Countersteering is motorcycling’s best kept secret for some unfathomable reason. It’s one of the first things that they teach you in the MSF course, but I know LOTS of experienced motorcyclists that have no idea about the mechanism of turning. They sort of do it subconsciously by muscle memory. I remember reading a magazine article written by an professional motorcycle journalist who was surprised to learn about countersteering. This bit of ignorance kills tons of motorcyclists every year. Go too hot into a corner, and you don’t know how to get more lean angle out of the bike and tighten your turn radius. They don’t leave the road because they lose traction, they leave the road going wide with the bike fully in control. It’s like trying to drive a car if you only know how to turn the steering wheel 30degrees. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/situations-where-doing-the-instinctive-thing-will-kill-maim-get-you-in-trouble/758954.md?page=4)