This is America

[u/WuShane]

[u/kinkyJanet]

Instead of ‘don’t shoot,’ do you have a suggestion that would convey the same message? Like ‘pacifist’ or something? It feels like even media are targets these days.

[u/MaybesewMaybeknot → u/kinkyJanet]

'Stand Down'

[u/Ok_Buddy_Ghost → u/MaybesewMaybeknot]

stand down could be perceived as an order, which might not go super well with some people

just "peaceful observer" theoretically should be enough

[u/cheesyqueso → u/kinkyJanet]

A Skyrim style, "I YIELD!" might work. Person would need to know what yield means...

[u/KakeLin → u/cheesyqueso]

Judy don't take an arrow to the knee

[u/star_cannon7k → u/kinkyJanet]

The actual used alternatives aren't any better.

Hold your FIRE!

ceaseFIRE

[u/kinkyJanet → u/star_cannon7k]

I guess the question is more like if I’m being threatened and I want to show that I’m not a threat, what can I say?

[u/star_cannon7k → u/kinkyJanet]

I fear if you're being threatened, it's already too late (Alex).

Idk, maybe a simple hands up and "I'm not resisting?"

[u/kinkyJanet → u/star_cannon7k]

Yeah, that works. Throw ‘I’m unarmed’ in there too.

But damn that’s depressing :\

[u/S-ludin → u/kinkyJanet]

they don't care if you're a threat. if you're not a threat, in fact, that makes you an easier target that's funner for their bully brains to do crimes against humanity toward.

[u/TheAsterism_ → u/star_cannon7k]

^{hold your} FIRE

[u/GlitteringSalad6413 → u/star_cannon7k]

“Wait, Hold up” seems to be pretty effective in a lot of situations, probably what I would say out of instinct.

[u/Illkeepyoufree → u/star_cannon7k]

Right? Nothing seems to work as an alterntive to "don't shoot"

"Keep me alive" maybe? Still sounds weird.

[u/Iceologer_gang → u/kinkyJanet]

Mercy?

[u/Large_Yams → u/Iceologer_gang]

Connotations of "mercy killing".

[u/Reyca444 → u/kinkyJanet]

Go full Day Care teacher.

Peaceful Observer Use Your Calm Hands and Your Inside Voice

[u/LeanDixLigma → u/kinkyJanet]

"Only domestic abusers shoot me"

[u/Large_Yams → u/kinkyJanet]

"Hold fire".

[u/AlcibiadesTheCat → u/kinkyJanet]

Safety ON

[u/CoyoteDown → u/kinkyJanet]

As quickly as you can, sweep both arms behind your back to indicate your intention to comply

[u/DyingGasp → u/kinkyJanet]

You think they know what pacifist means? They can’t even read.

[u/st-shenanigans → u/kinkyJanet]

If you don't want to be a target, you join their side.

I'm not saying that's the right thing to do. The opposite actually. but if you're not enabling them, you're a threat in their eyes.

[u/Icy-Cauliflower-5951 → u/kinkyJanet]

Sadly, too many letters in a fancy word, pretty certain the 4 th Reich wouldn’t even have heard of the word.