Sea Kayaks Techniques Bulletin Board

Re: The panic reaction and a bear story

Posted By: sing
Date: Monday, 13 December 2004, at 11:16 a.m.

In Response To: Re: The panic reaction and a bear story (Will)

: Freezing is an instinct, it has its causes and its value. One freeze I've
: experienced twice was being wakened abruptly from a deep sleep and being
: completely paralyzed. This is not out of fear or panic, but part of the
: sleep process with some animal flight/fight value.
: The first time was a guy with a gun the second time someone who walked
: through my camp and stole my lantern. Movement in either case very likely
: would have caused more problems than solutions. (The shooter did shoot and
: went to prison for it).

: But practice makes perfect. Training, preparation and practice will always
: help in a stressful situation. Its panic that is hazardous. Practice
: rolling, practice rescues, bring extra food & water, go out for an
: afternoon-be prepared to stay for two nights. Using some compliated
: equipment like a camera or gun-practice practice practice.
: Battling bears is an interesting one because despite the number of tales true
: and tall there really is no firm body of information on exactly what to do
: in every possible situation. This is probably because bears tend to avoid
: humans unless they've been corrupted by dumps and toursit snacks. Polar
: Bears seem to generally require carrying a shot gun that is seldom used.
: (See "Four Against the Arctic" David Roberts --Spitsbergen
: -highest concentration of polar bears in the world.)
: btw the most dangerous animal any of us is ever likely to encounter is human.
: PBs and sharks are scary but pigs kill ten times as many people and people
: kill a hundred times more than pigs. In a kayak that means other kayakers,
: ourselves, unprepared for situations, mistakes-usually multiple mistakes,
: in ability to call for help, etc....
: W

Yes. Freeze may be natural and certainly a good instinct for a well camoflage animal. In humans, freeze due to choice may be a good thing. It's a decision to take (non)action. Freezing because of fear in, my mind, is not a good thing, having seen others "freeze" in bad situations.

I think training helps to avoid brain lock. I also think prior mindset training also helps to avoid brain lock. I happen to agree with Robert that one has to visualize acting no matter what. One has to believe and commit to that. That's part of mental preparation. You may not know the specifics of the exact scenario but you have believe and commit to acting to have a chance of prevailing.

As you may be aware, there is increasingly self defense literature (possible cross over to "bear defense"?) that coaches the proponent to think about various attack scenarios (as much as possible) and, more important, to visualize and commit to fighting back at all cost. This prior commitment can also help unlock the freeze.

sing

Messages In This Thread

Ditch Kit Contents Ideas For Long Kayaking Trips *LINK*
Robert N Pruden -- Sunday, 28 November 2004, at 7:29 p.m.

Re: Ditch Kit Contents Ideas THANK YOU
Magoo_ns -- Saturday, 4 December 2004, at 12:06 p.m.

Reentries
Robert N Pruden -- Saturday, 4 December 2004, at 7:29 p.m.

Re: Reentries
Brian Nystrom -- Monday, 6 December 2004, at 8:22 a.m.

Re: Reentries
Robert N Pruden -- Tuesday, 7 December 2004, at 6:35 a.m.

Re: Reentries
Alan -- Tuesday, 7 December 2004, at 10:29 a.m.

Re: Reentries
FrankP -- Tuesday, 7 December 2004, at 2:22 p.m.

Agreed!
Robert N Pruden -- Thursday, 9 December 2004, at 10:22 p.m.

Re: Agreed!
Ed Hopkins -- Saturday, 11 December 2004, at 12:56 p.m.

Re: Agreed!
Robert N Pruden -- Monday, 13 December 2004, at 1:02 p.m.

Re: Reentries
Brian Nystrom -- Wednesday, 8 December 2004, at 10:44 a.m.

Re: Reentries *LINK*
FrankP -- Thursday, 9 December 2004, at 8:31 a.m.

Re: Reentries
Brian Nystrom -- Thursday, 9 December 2004, at 10:37 a.m.

Re: Reentries
Robert N Pruden -- Thursday, 9 December 2004, at 10:53 p.m.

Re: Reentries
Robert N Pruden -- Thursday, 9 December 2004, at 10:34 p.m.

That sounds like your testosterone talking
Brian Nystrom -- Friday, 10 December 2004, at 10:12 a.m.

Re: That sounds like your testosterone talking
Bert -- Friday, 10 December 2004, at 1:59 p.m.

Re: Esoterica
sing -- Friday, 10 December 2004, at 6:09 p.m.

IMO, the issue isn't the weapon...
Brian Nystrom -- Saturday, 11 December 2004, at 8:07 a.m.

Sounds like your inexperience talking, Bryan
Robert N Pruden -- Friday, 10 December 2004, at 8:26 p.m.

Re: inexperience talks, experience walks
Alan -- Friday, 10 December 2004, at 10:53 p.m.

Re: inexperience talks, experience walks
Robert N Pruden -- Saturday, 11 December 2004, at 2:22 p.m.

Not quite
Brian Nystrom -- Saturday, 11 December 2004, at 8:25 a.m.

Re: Not quite
Robert N Pruden -- Saturday, 11 December 2004, at 2:30 p.m.

The panic reaction and a bear story
Pamela -- Sunday, 12 December 2004, at 4:37 p.m.

Re: The panic reaction and a bear story
sing -- Monday, 13 December 2004, at 5:48 a.m.

Re: The panic reaction and a bear story
Will -- Monday, 13 December 2004, at 10:55 a.m.

Re: The panic reaction and a bear story
sing -- Monday, 13 December 2004, at 11:16 a.m.

BINGO! That's exactly it, Sing
Robert N Pruden -- Monday, 13 December 2004, at 12:57 p.m.

Guess I've been underestimating the pig threat *NM*
Mike Scarborough -- Tuesday, 14 December 2004, at 9:55 a.m.

The Flow of Forces
Robert N Pruden -- Monday, 13 December 2004, at 12:46 p.m.

One final note on ditch kits
Robert N Pruden -- Saturday, 11 December 2004, at 3:37 p.m.

Re: One final note on ditch kits
Alan -- Saturday, 11 December 2004, at 5:08 p.m.

question for Alan
Don Flowers -- Monday, 13 December 2004, at 11:11 a.m.

Re: question for Alan
Alan -- Monday, 13 December 2004, at 11:24 a.m.

Re: question for Alan
Don Flowers -- Monday, 13 December 2004, at 2:20 p.m.

Re: question for Alan
Alan -- Monday, 13 December 2004, at 2:27 p.m.

Re: question for Alan
shawn baker -- Wednesday, 15 December 2004, at 3:38 p.m.

Re: One final note on ditch kits
Will -- Saturday, 11 December 2004, at 9:46 p.m.

Re: ditch kits and Bears
Paul Jacob -- Monday, 13 December 2004, at 12:46 p.m.

I'll use it for a sweetgrass ceremony
Robert N Pruden -- Monday, 13 December 2004, at 1:05 p.m.

Re: One final note on ditch kits *LINK*
KenC -- Monday, 13 December 2004, at 11:57 p.m.

Thanks for the link, the rad was totally rivetting
Robert N Pruden -- Tuesday, 14 December 2004, at 11:28 a.m.

Re: One final note on ditch kits *Pic*
Bob Kelim -- Tuesday, 14 December 2004, at 8:35 a.m.

Re: One final note on ditch kits
Robert N Pruden -- Tuesday, 14 December 2004, at 11:31 a.m.

Re: One final note on ditch kits
Bob Kelim -- Tuesday, 14 December 2004, at 1:08 p.m.

Re: One final note on ditch kits
Robert N Pruden -- Tuesday, 14 December 2004, at 3:24 p.m.

Re: guns not for bears
shawn baker -- Tuesday, 14 December 2004, at 3:41 p.m.

Re: guns not for bears
Don Flowers -- Tuesday, 14 December 2004, at 5:30 p.m.

Re: guns not for bears
shawn baker -- Wednesday, 15 December 2004, at 3:33 p.m.

Re: guns not for bears
don flowers -- Wednesday, 15 December 2004, at 11:41 p.m.

Re: guns not for bears
Bob Kelim -- Wednesday, 15 December 2004, at 9:10 p.m.

Re: guns not for bears
Robert N Pruden -- Tuesday, 14 December 2004, at 6:19 p.m.

Re: guns not for bears
Alan -- Tuesday, 14 December 2004, at 7:40 p.m.

Re: One final note on ditch kits
KenC -- Tuesday, 14 December 2004, at 11:47 p.m.

Agreed
Brian Nystrom -- Wednesday, 15 December 2004, at 11:54 a.m.

Duct Tape *NM*
Don Flowers -- Wednesday, 15 December 2004, at 2:56 p.m.

The problem with that is...
Brian Nystrom -- Thursday, 16 December 2004, at 8:29 a.m.

Re: One final note on ditch kits
sing -- Tuesday, 14 December 2004, at 1:15 p.m.

Bush Whacking Blade
Robert N Pruden -- Tuesday, 14 December 2004, at 3:30 p.m.

Re: Bush Whacking Blade
sing -- Tuesday, 14 December 2004, at 3:54 p.m.

Re: One Final Bear Story
Will -- Tuesday, 14 December 2004, at 7:43 p.m.

What a thread!
Thomas Duncan -- Thursday, 16 December 2004, at 8:46 p.m.

VCP Igloo *LINK*
Nelson Labbé -- Friday, 17 December 2004, at 7:22 a.m.

Re: VCP Igloo *NM*
Thomas Duncan -- Friday, 17 December 2004, at 7:34 a.m.

Re: VCP Igloo Alternative
Evan Shaw -- Friday, 17 December 2004, at 9:35 a.m.

Another VCP Igloo Alternative... *LINK* *Pic*
Brian Nystrom -- Friday, 17 December 2004, at 5:49 p.m.

Re: Another VCP Igloo Alternative. yes it works!
Evan Shaw -- Friday, 17 December 2004, at 7:43 p.m.

Looks like a beached walarus but...
Robert N Pruden -- Saturday, 18 December 2004, at 1:30 p.m.

It looks better in red. *NM*
Brian Nystrom -- Sunday, 19 December 2004, at 8:39 a.m.

One way I used my knife was to clear an area
Robert N Pruden -- Friday, 17 December 2004, at 11:53 a.m.

Re: One way I used my knife was to clear an area
Pete -- Friday, 17 December 2004, at 1:51 p.m.

Re: What a thread!
Will -- Monday, 20 December 2004, at 12:48 p.m.

Big Knives revisited: Entymological Discovery... *LINK*
Robert N Pruden -- Thursday, 6 January 2005, at 9:51 p.m.

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