This email warning message was a hoax; misinformation. It was a clever variation of two popular messages merged into one "helpful" email. I was forwarded the email with a message stating that this could be a possible topic for my blog. It wasn't until I received a follow-up email with questions such as why would anyone do this, and what if this or what if that, that I decided this would be a good blog post (seeing as how I'm not quite ready to write the next article following my Outline for Preparedness), and well personal safety tips is definitely one of the paths I want to us to take on this blog.
How to identify an email hoax
So our first lesson, is how do you identify an email as a hoax? Simple! Google is your friend. Chances are by typing the quoted subject of the email into a search engine, and examining the hits, you might find supporting information proving or disproving the validity of the email. Of course, by a generic search you are still relying on the internet, which just lied to you by allowing this hoax to get to your inbox. Be sure to closely examine the sources of the information you are reviewing. I almost always find a link to snopes.com.
If you do not have any luck with the subject, try a searching for a line or keywords from the email.
What we can learn from misinformation
Let's take a look at the two hoaxes I received:
National Gang Week
http://www.snopes.com/crime/gangs/carseat.asp
The Knockoff Pullover
http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/fakecop.asp
I've received variations of these emails before, but never two in one email message, so this was a unique message to me.
Here is the thing about misinformation, although the facts many not be completely or even partiality true, when it comes to safety alerts, there is always a lesson to learn.
In the National Gang Week hoax, a baby car seat is mentioned as a lure to attract victims to abandon the safety of their vehicle under the guise that there is a poor and helpless child in need. Snopes warns that this is false, but I did come across a real life similar incident. A few months ago while at a gas station late one evening, an individual with a baby carrier in arm was slowly walking towards me with a sympathetic and desperate look. I knew better, and before the individual entered my 'social zone', I was safely back in my vehicle with my doors locked, and the ignition started. As I pulled away, I looked into an empty baby carrier. What the intentions of this individual were, I is anyone's guess. Likely he wanted to solicit me for money, or another possibility is that he was using the baby carrier as a tool to coax me to drop my guard and allow him to enter my 'personal zone' for an attack.
The moral here is that this email, although fake, and my story have a related lesson:
- First, be aware of your surroundings and the situation you are currently in or about to enter
- Secondly, do not leave the safety of your vehicle (or shelter) unless you are 100% sure that it is safe to do so, and realize that you may still be wrong about it the safety of the situation you are entering.
- Third, when suspicious circumstances arise contact the authorities immediately.
In The Knockoff Pullover hoax, there is excellent advise about acknowledging an unmarked police vehicle attempting to pull you over with the use of your hazard lights, and continuing to a well populated and well lit area while contacting the local authorities to appraise them of your situation and fears. Although snopes.com identified #77 as an invalid emergency number, I did test it from my mobile phone in Chicago, IL and it routed me to the Elgin, IL emergency response number. Likewise 112 (which is another popular emergency telephone number in many places of the world) routed me to the local 911 emergency dispatch center here in Chicago. Be warned however, that though Chicago and Elgin have adopted these numbers, it does not prove that they are actually official numbers. #77 and 112 might not work in every area, and you should stick with the officially posted emergency telephone numbers. Furthermore, calling Elgin for assistance when in Chicago will add a delay to a response.
It is imperative that everyone learns their local Emergency Telephone Number (911 in the US), but it is equally important to know the local emergency number for any area that you plan to visit (for instance 999 in the UK). I say that 'plan to visit' because you should have this information before you actually enter that area.
Additionally there are specific Highway Notification Numbers for each state in the US. These numbers were created to give callers direct access to Highway Patrol, rather than route through local dispatch of 911 call centers, as well as ease the call volume of 911.
Lesson about knowing your situation and the one you are about to enter
I recently heard a related story from one of our OC (Pepper Spray) students. While stopped at stop light, the student observed an individual in a wheelchair tip over and fall out of his chair onto the street. He was having difficultly getting back up, so the student and another individual left their vehicles to aid the man, our student even exited the vehicle leaving it running. Of course I'm thinking that this is an obvious hoax, and that either they would both be assaulted or mugged, or that their car would be burglarized or stolen. As the story unfolded, the individual suffered an aliment and really did need assistance. He also lived a few blocks down the street and was very grateful for the assistance.
Though this situation was safely resolved, you must always exercise caution before entering into an unknown situation; especially when going to the aid of someone. Actually if you have a passenger, you might even consider sending the passenger to investigate while you prepare to notify authorities. Leaving your passengers in your vehicle might provide complications for them if they need to move the vehicle or are approached or assaulted. If you must exit your vehicle properly secure your vehicle, and proceed with caution. If the situation seems as if it is or could be serious, you should contact the authorities before exiting your vehicle.
Keep in mind that your vehicle is not only a portable shelter, but is is also a weapon. If you are unable to defend yourself from a possible attack, the best assistance you might be able to provide is to ensure your doors are locked and windows are closed, pull over away from the situation and contact the authorities. All the while remain observant of the situation around you.
Social zones / distances
Finally, let's talk about some of the terms I used.
Your social zone is the furthest space from your body that one would enter to engage you in a conversation without shouting. In this zone you should not feel threatened, and you have allowed yourself enough room to take flight if necessary.
Beyond your social zone is the public zone. At this zone you cannot effectively communicate with someone without shouting, and it is not apparent if someone is following you or approaching you, they are just walking along. If attacked you usually have a choice between fight or flight.
Your personal zone is the space that you normally allow friends and family to enter, or and individual when you are engaged in direct conversation. At this distance you are more susceptible to an attacker, and would likely have to fight rather than be able to take flight. You do not want to allow strangers into your personal space.
Your intimate zone is the distance at which someone can reach out and touch you at arms length.
These zones are essentially defined by safety, communication, affection and threat. Everyone has a different definition of their zones, as we all have different comfort levels, and situations may change the threshold of these zones.
I like to use the example of a "close talker" when I discuss zones. You may have at one point met someone who stands a little bit too close to you when they talk to you. That is when the are entering your personal or intimate zone. I've often found myself putting a table or chair between myself and a close talker to feel more comfortable, or I end the conversation all together.
When someone enters into a zone that they are not allowed, it is your right to react and defend yourself if you feel threatened. We will not talk about techniques or defenses, as that's best done in person and requires training and practice, but knowing that these zones exist, having a clear definition of these zones, and knowing that it is your right to defend yourself when you feel threatened is a good start; along with the other lessons today.
There is one more zone I would like to define, and that is the invisible zone. This is everything outside of your public zone which is out of your perception. For example a building you are about to enter, or a an event a block away. This zone is invisible to you as you have no way to perceive a threat in that area. Though there is not much you can do to make that zone visible until it is reclassified, you should still be aware of it's existence.
You can research "Social Zones" or "Social Distance" for more in-depth articles and explanations. My descriptions come from a combat perspective.
Be aware and be safe!
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