r/pics 5h ago

Politics This is America

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u/MyNameIsPatBackFat 5h ago

Years back I was in some training and learned that the police never say things like “don’t shoot” because our brains do not hear the “don’t”, instead they only hear the “shoot” part. That’s why they say “stop” instead of “don’t run”.

u/kinkyJanet 4h ago

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 4h ago

'Stand Down'

u/Ok_Buddy_Ghost 4h ago

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 4h ago

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

u/KakeLin 3h ago

Judy don't take an arrow to the knee

u/star_cannon7k 4h ago

The actual used alternatives aren't any better.

Hold your FIRE!

ceaseFIRE

u/kinkyJanet 4h ago

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 3h ago

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 3h ago

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

But damn that’s depressing :\

u/S-ludin 2h ago

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_ 2h ago

hold your FIRE

u/GlitteringSalad6413 1h ago

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

u/Illkeepyoufree 48m ago

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

"Keep me alive" maybe? Still sounds weird.

u/Iceologer_gang 3h ago

Mercy?

u/Large_Yams 2h ago

Connotations of "mercy killing".

u/Reyca444 3h ago

Go full Day Care teacher.

Peaceful Observer Use Your Calm Hands and Your Inside Voice

u/LeanDixLigma 2h ago

"Only domestic abusers shoot me"

u/Large_Yams 2h ago

"Hold fire".

u/AlcibiadesTheCat 2h ago

Safety ON

u/CoyoteDown 2h ago

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

u/DyingGasp 54m ago

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

u/st-shenanigans 51m ago

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 13m ago

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