Please take a look at Articles on self-defense/conflict/violence for introductions to the references found in the bibliography page.

Please take a look at my bibliography if you do not see a proper reference to a post.

Please take a look at my Notable Quotes

Hey, Attention on Deck!

Hey, NOTHING here is PERSONAL, get over it - Teach Me and I will Learn!


When you begin to feel like you are a tough guy, a warrior, a master of the martial arts or that you have lived a tough life, just take a moment and get some perspective with the following:


I've stopped knives that were coming to disembowel me

I've clawed for my gun while bullets ripped past me

I've dodged as someone tried to put an ax in my skull

I've fought screaming steel and left rubber on the road to avoid death

I've clawed broken glass out of my body after their opening attack failed

I've spit blood and body parts and broke strangle holds before gouging eyes

I've charged into fires, fought through blizzards and run from tornados

I've survived being hunted by gangs, killers and contract killers

The streets were my home, I hunted in the night and was hunted in turn


Please don't brag to me that you're a survivor because someone hit you. And don't tell me how 'tough' you are because of your training. As much as I've been through I know people who have survived much, much worse. - Marc MacYoung

WARNING, CAVEAT AND NOTE

The postings on this blog are my interpretation of readings, studies and experiences therefore errors and omissions are mine and mine alone. The content surrounding the extracts of books, see bibliography on this blog site, are also mine and mine alone therefore errors and omissions are also mine and mine alone and therefore why I highly recommended one read, study, research and fact find the material for clarity. My effort here is self-clarity toward a fuller understanding of the subject matter. See the bibliography for information on the books. Please make note that this article/post is my personal analysis of the subject and the information used was chosen or picked by me. It is not an analysis piece because it lacks complete and comprehensive research, it was not adequately and completely investigated and it is not balanced, i.e., it is my personal view without the views of others including subject experts, etc. Look at this as “Infotainment rather then expert research.” This is an opinion/editorial article/post meant to persuade the reader to think, decide and accept or reject my premise. It is an attempt to cause change or reinforce attitudes, beliefs and values as they apply to martial arts and/or self-defense. It is merely a commentary on the subject in the particular article presented.


Note: I will endevor to provide a bibliography and italicize any direct quotes from the materials I use for this blog. If there are mistakes, errors, and/or omissions, I take full responsibility for them as they are mine and mine alone. If you find any mistakes, errors, and/or omissions please comment and let me know along with the correct information and/or sources.



“What you are reading right now is a blog. It’s written and posted by me, because I want to. I get no financial remuneration for writing it. I don’t have to meet anyone’s criteria in order to post it. Not only I don’t have an employer or publisher, but I’m not even constrained by having to please an audience. If people won’t like it, they won’t read it, but I won’t lose anything by it. Provided I don’t break any laws (libel, incitement to violence, etc.), I can post whatever I want. This means that I can write openly and honestly, however controversial my opinions may be. It also means that I could write total bullshit; there is no quality control. I could be biased. I could be insane. I could be trolling. … not all sources are equivalent, and all sources have their pros and cons. These needs to be taken into account when evaluating information, and all information should be evaluated. - God’s Bastard, Sourcing Sources (this applies to this and other blogs by me as well; if you follow the idea's, advice or information you are on your own, don't come crying to me, it is all on you do do the work to make sure it works for you!)



“You should prepare yourself to dedicate at least five or six years to your training and practice to understand the philosophy and physiokinetics of martial arts and karate so that you can understand the true spirit of everything and dedicate your mind, body and spirit to the discipline of the art.” - cejames (note: you are on your own, make sure you get expert hands-on guidance in all things martial and self-defense)



“All I say is by way of discourse, and nothing by way of advice. I should not speak so boldly if it were my due to be believed.” - Montaigne


I am not a leading authority on any one discipline that I write about and teach, it is my hope and wish that with all the subjects I have studied it provides me an advantage point that I offer in as clear and cohesive writings as possible in introducing the matters in my materials. I hope to serve as one who inspires direction in the practitioner so they can go on to discover greater teachers and professionals that will build on this fundamental foundation. Find the authorities and synthesize a wholehearted and holistic concept, perception and belief that will not drive your practices but rather inspire them to evolve, grow and prosper. My efforts are born of those who are more experienced and knowledgable than I. I hope you find that path! See the bibliography I provide for an initial list of experts, professionals and masters of the subjects.

Othering ? (Doing Harm)


Othering: It is about the self and the group or tribe especially in violent scenario's. The term actually opposes the "Same." When in a group that is "tight" there seems to have some sameness in common. It is cultural along with a belief system that supports the group cohesiveness whereby the group or tribe will work as one for survival. Other refers to that which is other than the initial concept considered. It is a person other than one's self. They are identified as "different." 

This is a term used for social science to understand the processes of the tribe who will exclude "Others" to whom they want to subordinate or that don't fit the cultural belief system of that tribe. It is about comprehending who the "Other" person is and involves the roles for that person as it might compare to the group or tribe. 

Segregation comes from othering as to this perception. To be admitted to a group the "Other" must meet a certain role be they male or female, etc. Othering is about determining that which is uncertain, as to the tribe, and what is certain for that tribe. 

To "Other" a person or group is to provide the means of "dehumanizing" that person or group. It provides justifications any attempt by one group to civilize, according to that groups culture, beliefs and roles, another group and then, if that fails, provide the excuse to exploit the other group as "inferior" to themselves. It makes it easier to become violent and to kill the other group or tribe. 

In martial arts circles even with groups studying and practicing the same system or style will tend to "Other" the factions of that system for the same reasoning defined here. Isshinryu for instance has at least five major factions within the system in the West. These factions or groups are tied to a particular person in a particular area of the country. Most from the Eastern seaboard of the America's and two from the Western. Then there are sub-factions that branched off from these five major tribes of Isshinryu. This is not just indicative of the Isshinryu system but all the systems and extends to other countries such as European and even Asian. 

Groups who other tend to do this so they can utilize actions that fall into the "asocial" spectrum, i.e. this is how the military can train soldiers to kill the enemy, i.e. the word enemy itself is about "Othering" a group outside the group. This allows one human being to use more force on things that are "different then themselves." This can best be described as creating a mind-state that allow to squash bugs, hunt animals and fight humans, i.e. the more we convince ourselves that someone is not like us, the more force that can be used against that person, the faster we can apply that force against "Others" and we create a mind-state less likely to suffer the psychological ramifications one might encounter hurting one of the tribal members (remember survival of the tribe depends on not doing great damage, i.e. why social violence exists, of its members). 

Others is something that is and can be trained. The more you are able to "Other" the more you can use force without any hesitation and hesitation can mean the difference between even life and death. The idea is to achieve a certain level of removal of victims humanity that might restrict the use of force at all levels. 

This is a complex term that requires a good deal of study, training and practice under proper guidance and supervision as it can become something extreme resulting in a person being a predator vs. just a person doing their job in a violent discipline, i.e. police, military, etc. 

Bibliography:
"Other" Wikipedia, 02:26, 14 April 2012 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Other

Tanin [他人]

The characters/ideograms mean, "other people; others; another person; unrelated person (i.e. not related by blood); outsider; stranger." The first character means, "other; another; the others," the second character means, "person."

1 comment:

John Vesia said...

"Hell is other people."
- Jean-Paul Sartre