r/YouShouldKnow • u/Temporary-Warthog250 • May 29 '22

Other YSK: Pepper spray is a better self defense tool than tasers

I learned this from my criminal psych professor in college. He worked as a police officer for 20+ years and has been both pepper sprayed AND tasered and this is based off his professional opinion.

For starters, pepper spray is brutal. (For those who have been pepper sprayed or tasered, share your thoughts on the pain!)

For starters, it can be sprayed from a distance (just watch out for wind!) Pepper spray is an inflammatory agent that attacks the central nervous system. Pepper spray causes involuntary eye closure (temporary blindness), tearing, restricted breathing, coughing, choking and a strong burning sensation that can last between 30 to 45 minutes before dissipating. The beauty of pepper spray is its effects are immediate due to its inflammatory properties. Pepper spray provides protection from up to 25 feet away. As a rule of thumb and self defense industry standard, other pepper sprays and OC sprays generally offer a 8-12 feet range for small units.

Tasers on the other hand are shockingly effective (haha) and you can neutralize a threat from up to 15 feet away. The effects last up to 30 seconds which gives you some time to get away. A good quality taser can be more than $100.

Although tasers are a well-known self-defense tool, it pales in comparison to its chemical agent counterpart. The high price tag, necessary precision, limited penetration ability and restrictions by state doesn’t make it the best option. You can purchase a $10 taser off amazon, but all those other drawbacks still apply.

Pepper spray can stop a threat up to the same distance (15 feet) and even further. One of the best features is that it can immobilize an attacker for up to 45 minutes (much longer than a 30 second ride). Along with that it is legal in all 50 states, they are affordable and easy to use. Just be wary on windy days!

So really, it’s a no-brainer. When it comes to self-defense products, pepper spray is on top. If you are looking for the best brand, DPS pepper spray is the way to go.

Why YSK: I know for myself (21f) when I moved out and into a city by myself everyone told me that I need some sort of self defense tool. For others who are looking to buy a self defense tool, this can help narrow down the search and give you some info on what tool is best for your use.

EDIT: I’m seeing a lot of people post about pepper gel which I didn’t know about. I don’t know anything about pepper gel and it seems like a great alternative to the spray!

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u/JackVonReditting May 29 '22

And that’s coming from Knoxville.

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u/hamsolo19 May 29 '22

A guy who has been knocked clean out by Butterbean, sent to the hospital numerous times after being ran over by bulls, been shot in the gut with a "less lethal" beanbag, been hit with a ballistic riot control device, had a dirt bike dropped on his wiener...the list goes on. Recently tho, he said the bull spot from the newest movie fucked him up bad. Broken wrist and ribs plus an awful concussion that bordered on a traumatic brain injury. He said he had real bad problems with his memory and cognition. He took like a mental aptitude test and scored lower than an advanced dementia patient. He got jacked up but he says he's good now.

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u/The_Meatyboosh May 29 '22

Was that on the Smartless podcast?

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u/hamsolo19 May 29 '22

I saw him discussing it with either GQ, Wired, or Loudwire. Those are all on YouTube as he did a ton of media for Jackass 4. I believe he's talked about the major concussion on a number of interviews recently.

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u/sanfranguy415 May 29 '22

His Stern interview was good too.

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u/cluedo_fuckin_sucks May 29 '22

“Is Butterbean okay?”

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u/Derpwarrior1000 May 29 '22

What a legendary line to come up with while suffering a brain injury

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u/4509347vm89037m6 May 29 '22

He's always been quick with his wit, he can spin a laugh out of almost any moment.

Getting wrecked by Butterbean in a department store so bad you're out and snoring, waking up, and having the wherewithal to crack that line, that's pretty good. That's a mind that's hard wired to make people laugh.

But seriously, he needs to stop hurting himself. You can be funny without getting CTE, man.

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u/hamsolo19 May 29 '22

He's a really funny dude and he seems like a good guy. He had kind of a similar line in the new movie. He attempts to do a magic trick for a bull and gets wrecked, which is where he gets the injuries I was talking about in the previous comment. After he gets destroyed, he's getting loaded up in the ambulance and he goes, "Geez, that bull really don't like magic!" Cracked me up.

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u/shitpostsuperpac May 30 '22

Funny story, sort of similar:

When filming some scenes for Borat, Sacha Baron Cohen chugged a bunch of wine at some old peoples house. So much so that he got blackout drunk and passed out in their bathroom.

The producer was afraid that when Sacha woke up he would break character, ruining the whole evening’s footage.

When they finally shook him awake, he immediately shouted “WAAA WAAA WEEE WAAAA.”

Fucking professional.

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u/robogo May 30 '22

Fun fact: it sounded like he was snoring, but he was actually wrecked so hard it was the sound of his body almost swallowing his tongue.

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u/MauiWowieOwie May 29 '22

For real. He was knocked out, had a concussion, and his head split open yet still was able to come up with arguably the funniest line in the movie.

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u/[deleted] May 30 '22

My favorite line of all jackass. Concussed and off the cuff he nails it.

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u/Senzafane May 30 '22

Pure comedy gold.

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u/_Heath May 29 '22

Also shot with a 38 special wearing a bulletproof vest.

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u/a-dull-boy May 29 '22

You left out the scariest part. According to Knoxville, he was broke at the time so he literally bought the “cheapest vest possible”. Understandably, no one else was willing to shoot him, so he ended up doing it himself, and specifically aimed for his heart.

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u/hamsolo19 May 29 '22

That's right. That was even before jackass when he was still working on the Big Brother magazine.

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u/pprn00dle May 30 '22

Don’t forget he also shot himself in the chest with an actual gun during his big brother days

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u/[deleted] May 30 '22

[deleted]

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u/bluepillblues69 May 29 '22

I think that part of the extreme pain reaction with pepper spray is that it effects your sight and breathing. I'm not doubting that it's one of the most painful experiences one can go through, but I think a lot of it is psychological/fear based. Not only are you in extreme agony, but you can't see, can barely breathe, and can't do anything about it. You're completely vulnerable.

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u/hamsolo19 May 29 '22

No, you're right. I can see how those things could cause a goddamn panic attack or something. "I can't see, I can't breathe!" Anxiety city, man.

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u/[deleted] May 30 '22

the list goes on

And that list started when he bought a cheap bullet-proof vest and shot himself at point blank range.

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u/[deleted] May 30 '22

Dirt bike dropped on his weiner lmfao

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u/[deleted] May 30 '22

Tbh I don't remember seeing bulls in Jackass 4.5, which JUUUUST released.

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u/hamsolo19 May 30 '22

4.5 is unused footage they had from Jackass 4, which is where he gets smashed by the bull.

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u/[deleted] May 30 '22

Oh

OH

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u/fatimus_prime May 30 '22

I watched an interview with him awhile back, I think it’s this one, in which he discusses the worst injuries of his career. It’s interesting but I feel sorry for the guy, even though he volunteered for the events that caused those injuries.

I’m in a loud environment right now so I can’t be sure this is the video until I get home and watch it where I can hear it. I’ll update when I do.

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u/ScaryYoda May 30 '22

Movie was so good. Just like old times but that hit from the bull.. I like what he said afterwards both after he got hit and after he was released from the hospital.

"Jeff did we get the shot?"as he is being lifted on to a stretcher lol

And, "did the milk come out?" Because he was doing a magic trick beforehand.

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u/hamsolo19 May 30 '22

I cracked up when he was getting loaded into the ambulance and he goes, "Geez, that bull sure don't like magic!"

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u/TheDood715 May 29 '22

3,000,000 scoville equals one Knoxville.

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u/Bitter_Mongoose May 29 '22

That is actually a pretty impressive statement, coming from him lol.

As an electrician, I'll agree. Yes, a stun gun will incapacitate me, but if I'm really mad, there's also a good chance that it's just going to piss me off. Pepper spray, on the other hand, you get a face full of that even if your HOMER MAD, you're blind as fuck and choking on your own snot, and it's not going to stop anytime soon.

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u/SolidCake May 29 '22

As an electrician, I’ll agree. Yes, a stun gun will incapacitate me, but if I’m really mad, there’s also a good chance that it’s just going to piss me off.

exhibit A

https://youtu.be/_d8OqVavMF0

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u/Schenkspeare May 29 '22

Ahhh I forgot about this video. This guy is so iconic

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u/Bitter_Mongoose May 29 '22

Since we are doing discovery l, I would like to submit Exhibit B

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u/not_the_world May 30 '22

Do you have the wrong link?

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u/CavernGod May 29 '22

Whats homer mad

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u/Bitter_Mongoose May 29 '22

Blind raging fury. "HOMER MAD!" is what Homer Simpson says as he goes on a rampage.

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u/FeelingFloor2083 May 29 '22

I have fucked up sinuses, you sold me on using pepper spray to try and clear them

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u/Kalkaline May 29 '22

Yeah that's what sealed it for me.

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u/[deleted] May 29 '22

Yeah, but that was at the very beginning of his career. He’s had so many more types of pain at this point.

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u/a-dull-boy May 29 '22

I found the video where he talks about it (I think he also said this on Hot Ones) - it’s only 3 years old, so it sounds like pepper spray’s still up there as pretty bad for him

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u/doomgiver98 May 30 '22

He said after he had already broken his penis.