Environments of Aggression

Daniel LaRusso: You really think I can beat that guy?
Miyagi: No matter. Wacko teacher attitude rest in fist. Stupid but fact of life. Win, lose...no matter. You make good fight...earn respect...then nobody bother.
--The Karate Kid

Central to principled self-defense is to be ready. To anticipate danger. Part of this involves knowing factors that foster environments of aggression.

Two conditions attract aggressors like flies: weakness and surprise. Aggressors prefer to attack people who are incapable of defending themselves when attacked. And they like to attack unannounced. Weakness and surprise increase the likelihood that aggressors will be successful.

Here is a one question quiz that tests your understanding of environments that invite aggression:

Schools have always been target rich environments for bad guys. Lots of kids who are relatively weak and unprepared. Adding a promise of no guns on the premises essentially transforms schools into defense free crime zones.

Although the concept seems counter intuitive to some, schools that voluntarily arm themselves reduce conditions of threat in their environments.