Remember ladies… just give them what they want.

“I keep thinking, what would have happened if I had that little moment where I would punch the guy and run,” she said.

But experts said she made the right choice.

“Basically, don’t show any emotion either way,” said Tilton Polcie [sic] Chief Robery Cormier. “Just give them what they want.”

Full Story (h/t The Gun Wire)

So this “expert” says to “just give them what they want”.

OK ladies… you remember that. When you’re being raped, don’t show any emotion either way, just give them what they want. This is the advice  direct from a Police Chief. An “expert” in your safety.

*sigh*

Now I admit, I’m mixing contexts. The article and the Chief are talking about a robbery, and I put their advice in the context of rape. And to be fair, many of the things they suggest in the article are actually sound: assume the robbers have a weapon, be a good witness, be aware of your surroundings, don’t attract attention, and in general yes…. don’t try to stop them. The best advice in the article is this:

“Unless you get directly involved and there is a life-threatening imminent situation, stay out of it,’ he said.

That’s right. Is there a life-threating imminent situation? And it doesn’t even have to be you in that situation, it could be a third party.

We come back to the maxim of doing what it takes to maximize your enjoyment of beer & TV (click and read if you aren’t aware of this maxim). This thought process is far superior to “just give them what they want”. The “beer & TV maxim” carries you in any situation, be it you’re the victim of a mugging, you were unlucky to be in the 7-11 as it was being robbed, or you’re the victim of rape. This is a better guideline towards helping to decide if it’s worthwhile to fight or just give them what they want.

I do not like nor subscribe to the “give them what they want, never fight back” approach to life. Think about what that means. Think about the implications of it. Think about it from an evolutionary standpoint (both evolution to this point, and what will evolve from it). Think about it in the workplace. Think about it in your personal life. Think about it in your relationships, with your spouse, with your children, with friends, co-workers. Sometimes it’s an acceptable response/tactic, but usually only because it’s a single step in a greater movement. But generally I just can’t see how we’ll become stronger and better with that sort of approach to life.