[Jdpaul88]

Originally Posted by Sheikah

I'm starting to feel like a lab rat lol!!!!

Funny you say university as some very ugly things are happening in my university at the moment.

I'm pretty sure the fear is based on the idea of being alone in a dark place where it's not very clear what might be hiding around...

You're right on that..ugly things happen every where in the world. You're not going to find one square mile of earthly land that does not contain some aspect of evilness or wrongdoing, but there is always the option to over come your fear. For a few months while I was in high school, I use to run late at night (2-3 AM). I stopped just because i was gifted with a gym and an outside track field if I ever needed it. To share my testimony, I do believe that one of the reasons women do not run at night is because of the darkness. When I ran, I felt like I was not being exposed to everything around me. Darkness masks what light will illuminate so when you're running at night you often will question what is beyond a certain distance or point. In all my nights of late, late running, I had never experienced anything out of the ordinary. Often times, it is your mind playing tricks on you, making you believe in something that is not there. You could think of it as the self-fulfilling prophecy, I guess. I experienced two things out of all my nightly runnings. Once, a girl in a car stopped to ask me if I saw a dog. I did and I told her what way it went. The other time, two girls stopped and asked me if I saw a man walking down the street. I did and I told him what way he went. Granted, I am a guy, but I am not enormous by any means. I weigh about 139. I could pass as a chick any day and I have a very, very lean body build. I guess what I am trying to say here is that if you are going to buy into fear, that's what you're going to get. If you decide to go out at night and run or just walk around, you face your fears and you will learn that you have the capability of doing things you never thought you could. I would also say that it depends on the type of community you live in. Example..there is a part of Omaha that had 31 shootings in the month of duly. 18 in August. On the other hand, there is a small community about 10 minutes away that is very peaceful and calm. My neighborhood is what I would call 'promise land's' track because everyone is so cheerful and benevolent. I guess there will be a point in your life where you will have to rationalize what you're really afraid and what fear you're just buying into. Chances are you won't get raped, you just think you will.

[brewgrl]

Originally Posted by Aprill849

For real, ditto to that, my husband worked in New Orleans two weeks there and a week off for 6 months and with 3 children at home, and one of the being a newborn at the time, my desert eagle kept me safe. Now dont get me wrong, I have a license to carry it, and I trained over 100 hours to use it, I am not worried about anything, and even if I didnt have her, I still have my hands, but if anyone touches a door or windows.....

YOU GO GIRL!!! that why you are a SUPER Mod!

[Jdpaul88]

Originally Posted by brewgrl

yep- Universities are so safe for us freaked out women....

Rape Reports on the Rise
October 4, 2007
Reported sex offenses at Stanford spiked in 2006, according to the latest Safety & Security Report, released last Friday by the Stanford Department of Public Safety. Of notable interest, the annual tally showed that the number of on-campus forcible rapes reported to the police jumped from zero in 2005 to nine in 2006.

The statistics are particularly relevant in light of a string of recent sexual assault cases, including a sexual battery incident that took place outside of Kimball Hall last Monday night.

The magnitude of the increase in reported rapes came as a shock to officials. After reviewing the 2006 figures, Stanford Police Deputy Chris Cohendet consulted Vaden Health Center yesterday about the possibility of any counting mistakes or double reporting of figures.

The numbers most likely do not indicate the presence of a predator, Davis added. Since the departure of the “serial groper” who prowled campus on a bicycle several years ago, no sexual predators have been suspected on campus.

A university campus is just as harmful to a man as it is to a woman.

[BeneBaby]

[quote=Jdpaul88;1169060]If, hypothetically, you were given the option to run around a track on, let's say, a university campus, would you? The track would most likely be gated up because that's what they do to most track fields at night. So, if that's the case, why wouldn't you take the opportunity to run a few laps? Why not get your exercise? I understand there are obvious reasons as to why women don't run around neighborhoods or near heavily traveled roads at night, but honestly, Is this fear natural? Or is it a fear you (and most women) might have acquired through your childhood and teenage years? Is it because of the media? Statistics say that 14.8% of women are victims of rape. What's funny is that, I only get this response from women when I tell them to go jog at night. However, I see women walking at late hours or going to the bar, going to stores, going to clubs. Their chances of getting raped are just the same. It's not logical reasoning. Rapes happen at all hours of the day. quote]

First off....we're not talking about jogging at night. This thread was called "Do you get scared when you are HOME alone? I think many of us here have every reason to be afraid. I have been a victim of violence before. Your statistics don't make a difference to someone whose life has been affected by rape or murder or brutality. Most Women I know would never walk alone at night...not even when they are out at clubs, stores etc. I agree the chances are the same anywhere, and I am aware that rape occurs at any hour. Again....this thread wasn't about that??? Let's stay on topic and be a little more sensitive to some peoples fears. Even if you think they are irrational "Womanly" fears.

[Jdpaul88]

[quote=BeneBaby;1169077]

Originally Posted by Jdpaul88

If, hypothetically, you were given the option to run around a track on, let's say, a university campus, would you? The track would most likely be gated up because that's what they do to most track fields at night. So, if that's the case, why wouldn't you take the opportunity to run a few laps? Why not get your exercise? I understand there are obvious reasons as to why women don't run around neighborhoods or near heavily traveled roads at night, but honestly, Is this fear natural? Or is it a fear you (and most women) might have acquired through your childhood and teenage years? Is it because of the media? Statistics say that 14.8% of women are victims of rape. What's funny is that, I only get this response from women when I tell them to go jog at night. However, I see women walking at late hours or going to the bar, going to stores, going to clubs. Their chances of getting raped are just the same. It's not logical reasoning. Rapes happen at all hours of the day. quote]

First off....we're not talking about jogging at night. This thread was called "Do you get scared when you are HOME alone? I think many of us here have every reason to be afraid. I have been a victim of violence before. Your statistics don't make a difference to someone whose life has been affected by rape or murder or brutality. Most Women I know would never walk alone at night...not even when they are out at clubs, stores etc. I agree the chances are the same anywhere, and I am aware that rape occurs at any hour. Again....this thread wasn't about that??? Let's stay on topic and be a little more sensitive to some peoples fears. Even if you think they are irrational "Womanly" fears.

Well, I wouldn't say I was being arrogant. I was looking at perspectives and seeking out differing views on the matter. I was curious! You're right, I should have twisted my responses so they wouldn't have deviated too far from the actual topic at hand. Anyways, I hope all your jogging experiences from here on out are sun-filled, heart pounding, and rape-free.

[Aprill]

"One in six American women are victims of sexual assault, and one in 33 men."

so ummm yeah JD, it is understandable that we women would be in more fear than men, you as a male are not the target in most cases and one in 33 of you are victims......

[BeneBaby]

[quote=Jdpaul88;1169084]

Originally Posted by BeneBaby

Well, I wouldn't say I was being arrogant. I was looking at perspectives and seeking out differing views on the matter. I was curious! You're right, I should have twisted my responses so they wouldn't have deviated too far from the actual topic at hand. Anyways, I hope all your jogging experiences from here on out are sun-filled, heart pounding, and rape-free.

Well thank you for the rape-free well wishes......ugh. My house has been broken into twice. Back to the original topic.....

-I also jump out of bed and look out the blinds if the lights on motion sensor go off. We have flood lights that light up the whole street....it's usually a deer!

-If I am really freaked I let out the The Pitbulls to do a "yard check", the Pugs are pretty much useless...they'd lick an intruder to death.

[Jdpaul88]

Originally Posted by BeneBaby

Well thank you for the rape-free well wishes......ugh. My house has been broken into twice. Back to the original topic.....

-I also jump out of bed and look out the blinds if the lights on motion sensor go off. We have flood lights that light up the whole street....it's usually a deer!

-If I am really freaked I let out the The Pitbulls to do a "yard check", the Pugs are pretty much useless...they'd lick an intruder to death.

That's not that bad. I bet there are some girls who could write a whole novel on their fears.

[Aprill]

true....but...what's your point

[Jdpaul88]

Originally Posted by Aprill849

true....but...what's your point

I guess my point is that, being afraid of a lot of things can affect someone in many varying ways. Sometimes bad by the case of anxiety or over-worrying. It CAN lead to emotional trauma, but it doesn't have to.

[Sheikah]

[quote=BeneBaby;1169077]



Plus while I agree we should face our fears and not let them control us. There's just something really stupid about putting myself in disadvantage by running in the darkness just to say I did. There are irrational fears, like the fear of roaches. You can face it and overcome it because it's something that poses no harm, but the fear you're talking about is a very rational fear and it doesn't matter how secure you think a place is there's always a first time. You might live in Pleasantville but at least I don't. My house has been broken into before, things have happened in pretty much everyplace I've been. There's nothing wrong or stupid with being alert and avoiding situations of obvious disadvantage, the first step to becoming a victim is thinking things are never going to happen to you.

[Leony]

Nope not anymore. I used to though but now not anymore because I have two dogs at home, they help me to stay alert.

[BeneBaby]

Originally Posted by Jdpaul88

That's not that bad. I bet there are some girls who could write a whole novel on their fears.

I'm one of those...how nice for me huh!! It's awesome living in a World that cultivates fear in you....