To the jackass in his SUV...

[fireheart]

Why the hell are you hitting on me while pulled up at the lights?! I'm very glad you peeled off when I started reaching into my bag as though I had some form of self-defense mechanism (I wasn't, I was actually reaching for my phone). You're the reason why I'm now swapping my deodorant in my bag over from a roll-on to a spray.

(For the record, pepper spray and the like are banned in most Aussie states and while the police DO have the authority to confiscate anything that could possibly be used as a weapon, that rule is rarely enforced unless you feel like being a dick)

[greek_jester]

Do you use hairspray? If you do, keep a pocket sized hairspray in your bag.


Anyone who's ever been sloppy can tell you that hairspray really, really hurts when it gets in your eyes, and most cops wouldn't even blink at finding one in a bag.

[Sheldonrs]

What about spray paint? This way you can blind them and tag them at the same time. :-)

[DGoddessChardonnay]

What about spray paint? This way you can blind them and tag them at the same time. :-)

Like a can of safety orange Krylon would be a common item to find in a woman's purse.

Now the hairspray idea sounds pretty clever . . . you never know when you'll need an extra spritz to hold that cowlick in place.

[greek_jester]

Now the hairspray idea sounds pretty clever . . . you never know when you'll need an extra spritz to hold that cowlick in place.

One of the more practical health & safety classes back in high school, girls only

I kind of miss the '80s; Big Hair(TM) meant you could legitimately carry around a solid metal comb with a 4 inch spike for a handle (perfect for primping hair back-combed to a near afro). Combined with pocket hairspray, you were *sorted* in the self defence department!

[MoonCat]

You can still carry a big metal comb. No one would think anything of it. I like the hairspray idea, but I've always heard that if you do something like that, you better be sure you incapacitate them because if you just make them mad, you could be in for even more trouble.

[ComputerNecromancer]

You can still carry a big metal comb. No one would think anything of it. I like the hairspray idea, but I've always heard that if you do something like that, you better be sure you incapacitate them because if you just make them mad, you could be in for even more trouble.

It's true. Back in Junior high I was walking with a friend to his home after school when a guy who'd been bullying me came up to us and nailed me in the face with a tear gas pen (this was in the late 60s, long before pepper spray).

Unfortunately for him, I wore glasses. and had some bad allergies. The glasses kept it from getting into my eyes. I still teared up pretty bad, but it wasn't *that* much worse than a bad allergy attack.

Fortunately(?) for the bully, he could outrun me.

In spite of my friend telling me it was a bad idea I walked back to school and talked to one of the counselors about the attack. My friend verified my story.

typical stupidity, both I and the bully were suspended from school.

I understand the bully also got in trouble for having the tear gas. As well as for having shoplifted it.

If I knew then what I know now, I'd have called the police instead.

[fireheart]

Hair spray wouldn't work because I very rarely wear my hair up, but I like the idea. A comb or brush would work too.

I remember reading in one of the Heather Wells mysteries (very underrated series by the way) where the suggestion was to throw a pair of scissors at the attacker. Not gonna happen

For a while I used to carry a panic alarm in my bag. I may do this again come winter.

[notalwaysright]

the suggestion was to throw a pair of scissors at the attacker.

Years ago, in my drivers ed class (which was at an independent place, not my high school because they stopped offering it) the teacher showed us how to gouge out an attackers eyes with our car keys. I have very little experience with fighting, but the little I do know is that I fight dirty and go for the balls.

[dawnfire]

Hair spray wouldn't work because I very rarely wear my hair up, but I like the idea. A comb or brush would work too.

I remember reading in one of the Heather Wells mysteries (very underrated series by the way) where the suggestion was to throw a pair of scissors at the attacker. Not gonna happen

For a while I used to carry a panic alarm in my bag. I may do this again come winter.

deodorant will do just as good. try for something nasty smelling like impulse

[fireheart]

deodorant will do just as good. try for something nasty smelling like impulse

I was thinking Lynx (Axe for those across the pond) since there's a his-and-hers variety floating around somewhere.

My partner thankfully does not use Lynx.

[Barracuda]

If you have glasses, ammonia in a spray container. Works equally well for blinding attackers or cleaning off your glasses. :-)

[dawnfire]

I was thinking Lynx (Axe for those across the pond) since there's a his-and-hers variety floating around somewhere.

My partner thankfully does not use Lynx.

that should be vile enough

[XCashier]

typical stupidity, both I and the bully were suspended from school.

Well, that sucks. It should've been blatantly obvious that you were the victim here and didn't deserve the suspension. Did schools have that "zero intelligence tolerance" nonsense back in the late 60s, too?

If I knew then what I know now, I'd have called the police instead.

Especially since you were walking home and it wasn't on school grounds. Good old 20/20 hindsight...