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Showing posts with label heroine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label heroine. Show all posts

Sunday, September 4, 2016

Predators 101: Info for Writers


(Photo credit: Wikipedia
How a Predator Courts His Victim and How to Save Your Heroine



DISCLAIMER - This is a non-political site that is geared to help writers write it right. I am presenting information to help develop fictional characters and fictional scenes. In no way am I advocating any position or personal decision.




Your heroine was distracted. Who could blame her? You've written all kinds of drama into the poor girl's life. Amazing that her head didn't explode. At least you were nice enough to write in a bar of chocolate; and right now, that's where her focus is. Chocolate. Not Predator.


The predator approaches -


Did you know that various statistics show that 3/4 of all attacks on women are performed after verbal threat alone? Women are often socialized to not cause a scene.


One way a heroine falls victim is the Blitz. The predator jumps out of nowhere and tries to overwhelm her. This kind of attack is rare. The response of your heroine would be to SCREAM!!!! and fight. And that is not what the predator wants. The predator wants to assert control over the situations. He's picked his victim and now he moves in to confront her. After a victim is sized up, she is courted. Here’s how:


Teammates - using the word “we.” "We’re in this together." "We’re on the same team." If the heroine doesn't know someone, and they are suddenly using the “we” word? She should focus!


Charm - This person is charming. This person is so kind. FOCUS. Why would the guy come over and help your heroine put her groceries into her car? That’s not a normal behavior. A normal guy would go about his business and let her go about hers. A guy whose attention she attracted will help her put your groceries in the car - don’t let it flatter the heroine. This guy wants something. Say “No. Thank you.” and stick to it (see discounted “no” below).



Details - Someone who is telling the truth believes that the truth speaks for itself. When the heroine starts getting too many details, she should FOCUS. The nice guy says something pleasant as he goes up the stairs. "I’m going to the same floor as you - let me help you with the groceries. I’m going to your floor because I have to feed my best friend's dog." Cons use words to distract us. Too many words - too many details.

Pigeonholing - A con who makes your heroine feel badly for a perception she gave off needs her focus. An example: “You’re probably too snobbish to talk to me.” The answer? None. Don’t let your heroine get sucked in. Or she could say, “I don’t talk to strangers.” And then don’t let your heroine engage when the predator keeps trying to push her off the point. If she doesn't talk to strangers, she should not let him prove otherwise by goading her into saying something - anything to him or he has gained control. (see Discounted No, below)


Debt - When someone does something for her and that puts her in his debt. “Let me carry that bag for you.” He’s nice. He didn't take no for an answer. And now she owes him. Hmmmn.

Promises - “I’ll just walk you to your car and make sure you're safe. I promise.” If she hears an unsolicited, “I promise,” it’s probably a lie, and your heroine's probably in trouble. She needs to come up with an exit strategy - now!

Blog Link to LIARS

Discounting the word “no.” - She said, “No, thank you,” and the con still pushes her on the point? “It’s no trouble - I’m glad to help.”


Video Quick Study (2:24)

  • First scenario is a blitz.
  • Second scenario shows: "Pigeonholing," "Charm," "Discounting No".


So what is happening for your heroine?



A victim will respond to very little intensity with a rush of adrenaline. One of the effects of adrenaline is for the victim to stop breathing. Having your heroine speak gets her breathing and allows her to function under high stress. So if you want your heroine to move through the scene, get her talking (not screaming).


When your heroine experiences a rush of adrenaline, she will generally respond passively or aggressively. Her reaction will depend on personality traits and acculturation. A woman growing up in a rough neighborhood will respond differently than a woman who grew up sheltered and in a male dominant household.



PASSIVE - 
The Heroine - will beta stance - cave her shoulders, lower her head, turn to an angle. The Predator - will be thrilled! He will increase his aggression, escalating his controlling/abusive behaviors. A passive respondent means he has found his victim and can control her with his voice and body language alone.


Blog Link LIMBIC SYSTEM



AGGRESSIVE

The Heroine - responds with an alpha stance, loud voice, aggressive body language.


Blog Link:Trouble! Body Language 101 for WritersWriters

The Predator -

The response of most aggressors to aggression is fire on gasoline. An aggressive predator will not de-escalate, so now you have a fight on your hands.Was that your plot line all along? Good - because they are going at each other's throats.



Assertive Behavior
Will signal the predator that your heroine is not an easy mark. It will help the aggressor to make other behavior decisions. But it will NOT guarantee that violence is not imminent.

If the body language (see above link) shows aggressive body language ramping up, she should be prepared to defend herself and risk serious injury to prevent herself from being taken to a secondary location.


Blog Link - A Heroine's Plan to Escape Car abduction


The Assertive Heroine - Maintains distance, has a neutral stance with hands up (She is prepared to move into a defensive stance if things escalate but will not tip her hand that she knows how to defend herself. She needs to maintain the element of surprise).

As much as is possible the heroine would maintain neutral eye contact, facial expression and voice tone (to begin with).

“I said no. And I mean no!” Use her stern "I take no shit" voice.
She is no longer polite. Let nothing change that “no” or the guy
has power and knows he can manipulate you. I liken this one to
my kids whining at me, whining, and whining until finally I say,
“FINE! Just take the darned cookie and be quiet.” What did I just
train my kid to do? Hang in there and whine obnoxiously because
soon I will give in. What did I train the con to do? - Push me and
push and push and I’ll give in. "NO!" and stick to it.



Blog Link The Man Had His Penis In His Hand; How NOT to Leave Dance Class


Aggressor - An aggressor will respond to assertiveness by extracting themselves from the situation.



A Predator will continue to push back and try to intimidate the
heroine using the above scenarios. This is where the heroine
escalates to protective mode. Remember, once your heroine
engages, she's committed. She must stay in the fight until she can
escape.


Blog Link - How to Dress Your Characters so She Has a Fighting Chance



Ideas developed in this blog are an extension of a book review that I did on Gift of Fear by DeBecker. 

As always, a big thank you ThrillWriters and readers for stopping by. Thank you, too, for your support. When you buy my books, you make it possible for me to continue to bring you 
helpful articles and keep ThrillWriting free and accessible to all.

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Escape and Evade: Camouflage Face Paint to Keep Your Heroine Alive - Info for Writers



Today on ThrillWriting, we're going
to learn about camouflage face paint to keep your heroine safe on her mission. 

My guest today, Elizabeth Kump, joins me to teach writers some of the whys, wherefores, and how-tos of using camo-face. Liz also shares a few ways to twist your plot line
.


For this article I used army-issue face camouflage. Mine (pictured below) is in modern use, but Liz was also using a compact which included grey that came from the Korean War. 





My experience as the model - 
* The paint had a distinct mineral oil odor to it.
* It felt heavy sitting on my skin so that I was aware of it, unlike my
   typical foundation.
* Application felt like pulling and stretching on my skin
* It was hot under the face paint.
* It didn't itch the way I thought it might, but it remained moist so
   hair or things floating nearby could adhere. It felt like if I used
   some dust/dirt or translucent powder to "set" the face paint, that
   would have been helpful. Powder would be a bad idea, unless it 
   was mineral powder, because the scent can give away your 
   heroine's location.
* Completely removing the face paint between scenarios was a
   labor-intensive, great-big-fat mess. 
   `Soap worked only somewhat. 
   `Cold cream worked best. 
   `Using disposal paper towels was best 
   `Washcloths worked worst, and the face paint did not come out in
     the wash. So guard your heroine's clothes - or don't - maybe
     someone needs to find some paint smeared on her collar or on
     her arm and ask your heroine some difficult to answer questions.
* It's easy to miss cleaning paint from areas difficult to see in the
   mirror like under the chin and the ears.


In Camouflage Face Paint to Keep Your Heroine Alive - Part 1 an Overview, Liz reviews the kind of makeup that is used for camouflage face painting and some ways that you could twist your plot line.




 In any given region, it is important to 
* Consider the colors and the textures of the surrounding area
* Cover all exposed skin, including hands, ears, and neck
* Use dark shades at high points such as cheekbones and noses
* Use lighter colors on recessed areas such as under the chin and
   eyes
* Add elements from the natural area to clothing and equipment
* Reduce glare as much as possible



Camouflage Face Paint to Keep Your Heroine Alive
Part 2 - Arctic Mission 








Camouflage Face Paint to Keep Your Heroine Alive
 Part 3 - Woodland Mission 






Camouflage Face Paint to Keep Your Heroine Alive  
Part 4 - Jungle Mission 






Thank you so much for stopping by. And thank you for your support. When you buy my books, you make it possible for me to continue to bring you helpful articles and keep ThrillWriting free and accessible to all.



In this article I used Army Study Guide as my resource LINK

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Home Invasion prt 2: Information for Writers with Personal Protection Specialist Rock Higgins


_____________________________________________________________

One of the things that I love and want to encourage is for readers and writers to ask questions and make this blog an interactive resource for writing your scene right. After Rock Higgins of V.I.P.A. Tactical and I wrote a blog about home invasion,  I received questions both on the blog and Twitter. So Rock and I are back for Part Two to address your queries. Home Invasion Prt 1 Blog Link

In a home invasion, why would your heroine (or you) want to have a land line? Won't a cell phone do the trick?

A landline telephone
A landline telephone (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

With a land line - 
* You know where it is - it won't be lost.
* You don't have to worry about it being
   charged
* You don't have to worry about the call being
   dropped
* You don't have to worry about having enough
   bars
* The 911 operator will immediately know
   where you are and can get someone headed
   your way. So even if you dial and don't speak,
   help will  come.
* Your heroine should either have an extension
    in every room or have a cordless land line
    that you can move about with. Again here,
    check that your heroine gets reception in all
    areas of the home and that the phone always
    sits in its carriage and is on charge. Ha! When
    does that ever happen?


English: Apartment building in Sätra
English: Apartment (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
A house owner has a lot of options to secure the premises that may not be available to an apartment dweller. As a writer you need to decide just how savvy your heroine was when she signed her lease. This area is rife with plot twist opportunities. Everything from forethought in planning for an emergency to simply the lay out and general safety of the apartment building. 

Rock, can you talk about some of the ways to decrease the likelihood of becoming a target while living in an apartment? (And remember authors, simply reverse this advice to put your heroine into yet another terrible predicament.)

Rock Higgins, V.I.P.A. Tactical
Protection Specialist and Anti-terrorist Expert
Rock - 
Apartments, houses, mobile homes, it doesn't matter. You have to work with a plan for where you live. But as you asked about apartments we will stick to that. 

Security is all about ever decreasing circles, the more circles (obstacles) you can put between you and an enemy (will clarify that a some later time) the less likely you will be a target.

without knowing the specifics of the apartment or the building I will go over some general points.

There are two areas that need to be looked at:
* The apartment building itself
* The apartment from your point of view


APARTMENT BUILDING

Is the apartment block secure with:
* Electronic / key code / key for the apartment building entry door?
* Does the apartment block have a night porter / concierge / 
   security in main foyer?
* Is there CCTV (closed circuit TV - video security) on the
   apartment building front door / foyer / in lifts / on fire exits?
* What type and where are the fire escapes situated?
* What security procedures are in place from the building owners
   (should be checked prior to living there)

If the apartment block is open access with lifts (elevators) and stairs open to the public from the street -
* The first line of defense is already non-existent. 
* Threats can move directly from your apartment to the stairwells
   and lifts and to the street level.


English: Apartment block in Bogsätravagen stre...
 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

APARTMENT

* Is the apartment front door outside on a
   walkway or inside in a corridor? 
* Not only good locks on the door, but one
   with no letter box
* If the threat is great, you can also get fire
   resistant doors and glass. 
* You can also get good door jams (floor
   bolts) that can be engaged at night.
  



Defend and secure or defend and escape are the two main objectives, not in that order as it depends on the tactical situation at that specific time. Bear in mind that defend may also mean going on the offensive.


SECURE

* Is there a defensible room for all family members (Safe room)
   what you in the States call a Panic Room?
* Is the door to the safe room strong enough to withstand a
   battering, fire? What are the hinges like?
* How long can you stay in your safe room? 
* Your safe room also may have to be the one that you escape from
   - so fire escapes and fully opening windows for egress are a must.
* Remember it will be a room that is also used for everyday living,
   so packing it out with kit to survive for long periods is a no-no. 
* You are not going to be there that long before LE arrive 
   (emergency services). Again though, this depends on the situation
   at the time.
* Thinking about firearms, 
   `What are your walls like? 
   `What cover is available in your safe room?


English: Apartment Complex in Seoul
 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

ESCAPE

If you are in a high rise block and living high up,
getting out of the apartment may be difficult especially if you only have a front door. Does your apartment have a rear or side door leading out?

For living on lower levels escaping out of windows to the ground may be easier if you are prepared. Do your windows open fully so an adult can get out?

If your fire escape is not at a rear or side window but down the hallway then the window may be your only option.

Now dropping from a second floor or higher may prove damaging when hitting the ground (obviously) so 
* Do you have a knotted climbing rope in place
   and secured?
* Can all family members climb down the rope, have you
    practiced?

As part of my job we carry a Rescuematic. 
Video Quick Study (2:14) Man deploying a Rescuematic.

*It is really used in case of fire but the idea is to get us out of the
   building. 
* It is a wire harness that is secured to a wall and the weight of the
   person being lowered to the ground is countered to by internal 
   mechanisms. 
* Only good for about 5 floors up but ideal in that situation.

Hope that covers some basics.
Rock
Amazon Link

Awesome, Rock. Thank you so much for that information.

Learn more about Rock and close protection HERE

You also can find more great information in Rock's book
Meditations of a Modern Warrior -

Linkedin - Paul 'Rock' Higgins CMAS, SAC Dip
Facebook - Paul 'Rock' Higgins CMAS, SAC dip
E-mail vipatacticaltraining@hotmail.com
Website - www.vipatacticaltraining.com



Thank you so much for stopping by. And thank you for your support. When you buy my books, you make it possible for me to continue to bring you helpful articles and keep ThrillWriting free and accessible to all.



DISCLAIMER - This is a non-political site that is geared to help writers write it right, presenting information to help develop fictional characters and fictional scenes. In no way are we advocating any position or personal decision.
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Saturday, March 1, 2014

What NOT to Wear: Clothing Choices to Save Your Heroine

_____________________________________________

This week I have a new hairdo. I chopped off about a foot of hair to donate to an organization making wigs for women with cancer. This is Breast Cancer Awareness month - so let's save the tatas, ladies.



The change in my appearance prompted this week's article. Time and time again statistics show that perpetrators look for signs of vulnerability, such as long hair, when choosing their victims. Another thing that can turn your character into a victim is her clothing.



Excerpt from WEAKEST LYNX:
AMAZON LINK

I need to be able to move in my clothes. I did a lot of martial arts training. Master Wang thinks too many women wear clothes that restrict them.” And the hell if I was going to put myself at greater risk being bound up by a pencil skirt. When Stalker showed up, I planned to kick the shit out of him. I smiled ruefully. “I always try to get some Lycra in my pants and jeans. I tend to choose full skirts, so I can defend myself and hide my gun.”
            “You carry a gun?” Celia and Alice asked together.
            I smiled. “Sometimes.” More like, always
           



Just like Lexi Sobado, I believe careful clothing choices makes for better safety. 

  • For me this means Lycra, Lycra, Lycra and more Lycra - and   maybe a little Spandex. 
  • I have found that wearing conservative clothing styles creates  obstacles to self-defense.


When you are dressing your character, you may want to keep some of these ideas in mind to either help your heroine escape, or, if it's better for your plot line, get her into a real bind by using her clothes against her. 


Link - How a Predator Courts a Victim

Link Aggressive Body Language


SKIRTS and DRESSES:
Look Of The Day 20100107 - Silk Blouse and Pen...
 (Photo credit: Deirdre Boyer)

  • Skirts should be worn above the knee either an A-line or a shorter  Lycra or Spandex material.
  • Long skirts (below the knee) need to be lifted and held up to fight. This throws off balance and your character cannot use her hands and arms to block, grab, or punch.
  • Pencil skirts prevent a woman from using her best body weapon - her legs. She can't knee, run, kick, or crouch. She is vulnerable.

Video Quick Study (1:10) Look how cute this dress is. It is also easy for this woman to defend herself.

  • Sleeveless for mobility
  • Skirt above the knee and wide enough for high kicks. Bodice tight to the body with give.
  • Wedge shoes that are strapped on offer stability
  • I watched what looked like a cattle call for a martial arts actress. (video removed by YouTube lineup) The women wore skirts of  various lengths. Women wearing short skirts had both hands available. If their skirt came below their knee, they pulled their skirts up and held them out of the way. This leaves them with one less hand to use for balance, blocking and punching.

Video Quick Study (1:02) Woman fighting in a business attire. Her skirt might be a little short for office wear,  a longer (just above the knee) A-line skirt would work as well.



Loon Pants
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
PANTS

  • Wide bottoms can be grabbed during a kick. This would put your character on the ground.
  • Wide legs can get caught on the heel when crouching, tripping your character.



Video Quick Study (:57) Okay, this is not how a real fight works, but I wanted you to see how a good pair of pants help her.


  • They are thick enough to protect her legs.
  • They are form fitting and stretch
  • Held up by a belt. True a belt can be grabbed, but so can the top of pants - and worse if your character is wearing yoga pants or exercise pants the assailant can pull these down quickly and easily to shackle your character. Though this works both ways. If your heroine is facing a gang-banger she can stomp the top of his pants and run.

Video Quick Study (2:50) This is shot at a self-defense seminar.

  •  The girls' jeans are cut in such a way that they cannot get their knees up. This preempts the girl-power numero-uno self-  preservation move: knee-to-the-groin.
  • They can't kick above the knees (though a kick to the knee,   snapping the assailant's leg backward is a great way to escape!)
  • Notice the hoody that one girl is wearing and how it would be   used against her. This guy was being nice. A real villain would yank it backwards and put her on the ground - When she is on the ground, the villain  has the most control.


SHIRTS
 Blouses that are classically tailored have some major
 drawbacks in self-defense.

  • The cotton fabric has no give.
  • The cut is loose enough to grab easily.
  • The cut of the fabric does not allow full range of motion - this prevents the character from getting a full-force back-fist or elbow strike, two strikes that are more effective than straight punches for women.





Video Quick Study  (1:28) See how well this woman can fight in her tight turtleneck.

  • This shirt fits tight to the body and is less likely to get    caught on anything or grabbed.
  • The stretchy fabric allows full range of motion.



SHOES:



Stilettos on Figueroa
Stilettos on Figueroa (Photo credit: lostinangeles)

  • Need to be stable or removable.
  • High heeled boots can be a great weapon if your character has the ankle strength to fight in them. Running, though is hard to do.
  • Stilettos can be an asset if they can be removed easily to run away, or used for strikes.
  • The photo to the right shows women dressed to defend    themselves, but the girl on the far right will be the one who   goes down in the final chase because of the ankle straps.
  • Wedge heels add to stability
  • Closed-toe shoes prevent debris from getting jammed into the    shoe and will also work to protect the toes.
  •  Highly pointed shoes works to concentrate force into a very small area, thereby making a front snap kick all the more devastating. Aim a snap kick at the assailant's diaphragm, and your heroine will wind him and have several precious minutes on her head start.
  • Of course, if she could manage to be wearing steel-toed boots, or cross-trainers that would be nice.






English: An A-line skirt, with top.
 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
So, I mostly approve of the outfit to the right.

  • Tight fitted shirt with enough give so she has range of motion.
  • Skirt has kicking room and is above her knee for knee raises.
  • Shoes are low heeled. She can use those heels for  grinding toes. They're strapped on for stability. But they are open toed which can cause problems with  gravel and debris. I imagine these have slippery soles. These would be tough to run in.
  • Her hoop earrings are problematic as well. She  needs to lose those earrings.



Just a final thought about ACCESSORIES:


Purses:


  • You're heroine should always have a weapon, her phone, and her keys on her body when she's walking. If someone makes a grab at her purse, she should just let it go.
  • Big purses are  a bigger target.
  • A big purse can be used to block punches.
  • A small purse is a smaller target and can be used to swing at the assailant.


Scarves:


  • Are chocking hazards and binding hazards.
  • Unless your heroine is trained to get out of choke holds and then use the scarf as a weapon (for trapping strikes or kicks, for example) she should probably just leave the scarf at home.


Earrings, necklaces, and other accessories:


  • Can all be used to grab and control your character
  • Rings can work like brass knuckles especially if they have sharp stones. Also, if your heroine punches the assailant a few times she'll probably have enough DNA caught in the pongs to do a profile.  Link to DNA 101


Please let me know if you have any questions, and I will do my best to help. 




Thank you so much for stopping by. And thank you for your support. When you buy my books, you make it possible for me to continue to bring you helpful articles and keep ThrillWriting free and accessible to all.





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Monday, October 21, 2013

Duct Tape 101 for Writers

__________________________________________________________________________________

          Excerpt from WEAKEST LYNX:

          “Where did you find her?” Gavin asked.
          “The adjoining bedroom, on the floor, bound at the ankles and wrists. No signs of struggle. She was out when he tied her.” Dave’s voice sounded hollow and tight at the recounting. “At some point, she must’ve started to come around.  He gagged her with duct tape, wound it around her head a bunch of times. She worked it loose with her tongue - that’s what saved her life.


English: A roll of silver, Scotch brand duct tape.
 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)


I like the idea of duct tape.
I can't tell you how many times it has come to my rescue - from taping my brake light back onto my car after I was rear-ended, to making this nifty pair of shoes. Kidding!

Found on FB, creator unknown
In novels and films, duct tape is a staple go-to for gags and binding. And why not?
* Duct tape is convenient
* The villain doesn't need to have a lot of  fancy-schmancy knot tying skills.
* It doesn't look strange to have duct tape in the car trunk where chains, cordage, and cloth strips might
   need an explanation.
* Duct tape doesn't leave marks like rope burns or handcuff bruising.

Sadly for us writers, duct tape does not live up to its reputation. Duct tape is actually a very poor choice. Since we here at ThrillWriting like to write it right, I want to debunk some of the duct tape myths.

Found on FB, creator unknown


So you're writing along and, oh no! Your heroine is in trouble! She was captured by the bad guy, and he wants to make sure she is secured and silent. He pulls out his roll of duct tape and sets to work.
* Duct tape mainly works on a psychological level like this horse tied to the plastic chair.
* Duct tape really does not provide much in the way of restraining capacity.
* If your character has a military or police background, it is highly doubtful that your character wouldn't
   know how quick and easy it is to escape from duct tape.
* If, on the other hand, your character is naive, young, and lacking in enough self-preservation to TRY to
   escape then perhaps your use of duct tape makes more sense.
* Maybe it's not your victim but your villain who is naive. Maybe the bad guy thought that the duct tape
Found on FB, creator unknown

 scenes in the movies were accurate. Well, then your heroine can laugh as she frees herself and makes her
   escape.
* If your character is drunk or otherwise drugged, duct tape might just do the job.

Video (2:22) This is a newscast of a man restrained to his seat in flight to maintain the safety of the other passengers. The announcer asked a good question, why was someone on the flight traveling with a roll of duct tape? I see a plot twist.

Duct Tape Gags:
Found on FB, creator unknown

* A single piece of duct tape across the mouth has o effect, except perhaps as an irritant.
* Duct tape will not silence the victim; it will merely muffle the sound, no matter how many times you wrap it around.
* Duct tape gags can be be an asphyxia hazard.

   Please don't go playing with duct tape gags to
   test a plot point without proper help at hand.

* If your villain puts something in the victim's mouth to prevent sound or to increase the victim's tension level - such as a sock, rag, or panties - it is a high-risk choking hazard.

  Note: cloth in a taped mouth absorbs saliva, increasing the gagging reflex. This is a survival reflex and will trigger the limbic system to fight for life. Adrenaline and other hormones will flush the body. Cogent thought processes will be overridden as the victim panics. And as we know from Spyder McGraw in WEAKEST LYNX, "Panic will kill you. It makes you unable in mind and body."

Video Quick Study (3:17) Excellent demonstration of duct tape gags and their efficacy.

Duct Tape Handcuffs:

* Quick and easy to release.
* Can be done by slipping one hand out. This is easiest when the victim is sweating from adrenaline and has
   stretched the tape a bit. Video Quick Study (:36) Young boy duct taped to a tree wiggles out in less than
   30 seconds.
* Popping using the same technique I described in Breaking Out of Zip Ties LINK
   Video Quick Study (:19)
   Video Quick Study (:09)
   Video Quick Study (:19)
* Notice the length of the above videos. We are talking a matter of seconds to freedom. Granted, the last
   three were by rugged manly men. But the first was a young kid.
* Here's one where the man uses a twisting motion.
   Video Quick Study (2:13) Breaking the duct tape takes seconds.


Well, you say, they just didn't use enough duct tape. Here is a video quick study showing a man wrapped head to toe in duct tape like a mummy. Of course he knew he would get more oxygen in by breaking the gag first, but I guess his panting added to the drama.
Video Quick Study (2:40)

Taping someone to furnishings has the same effect.
* If the person is sober and willing to try (and willing to feel discomfort) then escape is a matter of minutes if
   not seconds away.
* Use the same techniques as with handcuffs, either rotate or pop.
* Duct tape may remove some hair and the top layer of skin, it doesn't even leave much of a red mark.
   Certainly not a welt.
* It is not particularly painful. When I was experimenting with this - and yes, you know I had to - it didn't
   bring tears to my eyes or even make me say, "ouch." If your character has experienced a salon eyebrow
   waxing, she's pretty much inoculated.

Found on FB, creator unknown
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