Rituals and Safety

[zippy-kat]

Gotta question for you guys:

What is a ritual that makes you feel safe?

This can be anything from airport security measures to washing with anti-bacterial/-microbial soap to checking the locks on your doors before you go to bed at night.

(I'm looking for a creative idea to tie into a research paper on structuring (computer) user behavior.)

Thanks in advance!
Zip

[guineapiggie13]

Making sure the guinea pigs nails are trimmed and teeth checked, etc. Also, to make sure betta fish is off (heats up the tank alot). hope that is what you were looking for.

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

My first reaction was buckling the seat belt when I get in the car. Then I read further and saw the (computer) user thing and not sure if you're looking for computer related security, but one routine that makes me fell safer with the computer is updating my virus software.

[catland]

these both make me feel safe...

Before I leave a building to go to my car, I always find my car keys first so that my keys are ready to go in my hand and I'm not fumbling for them.

I once had a scary dream that involved an open garage door and a dark house and a stranger and being unable to yell for help (you know how dreams can be), so every night, when I check to make sure that the garage door is closed, I first turn on the light to the laundry room that is right next to the garage.

[Jods]

ummmmmm

Locking all doors to my house at night.

Keeping the doggies nearby if I'm home alone & a phone nearby yeah I'm pathetic

I know this is dumb, but if I'm going to the car at night putting a key between my knuckles in case anyone tries to mug me. A self defence lasy told us that ( I can punch them hehe) Don't mess with me LOL

at our college we have late classes and in each hallway there is a huge red button we can hit it and a security person will automatically answer and know what hall were in. They also have huge alarms outside the building that make a loud siren noise.

thats all I can think of right now.

[Miss Meow]

I am pedantic about turning electricity off at the switch before plugging or unplugging applicances

I never watch CSI before bed as that show convinces me that there are baddies in the house!

Always park my car near lights if I know I won't collect it before dark.

If I home alone at night, I always traipse around the house with all the lights on to make sure everything is locked and I haven't locked anyone in

[wolflady]

Originally posted by Miss Meow
I am pedantic about turning electricity off at the switch before plugging or unplugging applicances

I never watch CSI before bed as that show convinces me that there are baddies in the house!

Always park my car near lights if I know I won't collect it before dark.

If I home alone at night, I always traipse around the house with all the lights on to make sure everything is locked and I haven't locked anyone in

This sounds like me! I'm a little crazy when it comes to my front door being locked. I probably check it no less than 2 - 3 times before I go to bed to make sure it is...indeed...locked! LOL
I always make sure things like coffeepots and other electricals are turned off and unplugged before I go to bed.
I lock my car doors and buckle myself in before starting the engine.
I carry anti-bacterial hand gel in my purse and use it all the time!
If I'm home alone, all the lights are on in my house until it's time for bed, and then...I lock my bedroom door and my dog stays with me. LOL
When I was in college, I carried a thing of pepper spray with me when I knew I was going to be in lab late and walking home in the dark alone.

In terms of computer rituals, I have Spyware and virus software on my computer and firewalls up for protection. I also defrag at least once a month, if not more...especially when my computer starts running slow.
I also clear out my cookies and temporary internet files once a week.

that's all I can think of right now...

[LoudLou]

Before entering any dark room I MUST turn the lights on. If the light switch is to far from the door I'll use a flashlight.

I will not answer my phone unless I reconize the # on the Caller ID.

I will not look directly into a mirror for longer than about 15 seconds.

I say the alphabet while washing my hands.

[Fox-Gal]

I always have to check that I have my car keys, twice, before I lock my car. Once inside the car when I put them in my purse and then again, once I'm out of the car...I have to look in the purse again, just to make sure.

I have to pull on the doors once I lock them, just to make sure they are really locked tight.

if I'm going to the car at night putting a key between my knuckles in case anyone tries to mug me.

I do that too. I was told once that if you look perpared, head straight to your car and don't waste time getting in, your less likely to have problems. Keys in your hand, unlock, get in and lock the doors. No hanging out around your car looking for your keys in you purse.


This might seem a little odd, but I won't park near a Van. A few years ago, I did this one night going to blockbuster and 3 guys jumped out of the side and tried to pull me in the van. So to this day I won't park near a van.......People can't see what's going on with a van blocking the view.

As to my computer, when ever we have a bad storm, I always try to unplug. Even with a surge protector I got hit hard once and it didn't save me.

[Kfamr]

Hoarding the dogs in my room. I always feel safe with them around me.

Locking the doors, even the garage door and the screened porch doors.

Locking the doors in the car, while in the car. I dunno why, but I always feel weird if the door is unlocked while driving.


When alone at night, I turn all of the lights on and again hoard the dogs with me.

[flamepony12]

changing bay's and freckles' water, covering bay's cage, closing the shades before bed, bringing one of the dogs in my room for company to sleep with

[catfancier]

Only one comes to mind for me at the moment - whenever I take my foot off the clutch of my car when I'm driving, I ALWAYS check (sometimes up to 3 times), that my car is in neutral and not in gear so I don't jerk forwards, backwards or stall. I'm very pedantic about it! It arose from when I drive and I'm tired, I lose concentration and forget I'm in gear.

I don't worry too much about house security although we always lock up at night and when we go out. I'm in a really safe, quiet area. I have been burgled before though, and that's always in the back of my mind.

[lovemyshiba]

I always buckle my seatbelt when I'm in a vehicle.

I always have my keys out when I am going to my car. At work, we have to park across the street, and sometimes when I leave at 11 or 12 at night, I'm a little creeped out, so I usually try to talk to someone on my cell phone while I'm walking over, or use the buddy system.

I'm a bit of a freak about coming home to an empty house alone. If my husband is going out and I'm at work, I make him leave a bunch of lights on and the television, so it doesn't feel so "empty" when I walk in.

[Kfamr]

Oh.. another one.

Having doors closed. Like, my closet door, my bedroom door. I always feel so weird with them open.

[flamepony12]

Originally posted by Kfamr
Oh.. another one.

Having doors closed. Like, my closet door, my bedroom door. I always feel so weird with them open.

lol! I'm exactly the opposite... I DEFINITELY close my bedroom door, but I always leave my closet and bathroom door open