>> Closed, withdrawn body language is often a sign of victimization, and sadly, victimizers often target those who have already been victimized -- it's easier to break the branch that has already been cut, or did not learn to stand boldly. <<
Yes, that's true.
>> Those who are timid or withdrawn in public are usually targeted because of the reduced chance of fighting back of speaking out. <<
There is a subtle difference between timid and withdrawn. Cassandra is exhausted, aching, miserable, angry, and desperate ... but I wouldn't describe her as timid.
>> In self-defense classes, one's body language is trained to appear bold and outgoing, because this has a higher chance of putting off random assault. <<
That's prudent.
>> So it's good that Cassandra got to the SPOON base without being attacked, and it's good that she's seeking self-defense training. Otherwise she has a high chance of being attacked and misused again. <<
Well, they could try, but gods help anyone who picks a fight with that woman before she grows a sense of self-restraint. She's out of her parents' control now. They never taught her any of her own; what planning and discipline she has was whatever she could cobble up by herself. So she's liable to go through a very wild phase of rebellion, now that she can. It's going to be a while before messing with her constitutes anything other than volunteering to be her human stress-toy. Against a trained fighter she wouldn't stand a chance, but against an average young man looking for a bit of "fun" -- he's probably no match for the snarling ball of riot and ruin that would unleash.
Which would be hilarious, until poor Groundhog had to clean up the mess.
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dancing_serpent
Re: Body language
Date: 2014-12-22 09:39 am (UTC)Yes, that's true.
>> Those who are timid or withdrawn in public are usually targeted because of the reduced chance of fighting back of speaking out. <<
There is a subtle difference between timid and withdrawn. Cassandra is exhausted, aching, miserable, angry, and desperate ... but I wouldn't describe her as timid.
>> In self-defense classes, one's body language is trained to appear bold and outgoing, because this has a higher chance of putting off random assault. <<
That's prudent.
>> So it's good that Cassandra got to the SPOON base without being attacked, and it's good that she's seeking self-defense training. Otherwise she has a high chance of being attacked and misused again. <<
Well, they could try, but gods help anyone who picks a fight with that woman before she grows a sense of self-restraint. She's out of her parents' control now. They never taught her any of her own; what planning and discipline she has was whatever she could cobble up by herself. So she's liable to go through a very wild phase of rebellion, now that she can. It's going to be a while before messing with her constitutes anything other than volunteering to be her human stress-toy. Against a trained fighter she wouldn't stand a chance, but against an average young man looking for a bit of "fun" -- he's probably no match for the snarling ball of riot and ruin that would unleash.
Which would be hilarious, until poor Groundhog had to clean up the mess.