so you don't believe in making your own luck? Fine.
That's clearly not what I said. I hate repeating myself. There are many people who have done well for themselves and they get their ass up on their back if you tell them that some percentage of that success was "luck." Or some unknown thing that we can call "luck" for the purpose of this conversation.
If it is only "hard work" and this magical thing called "luck" doesn't exist, then how do some bums "make it?" Also, some people really do bust their ass and they make it! Good for them! Others they left behind busted their ass, too, they didn't make it. Some of them worked
harder and
smarter and it just didn't happen for them.
It's easy to say they didn't work hard enough because no one that has "made it" wants to say that luck had anything to do with it but I think most regular folks know the truth and they tend to look on those people as liars or at least a bit into self-delusion.
However, my point was you don't need a weapon to be safe in NYC.
You need to take that line of thought to the NYPD, think of how safe they could be if they just got
thick and walked down the street like a
badass, who could possibly
wolf on them, then, eh?
You don't need a weapon to be safe anywhere! That's a mischaracterization of reality. You need a weapon when you are confronted with someone else that has a weapon or even multiple, unarmed assailants. You need a weapon for certain situations not necessarily specific geographic areas although those "certain situations" tend to occur in specific geographic areas.
If you want to take luck into account, it doesn't matter if you carry a weapon, someone can just pick you off.
Ultimately, that is correct. A baby in a stroller that catches a stray round from two imbeciles battling over drug territory is the epitome of "bad luck." I mean, innocent bystanders get hit, injured and killed at times. And, yeah, some sociopath like David Berkowitz or The Zodiac can pick you at random and kill you.
A weapon and the skill to use it is just an insurance policy. Nothing more and nothing less. Sometimes you're the bug and sometimes you're the windshield but here is the cool thing about that, Rich. YOU GET TO CHOOSE! The crackhead or crazy bastard doesn't get to make all the choices, you can choose to defend yourself and not simply rely on luck. You might die, but at least you get to choose. The right to self-defense. The right to self-determination and all of that business...you know what I mean?
My point still stands, most people looking to commit crimes, look for easy prey. In a city like NYC, you have tons of easy prey...The elderly, woman in general, clueless men, etc. The best defense against them, and they won't know if you have a knife or a gun, is just to not look like prey.
Rich, there was a time when that was almost Gospel. Unfortunately, a lot of criminals will target you if you "look hard" and especially if you don't cower, if you meet their gaze, the fight might just be on.
I do agree with you, I just don't think you realize how much things have changed. Not all criminals are the way you suggest they are.
I will say this again, my father and myself never had a problem in NYC, because of who we are and how we act.
That's a wonderful statistical sampling of
two. Thanks!
Oh for the record, I would be considered wealthy by most standards. MBA, investment banking background, etc. My father was a blue collar worker. I am Wall St. You are right, luck does play a part sometimes...
Schizophrenia!
...but most of the times, you make your own.
Making your own luck, for the purposes of our discussion, is being prepared. Sometimes that means having a handgun, carrying it properly and knowing how to use it safely and accurately to the utmost of your ability. Sometimes it means knowing how to use a blade or a bludgeon or even your bare hands and shod feet.
Oh for the record, everyone meets the right people sooner or later, it is just what you do with it, and likable you are. Me, I am not that personable, I made it leverage a different skill set.
You a hatchetman? You go in and lay the people off during downsizings?
"Coffee's for closers..."
Funny stuff.
