THE SELF-DEFENSE MINDSET
By Tom Crawford
Copyright 2012 By The Author
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Defense-oriented, well-protected people are, in many ways, a lot like other members of the human “herd”.
They go to work, to the grocery store, do their banking, and take their kids to Little League games, just like
everyone else. They don’t really dress differently, they’re not necessarily physically impressive specimens,
nor do they wear signs saying, “Protection Trained-Attack At Your Own Risk”. So how is it that certain
members of our group do not have to live in unreasonable dread of criminal attack, while most individuals in
society are either hopelessly vulnerable to predatory criminals or are living in fear? Are some just naturally
gifted with the ability to handle any situation? Why do they seem more secure and in control, relaxed in
situations where others would panic?
Of all the things that separate defense-oriented, well-protected people from their friends, neighbors, and co-
workers, the first and most crucial difference is that they possess a proper “self-defense mindset”. The
development of this fundamental way of looking at personal safety is the single most important aspect of
living a better-protected life for yourself and your family. All else is secondary, tangential, or even
unimportant as far as self-defense is concerned. Unless a protection oriented mindset is developed rather
early in your journey to freedom from fear, none of the rest of your training or practice really matters much
at all.
Let’s take a moment to examine the differences in outlook between defense-oriented people, (we’ll call
them “Citizens”) and their poorly protected brethren, in general terms. First, the serious student of self-
defense understands and internalizes the idea that criminal attack is seldom random. Others, known as
“Sheeple” (The Sheeple is a curious hybrid of sheep and people, bred extensively from the latter half of the
20th century to the present. Our over-pampered, over-privileged, button-pushing, net-surfing, over-
insulated, over-protected society is the perfect breeding ground for Sheeple, and they are now the
predominant species of animal in our country.), believe that an attack by a predatory criminal is obviously
God’s will, or somebody else’s fault, and just as obviously beyond their control.
When they both read a newspaper account of an armed robbery, carjacking, or vicious street attack, the
Sheeple thinks to himself, “How awful, what bad luck, glad it wasn’t me!”, turns the page and goes back to
eating grass, blissfully unaware of his surroundings until it’s his turn. By contrast, the defense-oriented
Citizen’s first thought is, “This didn’t have to happen. The victim made a number of bad decisions. What
actions can I take or have I taken so that this won’t happen to me or my family?”
As you can probably see, the Sheeple’s way of looking at the event is certainly easier. It requires no real
thought or action on his part, all the better to get back to eating grass quickly. Perhaps without even
realizing it, the Sheeple has accepted that his purpose in being here on earth is to provide “food” for the
predator when his number is called in some great cosmic Lotto drawing. He wins this “drawing” if he dies of
natural causes at an old age, having eaten as much grass as he can during his lifetime. If he is injured or
killed along the way, it’s merely a function of random chance. Since he can’t avoid a bad outcome, or
control its likelihood, he’s under no obligation to even try. This is a comfortable way of looking at things,
and can be applied successfully to being fat, undereducated, poor, and even unemployed. When you think
there is nothing you can do, there is nothing you have to do.
The Citizen with the proper defense mindset, far from being through when they finish reading the account,
is just getting started. If the event was a home invasion, this may prompt a walk-around security review of
the house and grounds with an eye to raising physical barriers to intrusion. If the item in question was an
armed robbery, this individual may now re-assess the times and places in his life where this could occur,
and take steps to reduce the opportunity for this to happen to him. He may devote some time to “what if”
questions, such as, “If I’m accosted while armed, will I hand over my goods first, attempt to run, or resist
immediately with my weapon?” If he reads about a carjacking, this may prompt him to insist that everyone
in the vehicle travel with the doors locked, and he may take more notice of how close he stops to the
vehicle in front of him in traffic. There is certainly a lot more effort involved in this approach than it takes to
just eat grass.
The Sheeple, having read accounts like this before, is intellectually aware of the existence of Predators,
and also knows that Sheeple just like him are the Predator’s favorite food. Just like him, but not him,
because this Sheeple, deep down, believes that he is a special case. He feels that his personal luck will
never run out, his number will never be called. After all, he’s never actually seen or met a Predator, just
read about them. He’s watched television and movies that show Predators, and deep down there seems to
be something good in all of them. He really believes that the Predator is like him, but just misunderstood.
He’s pretty sure that there aren’t any Predators in the areas he likes to graze in, anyway. The poor
Sheeple in the newspaper must have just been trying to eat grass in the wrong place at the wrong time, or
didn’t explain things correctly to the Predator, who was probably just angry because he’s so
misunderstood. That Sheeple must have done something to provoke him, because nobody would attack
without provocation.
Although he won’t admit it, he thinks he’s going to be okay because of all the other Sheeple he knows, he
feels he’s the best looking, the kindest, the wisest, whatever. He’s certain that if he ever really did meet a
Predator, he could just reason with the fellow. Once the Predator got to know him, he would leave him
alone. Perhaps they could even become friends and eat grass together. Our Sheeple believes he can
handle just about any situation, but when pressed, isn’t exactly sure how. He just knows that he’s the most
gifted of all the Sheeple, and it will come to him when the time comes. That’s for sure.
Even if that doesn’t work out, he and the other Sheeple have gotten together and hired some folks who
aren’t exactly like them to take care of things. These folks aren’t Sheeple; his herd calls them “Police”. As
far as our boy is concerned, they aren’t quite as smart as him and his herd mates, but they are larger and
stronger, and even have weapons. The Sheeple pay the Police to keep an eye out while the Sheeple eat
grass. By their presence, they keep the Predators away, most of the time. But, the Sheeple found out that
if they hire too many Police, these guys begin to tell them where they can and can’t eat grass, and how
much grass they can have. Sometimes, when a Predator comes around, the Police make too much noise in
dealing with him, and they disturb the Sheeple’s serene grass eating. Sometimes the Police mistake a
Sheeple for a Predator and are mean to him. So, the herd limits the number of Police there can be at any
one time, and what they are allowed to do. After all, you can’t disturb the grass eating!
For these reasons, there isn’t always one of the Police around when a Sheeple meets a Predator. When
this happens, Sheeple are sometimes hurt badly and even killed. This disturbs the other Sheeple for a
short time, they complain that the Police aren’t doing their jobs, and that something must be done! If the
victim Sheeple survives, the other Sheeple tell him how sorry they are that this happened to him, but they
soon forget the whole thing. Then, it’s back to grazing. So much grass to eat, so little time. The victim
Sheeple may act strangely afterwards. He may have a hard time trusting other Sheeple he doesn’t know
well. He may not want to eat grass without looking around first, or may even separate from the herd. The
other Sheeple think he’s strange or overcautious. They may even refer to him as paranoid.
Our Sheeple has decided that if he ever meets a Predator, he’ll try to reason with him first, just like he does
with other Sheeple who want to eat his grass. After all, there’s plenty of grass to go around. This approach
should work; it usually does with another Sheeple, and certainly he hasn’t done anything to anyone that
would make anyone want to hurt him. If reasoning doesn’t work, he’ll just bleat for one of the Police since
they’re never far away. He just knows they’ll help, after all he lives in an area where he sees the Police all
the time, and in his mind, he’s already paid them to look out for him. It never actually occurs to the Sheeple
that the Police wouldn’t be there to protect him and his grass; those other cases he’s read or heard about
were unusual flukes, just bad luck.
In contrast to the Sheeple, the defense-minded Citizen, while perhaps living among the herd, is an
individual. He places a high value on his own life and health, because he is who he is, not because he is
just another member of the group. He realizes that there are other people who count on him to be there,
and that he provides things to them that can never be replaced fully once he’s gone. He also depends on
other individuals being there for things that he needs in life. He understands and really believes that there
are Predators out there who will kill or injure him or those close to him, and that they don’t have to have a
special reason to do this; it’s simply their nature. He firmly believes that he not only has the right to keep
this from happening, he believes that it is his duty to do so. He feels that to be part of a sub-herd or family,
he has a responsibility to protect himself and its members. He knows that if everyone in the larger herd felt
and acted this way, Predators would starve and become extinct. But, realistically he knows that most of the
herd members are Sheeple; too busy eating grass to think about anything else.
He knows all about the Police, and how they have been hired to look out for the herd. He’s grateful for their
presence, because he knows that they, in exchange for very little money and even less thanks, have given
up a lot of grass-eating time. He appreciates the fact that they will sometimes get things confused or do the
wrong thing, but overall he thinks they do a good job while putting up with a lot of bullshit from the Sheeple.
He also knows that they’ve agreed to actually confront Predators who threaten the herd, knowing full well
how dangerous they really are. He’s aware that if a Predator ever attacks him, the Sheeple in the herd will
be of little, if any help. They might be able to bleat loudly for the Police, but they will do nothing else,
because it might keep them from eating more grass. He knows that if he gets any real help at all, it will be
from the Police.
While he appreciates all that the Police do, our Citizen can count, and he knows how few of them there
really are. He knows that they move around a lot to make Predators think there are more of them than
there are, but he also knows that this doesn’t fool the Predators. Over time, he knows that the herd has
demanded that the Police do things other than watch for Predators, such as enforcing some minor rules for
grass-eating, so often they are busy elsewhere when one chooses to strike. Our Citizen realizes that if he
or his are ever attacked, he may get some help from the Police, but he knows not to count on it. He also
knows that some Police are merely Sheeple, dressed differently, and cannot be relied upon.
The Citizen is above all, a realist. He knows that nothing in life is perfectly safe, and that there are no
perfect choices to be made. As a first step, he’s provided for a safe and protected home, with physical
barriers to unauthorized entry by Predators as well as the means to repel them. This insures that he and
his family will have a place where they can rest and relax, not having to constantly be on the lookout for
Predators when they are there because of the home’s warning systems. The Citizen knows that you can’t
be on watch all the time, especially not when you’re asleep, so he’s hardened the home against intrusion.
Each member of the Citizen’s family knows that there is a home defense plan, and what their part is in it.
He has decided when, and where in the home any confrontation should take place, and has practiced the
plan until he’s sure it’s workable. When and if trouble comes, he has the discipline to put the plan into
action, and let it work.
He’s studied Predators a bit, and is aware that they are finely tuned machines for violence. He knows that
the outcome of an encounter with a Predator is never certain, since they are better at doing violence than
he will ever be. He’s learned that the Predator is made differently than he is, and has no compunctions
against attacking without provocation. He is not so foolish as to think that he can reason with a Predator,
for he knows the Predator thinks differently. He knows that they will always attack from a position of
surprise, when he will likely be at a disadvantage. The Predator never wants a fair fight, and the Citizen
knows this. He knows that the Predator likes to hunt in the dark, but will act in the daylight. His studies have
shown him that the Predator will hunt with other Predators if it is to his advantage. He knows that often,
Predators have used drugs or alcohol when they hunt, and that they can be hard to hurt. He’s seen that
Predators like to work at close range; to give less time for their victim’s to react and get away. He has
rehearsed plans in advance for common situations, aimed at creating distance, and therefore options.
The defense-minded Citizen also knows that the Predator will not often attack in a situation where he isn’t
sure he can win, preferring to wait for easy prey. There are simply too many Sheeple who are easy to
overcome to make this necessary. The Citizen knows that the Predator can often read the situation in
advance, and will decide not to attack if conditions do not appear to give him an overwhelming advantage.
He knows that he can take steps to make himself a less attractive target, such as always being on the
lookout for the Predator as he goes about his business. He avoids the places that the Predator is likely to
be, without locking himself in his home afraid to venture out. He avoids situations that make it impossible
for him to keep up his guard. The Citizen respects the power and skill of the Predator, but has chosen not
to live in fear of him.
He takes these steps of awareness and avoidance every time, without exception, whether others think there
is a reason to or not. He knows that consistently following procedures the same way, every time, is the key
to increased security. He doesn’t fall victim to the Sheeple’s foolish thinking that there are “safe
neighborhoods” where Predators do not hunt. He knows that the only truly safe environment is one that he
himself created. He consciously seeks to stay away from troublesome sorts, or foolish Sheeple who may do
things to invite trouble. He knows that his best defense in cases of Predatory attack is to evade. He knows
that for him, escape equals victory, and that it is more important for him to preserve himself and his family
than to fight with the Predator. But, he has decided that when escape is not possible, a Predator who
attacks him or his family will be met with decisive and sometimes final action.
He has decided in advance that he will do whatever is necessary to protect himself and those close to him,
and realizes that when he fights, he may be hurt or killed. The Citizen knows that there are certain things
worth fighting, and even dying over. By contrast, to the Sheeple, nothing is worth the risk of being hurt.
The Citizen accepts this risk as reality, but knows that the consequences of not acting are usually worse.
He has already made the decision that he will kill if he must, but hopes this is not necessary. He has studied
the rules under which he must live and fight, so that the Police do not become his adversaries once he has
saved his life or another’s. He knows in advance that Sheeple will not understand his actions after the fight,
because he will have disturbed their grass eating, and shaken their illusions about Predators. He has
decided that he would rather live with the disapproval of Sheeple than die in the clutches of a Predator or
worse, to have a loved one meet this fate.
The Citizen has equipped himself with tools for defense that he uses to equalize the Predator’s fierce
abilities. He maintains these tools in good order, and has sought training in how to use them well and
safely. He sets aside time regularly to practice with these tools realistically, and tests himself often under
adverse conditions. He keeps his tools with him whenever he can. He knows that if he acts intelligently, he
may never have to use these tools, but is comforted to know that he can use them effectively when called
upon. He constantly looks for new methods, and sometimes, new tools to keep himself and his family safe.
He encourages those close to him to do the same. He does all of these things, while his neighbors just eat
grass.
Sheeple do not understand the Citizen, or his actions. How could he spend so much time in these pursuits
when there is so much grass to be eaten? Some Sheeple fear him, some Police resent him because he
does not rely on them, merely bleating when there is trouble. Many of the Sheeple treat him with disdain,
because he is something they are not. Sometimes, members of the Citizen’s own family won’t understand
why he works so hard to protect them, but when there is trouble they are glad he is there.
Every so often, certain Sheeple get together to try to make herd rules that say the Citizen may not protect
himself from the Predator anymore. If he does, they say, he will be punished. Sometimes, they try to forbid
the Citizen from possessing the tools to protect himself and his family. Often, since there are now more
Sheeple than Citizens, they are successful in making these rules. Sometimes they are not, but they
continue to try. Citizens don’t understand the Sheeple’s actions, because the Citizen means them no harm
and just wishes to be left alone to take care of himself and his family. In the end, though, the Citizen knows
that his right to protect himself and his family, indeed his duty to do so, comes from a higher authority than
the herd, and so he continues to do so.
Some Sheeple see the Citizen, and admire him. They would like to be like him, and some do change. Most
often, though, the Sheeple simply talks like the Citizen, and acquires some of the same tools as he has.
Sometimes the Sheeple will have more, or better tools than the Citizen, but has not done the hard work to
learn how to use them, or does not keep them close at hand. These Sheeple merely play with these tools,
but do not train or practice regularly or realistically. They are too busy eating grass to find the time, and
training hard is uncomfortable. This is like the many who have exercise equipment at home, but don’t
actually use it. When the Citizen encounters these Sheeple, he just shakes his head in disbelief. He knows
that they are just well-equipped Sheeple, not serious, and are no better protected than the other grass-
eaters. Sometimes, the Predators use the Sheeple’s own tools against them.
These things, then, are what make up the “Self-Defense Mindset”. Either you have it now, or you do not.
Almost everyone can develop it, but it’s a process that is ongoing and never stops. Fortunately, in this
country you still have enough personal freedom left to implement the Citizen’s lifestyle in most places.
Although there are certainly more Sheeple right now than Citizens, this may be changing as we look back
on over forty years of failed “herd thinking” and return to ideas of self-reliance and responsibility that our
parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents accepted as a matter of course.
Is it better to be a Sheeple, or a Citizen? This is a personal choice, and being a Sheeple is certainly
easier. When you are a Sheeple, there is much more time to eat grass. But, when you are a Citizen you
have the satisfaction of a life free from unreasonable fear, and the knowledge that you control your own
safety and environment. The price you pay for this enhanced security is caution, attention, study, and
training. Remember, if you have not decided affirmatively to be a Citizen, to “walk the walk” and not merely
“talk the talk” you are still a Sheeple. Look in the mirror, and check your teeth for grass stains.
Author's note: The term "Sheeple" seems to have first been used in print in a 1984 editorial published in
the Wall Street Journal, and may have initially been coined by the owner of a far-right wing bookstore
affiliated with the John Birch Society as a disparaging term for those who saw fit to pay taxes rather than
engage in so-called "tax protests". The reader will note that the use of the term in this article is quite
different in context and no connection with any political organization or line of thought should be inferred. I
just think it's a cute name for people who seem incapable of self-reliance or are unwilling to take
responsibility for their own safety! T.C.