What's the right thing to do in this situation

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

Someone just jumped on me on the way home and started kicking and biting me. I'm not badly hurt, though maybe my ear is bleeding, there's nobody at home to talk to and its too late to call anyone. I'm just really, really shaken up. He was only small, I could have probably hurt him quite badly if I wanted to, but there were two other big blokes behind him and I wasn't sure if he was with them.

I feel terrible for not sticking up for myself. I feel equally terrible because there's a part of me that wishes I had fought back, and hurt someone else. And the rest of me says I did the best thing by getting away, and going home.

I'm drunk. I don't know if posting this is even appropriate.

― hobart paving (hobart paving), Sunday, 6 March 2005 01:37 (twenty years ago)

You did the right thing. Put some ice on your face and rest knowing that while you're the victim of a crime, you took the high road.

― Fish fingers all in a line (kenan), Sunday, 6 March 2005 01:40 (twenty years ago)

get outta london while the getting's good

― Aaron A., Sunday, 6 March 2005 01:40 (twenty years ago)

Thank you. And yes, it does make me want to get out of Birmingham. Although this sort of thing can happen anywhere - it just makes you question how safe you are where you are.

This sort of shit really brings out those latent agoraphobic tendencies. Everyone has those, don't they?

― hobart paving (hobart paving), Sunday, 6 March 2005 01:55 (twenty years ago)

yes.

sorry to hear about this! hope you feel better.

― RJG (RJG), Sunday, 6 March 2005 01:57 (twenty years ago)

"latent"

― Fish fingers all in a line (kenan), Sunday, 6 March 2005 02:01 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, not latent at all actually. I've been scared to go into Birmingham for a few years, and only really got over it in the last few months.. guess this is a bit of a setback.

Anyway, thanks for commenting, those of you that have. I think I should probably go to bed because I'm starting to feel like I'm trawling for sympathy - which is sort of okay given the situation but it isn't very healthy.

Cheers.

― hobart paving (hobart paving), Sunday, 6 March 2005 02:12 (twenty years ago)

You have my sympathy. I have no idea what the right thing might have been - I suspect there isn't one, to be honest.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 6 March 2005 11:55 (twenty years ago)

I think you did the right thing. Thank god he didn't hurt you badly. My dad is always of the opinion: hit back, where it hurts. But then you don't know what those other blokes might have done. :-(

― nathalie barefoot in the head (stevie nixed), Sunday, 6 March 2005 12:07 (twenty years ago)

Ian, I'm so sorry. Take care of yourself, don't expect the emotions to disappear overnight, and remind yourself this kind of thing is very very unlucky and doesn't happen often.

― Markelby (Mark C), Sunday, 6 March 2005 12:49 (twenty years ago)

I hope you are OK Ian. Come to Glasgow for a holiday or something!

― Ally C (Ally C), Sunday, 6 March 2005 12:53 (twenty years ago)

did any of the bites draw blood?

You might want to get them checked at the hospital, human bites can be pretty infectious.

― Jarlr'mai (jarlrmai), Sunday, 6 March 2005 13:22 (twenty years ago)

Dude, I'm so sorry to hear about this.

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Sunday, 6 March 2005 19:53 (twenty years ago)

That's fucked up! I don't know what I would have done! Did he just attack you or was he trying to rob you or something?

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Sunday, 6 March 2005 20:59 (twenty years ago)

Eek, this sounds nasty - hope you're OK.

As someone's already said, get yourself to the doctors in the morning.

― caitlin (caitlin), Sunday, 6 March 2005 21:14 (twenty years ago)

Did this happen in/near the city centre? It might have been caught on video camera, in which case perhaps it's worth reporting it to the Old Bill??

I hope you feeling a bit better now - and do get your injuries checked out tomorrow.

Hugs hugs

― C J (C J), Sunday, 6 March 2005 21:16 (twenty years ago)

Sorry to hear about this, but glad that you're not badly hurt.

Take care.

― Ben Mott (Ben Mott), Sunday, 6 March 2005 21:19 (twenty years ago)

I find the thought of little men running around biting people's ears late at night pretty bizzare.

― Duncan Bot, Sunday, 6 March 2005 22:44 (twenty years ago)

I'm thinking of zombie movies myself. And hoping I don't have nightmares about Ian turning into a zombie.

― caitlin (caitlin), Sunday, 6 March 2005 22:45 (twenty years ago)

Shit, Ian! How are you feeling this morning?

This is bound to shake you up a lot but as Mark said it IS rare, you were just unlucky. Try not to suppress any of the emotions you might be feeling, make sure you talk to people about them, and take some positive action like telling the police and seeing the doctor. It will help you feel less powerless.

Wish I was around to give hugs dear :(

― Archel (Archel), Monday, 7 March 2005 11:51 (twenty years ago)

Report the incident to the police, and if blood was drawn, go and see the doctor. Bad luck, and sorry to hear of this, and I hope you feel better soon.

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Monday, 7 March 2005 12:05 (twenty years ago)

Sometimes not fighting back is EXACTLY the right thing to do. Hope you get over this quickly.

― Penelope_111 (Penelope_111), Monday, 7 March 2005 12:10 (twenty years ago)

Yikes! Ian, petal, see the doctor. As CJ says, CCTV may well have caught it, so it's worth checking out so steps can be made to hopefully prevent more ear-biting incidents. Yeep, Evander Holyfield's mini-me is on the loose.

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Monday, 7 March 2005 12:16 (twenty years ago)

I think that may be libellous or, at least, a little unfair!

― RJG (RJG), Monday, 7 March 2005 12:19 (twenty years ago)

(sorry-- it was mike tyson, who did the earbiting.)

― RJG (RJG), Monday, 7 March 2005 12:22 (twenty years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.