Hypothetical Situation: At your favorite restaurant

[tauruspt145]

I would do a tactical roll out of my chair while drawing my weapon. The bad guy would turn to fire and i would do a backflip overhim screaming out my best kung fu noise while he fires and misses me. I would land dirrectly behind him and pistol whip him nocking him out, then tip my instructor hat to the lady behind the counter and go back to eating.

[glbedd53]

I sure don't want to ever have to use my gun. But what I worry about more than that is, would I freeze?

[Oldgringo]

I sure don't want to ever have to use my gun. But what I worry about more than that is, would I freeze?

Freezing is one thing but what are you gonna' do about your britches?

[Embalmo]

I sure don't want to ever have to use my gun. But what I worry about more than that is, would I freeze?

Being a hero is another thing, but I'm guessing that when you or your family is threatened, survivor mode will kick in and you'll do what you need to do.

[Embalmo]

I would do a tactical roll out of my chair while drawing my weapon. The bad guy would turn to fire and i would do a backflip overhim screaming out my best kung fu noise while he fires and misses me. I would land dirrectly behind him and pistol whip him nocking him out, then tip my instructor hat to the lady behind the counter and go back to eating.

You joke, but there are those who are looking for an opportunity to do a variation of this.

[glbedd53]

As for the britches, I always wear the brown pants when I go to a restaurant.

[longtooth]

Lets not get too far off topic please.

[Hoi Polloi]

I think most people can realistically assess how they respond to emergencies and then can plan accordingly.

For example, I know that in emergency situations that I am as cool as a cucumber and do everything by the book, so much as I know what the book says at least. Everything I learned on the topic floods through my brain, almost like a photographic memory but in thoughts. It's like I instantaneously am making simultaneous flow charts for every possible response and their eventual outcomes, but inside my head it is almost like it happens in slow motion. I have been told that most people do not respond to emergencies like this and I do not consider it any great honor--just a product of my genetics and upbringing. In my situation, I know that the best thing I can do is learn intricacies, cause and effect, and possible ways of addressing issues (feed my brain), then practice as needed for muscle memory. Therefore, my biggest possible weaknesses are not having any knowledge on the subject to call upon or not having the tools/objects that I need accessible.

Others who find that they do not think so much as act on instinct when under great pressure would do best to practice instantaneous decision making and muscle memory first, like through IDPA. Those who are more likely to freeze would do well to be even more vigilant about not putting themselves in questionable situations, to know how to deescalate and escape problematic situations, and to practice high stress decision making.

Of course, all of these are useful skills that everyone should practice, but which ones are really made a priority depend on one's life and personality because what you're trying to do is play to your strengths and counterbalance your weaknesses, and those will change greatly from one person to another.

[longtooth]

That last paragraph is an excellent summary.