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.

SELF-FENSE: Propaganda Movies

Blog Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)

Movies created for the sole purpose of persuading, manipulating and influencing how others think, feel and with a result of driving to specific actions. “Devised to fill the population, especially the military with enthusiasm for their country and, if necessary, to bolster them to lay down their lives.” - Cobelli

The purpose of this article is to inform others that the media, especially the social cell phone videos used in legal matters and not so legal matters, is similar in nature to propaganda films, i.e., “If you are aware that these movies are propaganda-like then their message may be discredited unless other overwhelming evidence is associated. Example, when being formally interviewed you notice the camera and its position being behind the interviewer, pointing over his or her shoulder and focused directly on your face. Knowing how that set up can influence others in a negative way, against you, you can stop the interview and insist on a change where the camera is set to the side so both the interviewer and you are being recorded in profile. 

It is also best to accept and understand how this type of propaganda-like evidence works against you, here are some reasons why:
  1. These propaganda-like videos strike a chord where this influence will increase over time. Say the time of the trial and deliberation, etc.
  2. Human memories; the source of an argument fades faster than the argument.
  3. Human brains quickly forget where the information came from (e.g., from the Dept of Propaganda).
  4. The message itself will remain fading more slowly and possibly even endures over time. 
  5. Any knowledge stemming from such video’s gains credibility over time while any discrediting force melts away faster than the message. Remember that the message is often an interpretation presented from an agenda driven source such as a prosecutor hell bent on seeing you convicted. 
This is important and you may have to present this to your attorney unless he or she has extensive experience in self-defense law, etc. Video’s from cell phones, security camera’s and other sources are like entertainment industry movies where light, angles and other content such as voices and added materials tend to be agenda driven and cause a huge amount of influence to the viewers. You have to get a handle on that and refute or discredit the material knowing full well your influence compliance efforts must surpass those of a prosecutor and other professionals who provide influences in front of a court (judges and/or jurors, etc.).

This sleeper effect can be combated by the above and with the following:
  • Don’t accept any video or media at face value and no unsolicited advice even if it seems well meant. Remember, control the information for it can be agenda driven and manipulative, i.e., compliance profession influence principled created and presented.
  • Avoid contaminated sources like the plague. Remember, evidence if not controlled with strict security requirements can be manipulated much like many of the video’s presented on social media where text is added and commentary that is almost always agenda driven, etc.
  • Remember as best you can every source of every argument you encounter and be prepared to analyze it like a scientist without emotional interference. 
  • Ask:
    • Whose opinions are these?
    • Is there an agenda?
    • Why does that opinion/person think that way?
    • Who benefits?
    • Do you have every single recording and is it possible only selected video’s are being used? 
    • Who were the sources of the evidence, recordings, and other stuff?
A lot of work but having this kind of information and making sure your attorney has it and uses it, especially to counter the propaganda-like presentations recorded on cells, etc., could make the difference. 

Oh, you say that these video’s for evidence are NOT propaganda but when defined you get, “Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.” Remember, the videographer be they professional or even just the guy with the cell phone are all influenced by their beliefs, perceptions and how the distinguish events in relation to those influences so the very way the record that video as to angle, lighting and other such media video things does influence a person viewing that video. 

So, even if the term seems inappropriate, remember it does influence how you are thinking of it and this article, it is actually relevant but where the example of compliance influences strikes a cord is this, “It too influences how you perceive and believe it and this article, doesn’t it?”

Bwahahahhahahahaha!!!

Bibliography (Click the link)



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