Bookish Bevy

As most of you probably know, tomorrow is Punish a Muslim Day, and I’d like to warn my brothers and sisters to be aware of their surroundings and alert in case some idiot decides to pull anything shady on y’all!

To muslim parents! Do NOT send your children to school! Let’s look out for our younger generation, they don’t deserve this hatred!

Some tips for tomorrow if you plan on going out!

1. Again, stay alert. If at a store, or just inside somewhere public in general, keep the nearest exit in sight, just in case. TRY TO GO OUT IN LARGE GROUPS!! TRY TO AVIOD GOING OUT ALONE!!

2. Pepper spray! For most women, this is already something they may have, but it works for anyone. Getting pepper spray in your eyes hurts, and seeing that bigots don’t understand anything but violence, maybe the stinging of their eyes will teach them not to mess with people for “points”.

3. To sisters who wear the hijab, I’d honestly say to try and look around where you’re at, if anything seems shifty to you, keep your guard up. Try to stay, if out running errands, near a cash register if something seems off. Realize that if someone does try and yank off your hijab, you are not obligated to give them Islam 101 on why you wear it. A swift kick to the crotch, or trying to tie the scarf around their neck as a gag works, too. Self defense is important, and disrespecting someone’s religion is serious, so you don’t owe them anything.

4. Remember where you parked your car. Don’t be that person who walks around at night, searching through packed parking lots to find where they parked their car. This gives potential attackers an easier way to get to you. Remember where you parked your vehicle, and if possible, try to park it close to your destination, so you don’t have to be walking long distances at night.

5. If you’re close to your attacker, aim for the eyes and nose. Use both thumbs to gouge their eyes, and for the nose, use the heel of your palm and just go at it. A simple punch to the nose is just as effective, though. For the throat, a karate chop to the lower valley of their throat can take away breath and cause choking. Jabbing your fingers into that spot works too, however, this should only be used in extreme danger because this is a very sensitive area.

That’s all I have, but, if you know that you are going out tomorrow, self defense videos are very useful, and being in groups with more than two people can help a great deal.

when you know you’re outside of your home, but only distantly, so when you actually realize that you’re outside, your brain just goes-

like

hella dead.

there r like 5 hurricanes making their way to the US, wildfires, and apparently, the Yellowstone National Park volcano could erupt any day now.

at a grocery store*

Social Anxiety: Are you really gonna walk down that aisle?

Me: yeah..?

SA: but there's a person down there.

Me: and??

SA: they're gonna judge you.

Me: no they won't!

Me: I know they won't...

SA: but what if they do?

Whenever I am planning to go out someplace where I know that I’m going to be uncomfortable, or just socially awkward, I bring a book.

Why not just pop in some headphones?

Good point, but most people see me in headphones at social events and ask, “What are you listening too??? I thought you came here to have fun??”

Having a book insures that-

1. No one will ask about what you are reading if you look engrossed enough.

And

2. That even if you don’t bring your book out at social gatherings, there is the assurance of having a backup plan in case things go to crap.

And let’s be real here, unless your friends are ALL aspiring bookworms (in which case love them w/ all ur heart; bookworms r precious and they understand that when some1 is reading that they should be left alone) that won’t try and go into detail about what you are reading.

In conclusion, if you know that a certain social situation is going to be uncomfortable for you, either bring headphones, or a book.

It helps immensely.