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Common sense on the subways of NYC many years back is that you always carry a wallet with $50-100 in it. If someone mugged you, then that was a bribe to them so they wont hurt you. You were to simply be as submissive as possible and then give up your wallet to them without a word. It worked and worked pretty well.
Then Bernard Goetz came into the picture shooting 5 different guys on the subway. Muggings seemed to drop back for a little while.
Being passive and submissive to situations is one answer to certain situations that will get you safely out of trouble and thereby preventing further harm.
However, if there is no one who stands up for their rights then the behaviors are further encouraged. If no one stands up to a mugger, then more muggings are encouraged.
Mr. Goetz spent some time in jail with a lot of publicity around the incident and had trouble obtaining employment thereafter. Many other people who have stood up to muggers and wrong-doers had a fate worse then jail.
Its a hard decision to make. The safe decision is to be passive to the wrong-doers. If you do make that stand, then the consequences can vary up to and including death.
I know that Mr. Goetz's actions probably prevented a lot of crime and may have even saved lives...
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