From: utzoo!decvax!cwruecmp!glassner
Newsgroups: net.misc
Title: Long story and question
Article-I.D.: cwruecmp.530
Posted: Mon Feb 28 17:20:30 1983
Received: Tue Mar  1 05:25:36 1983


	A while back on net.physics there was
a discussion on the "most proper" procedure
to follow when you're outside and caught
in a rainstorm.
	I was in a similar-but-different kind
of situation last night.  I worked here in the
computer room until about 5am, when I decided
to head back to my dorm and catch a couple of
hours of sleep before classes.  We're located
in an urban part of Cleveland very near to where
the famous "Hough riots" occured several years
ago.  The neighborhood is not very good; in fact
three years ago my girlfriend-at-the-time and I
were held up at gunpoint no more than 100 yards
from the dormitories.
	I wasn't concerned, though, as I walked
back to the dorm last night, until I heard a
gunshot from ahead of me.  I know how backfiring
cars sound, and I know how gunshots sound, and
in the quiet early morning there was no mistaking
that crackle of violent sound.
	As I approached the dorms I heard some
people talking and laughing loudly, and I heard
a rifle being cocked.  Now, I don't know how far
away this all was from where I was walking, but
there were no sounds at all at this time and the
noise carried clearly to me.  Needless to say, I
was pretty scared.
	I imagined myself snug in my bed and started
to walk faster, willing my head and eyes not to
look around to find the source of the noise.  The
shouting men sounded like they were closer to me
as I walked, and despite my most positive thinking
I was really frightened.
	As I got closer to my dorm I tried to think
of the best strategy to take.  I had to cross
several open spaces to get to the dorm - or to any
of the dorms, and there was absolutely no one else
around except me and these mystery voices who I had
by now completely associated with the gunshot.
	It seemed reasonable that if they were looking
to scare me and thought that they might shoot near me
for fun they might miss and hit me, which I didn't want
to have happen.  So the best thing to do would be to
walk along nonchalantly and not tempt them to have
some fun at my expense.
	However, if they were loonies or had just
really shot someone (not an uncommon occurance; there
are reports in the paper daily) then they might be
pretty wacked-out and unpredictable.  Perhaps they
would want to get rid of anyone they saw immediately
after the gunshot in a paranoid fear of capture.
So if they hadn't seen me yet the best course of action
would be to run quietly but as quickly as possible to
the dorms and inside.
	Walk or run?
	I didn't really think more about it, my legs
started to go and I ran for the dorms.  But I tried
to optimize my chances by occasionally staggering in
strange directions and changing my course.  Once I
got to the dorms I ran in and upstairs, and didn't
really feel safe again until I was inside my room.
	What do you think?  Was that the right thing
to do?  I know that the whole thing sounds paranoid,
but when you're in a dangerous neighborhood and in
this kind of situation you think more about survival
than looking foolish.  What would you do?

	-Andrew