I wish that when I look at a post someone liked/laughed/thanked for me, it would be "read" like it would be if I was mentioned when I click on it. Just so when I come back and look at it later and notice an alert, it's something new and not the same thing I had already read but never got taken off my notifications.

Another issue I have relates to my extensive knife/axe collection and my family. Now, while I certainly advocate self-defense in whatever form one is comfortable with (Be it martial arts, carrying a knife, or even a gun), what bothers me is my own family's doubt to my own collection and protection. I've done martial arts for about seven years since I was 13, and I feel fairly confident in my abilities, more so when armed. Somehow this bothers my family under some misconception that I should somehow be completely unrelated on a weapon due to my training, to which I explain to them: Do you think you can take on someone without a weapon? They usually can't.

But what really bothers me is when I offer them tips and lessons to using my weapons, since teaching them martial arts will take longer than I'd care to spend, they fear they would only hurt or end up disarmed of their weapon. Hearing this from them makes me [b]really[/b] worried, because not only are they unable to protect themselves, but apparently can't even use a weapon to save themselves, making them perfect victims for violence. When I point this out to them they just accept it.

Now I cannot say I am a violent person by nature. I'd much prefer to live in peace and carry out violence in harmless mediums, mostly video games. Should violence happen I wholly advocate running for your life, because escaping danger is the best way to survive it. But in such extremities where escape isn't possible or will result in the death of someone I care for, wouldn't it be smart to be prepared for that situation? It's not as if I am expecting them to carry a weapon with them everywhere (Though I would advocate it when practically possible). Or at the very least, not be so brazenly incomplete that they're more likely to give their weapon to their attacker then use it themselves. It just boggles the mind. More so since my family, my parents in particular, are old and work in a job that moves a lot of money in a publicly accessible area. I.e. a store. And with the increase in robberies and general distrust of police due to the various shootings, beatings, and abuse that is unfortunately common in my area (And not just because the news broadcasts it daily), it's become a persons own responsibility to ensure their own safety... If they're willing to burden that responsibility.

Ah, but now that leaves a second bitter taste in my mouth. A question that fuels my action and often the arguments I have with friends, family, and strangers: Would you rather be a victim or criminal? Now when I say criminal, I do not always mean you are participating in a violent crime such as murder or rape. I mean something as criminal as simply carrying a knife hidden on your person. This question originally taken from the proverb "Better to be a wolf then a lamb", with criminals being wolves and victims being lambs. It's become an unspoken but expected decision that everyone is suppose to be a lamb ripe for the slaughter, and rely on wolves to deal with other wolves. And yes, I refer to lawful enforcers like the police as wolves too, because it seems that at some point (Or at least in my area), the police are much more pre-emptive in violence then supposed criminals are.

I once had a cop pull a gun on me for running a stop sign. While he didn't aim it at me, he had one in hand.

It's times like these that it really makes me think about where I am in society. I like to think that I'm at a fairly good spot; I have a job, my family is wealthy, I'm not sick and I have time for my hobbies (Perhaps too much time). And I'm certainly not an evildoer, even if I do feel at times that I want to break the law for self-satisfaction, I have the self control to realize this is a bad idea and don't act on it. Yet despite that, seeing the officer pull a gun on me made me realize that it doesn't matter who I am. What really mattered wasn't that I was a law-abiding citizen or not even a major threat to anyone or to that officer in particular. It's not a thing of "Good vs Bad" but "Us vs Them". I always thought such generalities should be reserved for political news networks. But it's more a reality then I care to admit.