General Discussion

Ron Obvious

(6,261 posts)

36. As humans, we get used to just about anything.

Mon Apr 8, 2013, 02:55 PM

Apr 2013

We're just so wired to adapt to changing circumstances, so I expect how you feel right now will fade soon enough. You won't forget it, but you won't be thinking about it all that often either after a while. Talking about it probably helps.

Thing is, we're so casual about guns & violence in our entertainment and on TV, that you don't really understand what it's like to witness it in real life until you actually find yourself in these kinds of circumstances. It's true that time really does slow down and your senses become much more acute as you think "whoa, this shit's REAL!". It makes you feel very vulnerable about every aspect of life for a while, but as I said, it fades fairly quickly.

I'm fortunate to be clear-headed and calm in a crisis, but I usually feel the fear sink into my legs when they're over as I start thinking "what if..."

Funny you mentioning Challenger. I'd just gotten married a few days before that happened and missed the whole thing. I was a big fan of the Space programme too.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

72 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Has anyone here ever witnessed a shooting? [View all] Tommy_Carcetti Apr 2013 OP

Didn't witness it personally, but in college I was in a club Blue_Tires Apr 2013 #1

Tom, what you experienced is worst nadinbrzezinski Apr 2013 #2

I can understand why many combat vets do not want to talk about their experiences. Tommy_Carcetti Apr 2013 #4

There is another reason nadinbrzezinski Apr 2013 #13

Most of us in Vietnam were drafted. We didn't upaloopa Apr 2013 #26

Yeah, I don't get that argument either. Tommy_Carcetti Apr 2013 #28

The war and the draft lasted 10 years. So much for drafts ending wars. upaloopa Apr 2013 #29

Witnessed, no. Know someone who got shot domestically, yes. HughBeaumont Apr 2013 #3

That's a good ending to a harrowing story. nt Tommy_Carcetti Apr 2013 #5

Drunk guy came out of a bar next to a gas station I was fueling at. onehandle Apr 2013 #6

The first time I went to NYC deutsey Apr 2013 #7

The only time I've come upon the scene of a shooting Art_from_Ark Apr 2013 #60

Sort of - I was accidentally shot by my brother tularetom Apr 2013 #8

Because you were a Responsible Twelve while *he* was IdaBriggs Apr 2013 #14

Well, yes and no tularetom Apr 2013 #21

Yes, about 10 years ago. A guy was shot across the street from me. I heard about sinkingfeeling Apr 2013 #9

I saw my brother shoot and kill my father. Tierra_y_Libertad Apr 2013 #10

Wow. nt Tommy_Carcetti Apr 2013 #11

Jesus! Le Taz Hot Apr 2013 #62

About 3 hours of machine gun and small arms fire KurtNYC Apr 2013 #12

Who had machine guns in the Rodney King riot? No helicopter shootings, no Malitov cocktails. kwassa Apr 2013 #58

Who had a machine gun in Los Angeles ? -- If you ask that then you NEVER lived in Los Angeles KurtNYC Apr 2013 #64

I was right there, and I lived in Los Angeles 17 years. kwassa Apr 2013 #72

Yes, between police and some guy in a parking lot in San Francisco FarCenter Apr 2013 #15

My SO was in his office marions ghost Apr 2013 #16

Wow, that's a lot. nt Tommy_Carcetti Apr 2013 #25

Suppose so-- marions ghost Apr 2013 #31

Saw a young man twitching, flat on his stomach in a pool of blood. Shot in the back by a cop leveymg Apr 2013 #17

Yes. Once saw someone shot on the street, once shot at, came up on the aftermath about three times. haele Apr 2013 #18

I had a gun pointed at my face one time...other than that no. rustydog Apr 2013 #19

Not quite the same thing but I was mugged at gun point by 2 youths justiceischeap Apr 2013 #20

Witnessed a drive-by shooting outside a club aint_no_life_nowhere Apr 2013 #22

I've been held up at gun point, but no shots were fired. Cleita Apr 2013 #23

Lee Harvey Oswald, live on T.V. Greybnk48 Apr 2013 #24

Oh, yeah I did see that. I forgot after all those years. Cleita Apr 2013 #42

I saw it, too, as clear as day. I was 11 years old. kwassa Apr 2013 #59

A police shooting where the suspect was wounded mrdmk Apr 2013 #27

"ex" marions ghost Apr 2013 #32

Shootings SamKnause Apr 2013 #30

Guns Ron Obvious Apr 2013 #33

The thing is, I had never been witness to a murder until last week. Tommy_Carcetti Apr 2013 #34

As humans, we get used to just about anything. Ron Obvious Apr 2013 #36

My "Shit Just Got Real" moment.... Tommy_Carcetti Apr 2013 #39

Foreigners from countries where guns don't rule marions ghost Apr 2013 #35

Yes Ron Obvious Apr 2013 #38

Sounds dangerous marions ghost Apr 2013 #44

It was very dangerous Ron Obvious Apr 2013 #45

No, and I hope I never do n/t shanti Apr 2013 #37

Did you know the woman he shot? UnrepentantLiberal Apr 2013 #40

I'm sure I saw her once or twice in the elevator..... Tommy_Carcetti Apr 2013 #41

Spooky and horrible. UnrepentantLiberal Apr 2013 #51

My very unstable neighbor shot 4 police officers across the street from me. SalviaBlue Apr 2013 #43

We are asking the police to engage in gun battles marions ghost Apr 2013 #50

Yes, more times than I can recall Demo_Chris Apr 2013 #46

in 1979 MFM008 Apr 2013 #47

Yes. My ex shot at my head three times. He missed, but Pathwalker Apr 2013 #48

I think it counts marions ghost Apr 2013 #49

He found me. Pathwalker Apr 2013 #67

10 years ago I was involved in a shootout.... Bennyboy Apr 2013 #52

I've been shot at. It hit my ear, so it mostly missed. PDJane Apr 2013 #53

Yes, in Baltimore rightsideout Apr 2013 #54

I saw a friend's mother get killed. DollarBillHines Apr 2013 #55

January 22, 2000 Throd Apr 2013 #56

Too many times bottomofthehill Apr 2013 #57

Several times sarisataka Apr 2013 #61

Thank you. nt Tommy_Carcetti Apr 2013 #66

Not during the time of the event, but directly after twice in a downtown location. freshwest Apr 2013 #63

yes, some suicides mostly though gunfights. loli phabay Apr 2013 #65

So Tommy marions ghost Apr 2013 #68

I can only hope it is not more pandemic. Tommy_Carcetti Apr 2013 #69

I was a 20 year old, night shift waitress at Sambos likesmountains 52 Apr 2013 #70

kids killing kids marions ghost Apr 2013 #71