Meditations on Beat-downs, part 2

The Status Beat-down

Yup, NightCafe.

Sometimes called a “Social beat-down” a “Status beat-down” is where a critter physically attacks¹ a victim for the purpose of gaining or maintaining social status within the critter’s peer group or social circle. This particular violence can be broadly separated into two categories:

1. “Targeted” or “planned” where there is a defined category of people that if an assault is carried out, it results immediate social prestige for the person conducting same. You can look at these as “counting coup”; and

2. “Spontaneous” or “random” — here the critter is out in public, and randomly attacks a passing stranger. Also referred to as “The Knock-Out Game” and “Wilding”, among others.

#1 is fairly well contained. You have to be part of their world — if only peripherally — for this one to affect you.

#2 is where the scope of this essay will focus. A spontaneous status beat-down is usually initiated via a cheap-shot², and very little verbal warning — if any — is given³.

Traditionally, this is a male-on-male attack, as most of the sub-cultures I have dealt with don’t regard a successful attack on a woman as being worth any prestige points; however, in some areas if the female victim is considered high-enough status, she can be the target of this kind of assault⁴.

I also — with some worry — note the more recent development in some sub-cultures of female-on-female status beatdowns⁵.

Even though this is random violence, people do self-select for this, if only minimally. If you are head-down in your phone⁶ and unaware of your surroundings, the critter will pick you for a cheap-shot⁷. While you cannot completely remove yourself from a possible invite to the evening’s festivities, you can de-select yourself — to quote the late Dr. William Aprill⁸: “You don’t have to look like a ‘No’, you just have to look less like a ‘Yes’.”

Critters out looking for a spontaneous status beat-down aren’t looking for a stand-up fight, they’re looking for a quick zap, maybe a little light kicking, and a chance to exult and posture for their coterie. Someone who looks like they might be risky target will be passed up for someone who looks like a snack.

This, however, is not always the case. If you look like a hard case, the prestige gained by a successful smash on you just might be worth the risk; nevertheless being alert, observant, and poised is never the wrong answer.

Here is a situation where you need to pay particular attention to the +1 Rule. While there are Status beat-downs done by a lone critter, the majority of them are done in front of, and for the benefit of, an admiring audience of his peers. If the initial cheap-shot fails, a large percentage of the time the critter will immediately offer apologies, there will probably be laughter and he will express admiration for your skill and/or reflexes. This is usually a set-up for a second cheap-shot, or for his buddies to rat-pack you.

The upside to this whole monkey-dance is that it is as much a social display as it is an assault. Not only will there be the entire list of pre-assault cues, but your first clue will probably be the critter whispering to his buddies, and everybody giggling while pretending to ignore you. If his first assault fails, the critter’s defence will usually be sloppy — he will probably be compelled to show his contempt of you by at least a little bit of performing — a conceit that the canny⁹ fighter can use to his benefit.

The successful resolutions I’ve seen to this particular assault usually involve an immediate, vicious, and overwhelmingly violent response by the victim, followed by a poised and guarded retreat — if his buddies need to pick up their limp and bleeding friend, this gives them a reason and excuse not to engage this suddenly dangerous prey¹⁰.

As always, talk to your attorney.

Ok, that’s Status beat-downs. Next one will concerning Power beat-downs.

Ian

1. I use the word “attack” here, where I didn’t in the previous article, because here the victim does nothing to earn the violence.

2. Let me be perfectly clear: A cheap-shot on an unaware and unprepared person has a very high likelihood of resulting in serious bodily injury or death.

3. There will be a butt-ton of pre-assault cues, though.

4. I also note that the excitement, endorphins, and adrenalin that come with a successful attack can turn an assault on a woman into a rape with an almighty quickness.

5. Female-on-female physical violence can be damned near psychotically vicious. If a male needs to stop a fight between two women, I suggest a fire-extinguisher-sized can of OC, soak both of them with the entire can, and let Nature sort it out.

6. Seriously. Cell-phones allow for more ass-whippings than red mini-dresses.

7. Distasteful Fact of Life: If you walk like food, you’re prey.

8. Dr William Aprill of Aprill Risk Consulting. Unfortunately he has Passed On, but you should go to Youtube and watch anything with him. Start here.

9. And by '“canny”, I mean someone who doesn’t target-lock on the critter and lets the rats get behind him.

10. It also means that further random status beat-downs become a much more risky proposition in the minds of the local critters. Win/Win!