by pirxthepilot » Fri Dec 16, 2016 7:46 pm
yes, all violence is absolutely horrible. couple of weeks ago i was walking down a local street as it was getting dark. i'd been recovering from an operation and had just picked up my medication. a motor scooter with learner plates came towards me, veering all over the road; it passed very close to me - too close- and i said something aloud along the lines of 'fucks sake man' and kept walking, then decided to stop in at a bookstore (the guy who sometimes stays at kanye west's house in LA, if anyone remembers that anecdote).
as i was talking to this bookseller i suddenly saw his face register alarm. the scooter driver had followed me in, full helmet and overalls, and was bearing right down on me as i turned. i used to box a little at middleweight and have sparred with ranked amateurs, would generally think i could put up some kind of defense in this situation but the guy was huge, genuinely like a young mike tyson, it would've been pointless me even trying.strangely i felt no fear and didn't even register pain as he headbutted me in the face; i mustve instinctively ducked my head so took the impact on my forehead (very fortunate, my nose would've been shattered).
thankfully at this point the bookseller guy made an attempt to intervene- at least he came out from behind the counter and said 'hey dont do that' or something. i think this brought the attacker back to some kind of sense- he'd been boiling with pure rage- when he realised there was an 'active' witness, there might be cameras etc. he turned around and walked out.
at the time i was curiously detached, just carried on paying for my book. i remember noticing the bookseller's hand tremble as he handed me the receipt.
it's hard not to replay all the different scenarios: if he'd caught up with me on the street, in the dark, im sure he would've hurt me badly. it was very lucky that conor the bookseller had it in him to get involved, i dont think many people would have. if i'd gone into the coffee shop next door, no way the kids there would've said anything for example.
i think the whole detachment aspect is interesting too, and i've noticed it at other similar moments in my life: in those instants you are simply present to the situation, your whole being is focused and you don't have any extraneous sensory data or emotions. that all floods in afterwards.
Last edited by
pirxthepilot on Sat Dec 17, 2016 6:56 am, edited 1 time in total.