Self Defense

[Tread]

Originally Posted by TheAngryPostman

More power. Which would you rather have to defend yourself? A 1/4" wooden dowel or a Louisville Slugger?

If weapons were in quick reach I would use the bat, because of the better blocking properties and the longer reach. If I know that I'll have to defend, I maybe have enough time to avoid the situation, or it is too late to arm myself.
In serious situations I never needed more than joint levers or playing cool/strong after the first hit against me and they stopped. I have a big violence inhibition threshold; I don't want to harm someone more than necessary (no one ever managed it to really freak me out).

More powerful weapons are more difficult to control in intensity. A kill happens faster with a baseball bat than with fists, or it happens faster with a shotgun than a pistol if you really have to use it.