How has UM improved/altered your life?

[MegtheEgg86]

Originally Posted by SageSlowdive

I hope I don't freak anyone out with these stories

Way too late for that.

Thank God you came away from both those events unharmed, though.



Here on Oahu, we don't have enough official police vehicles to go around. As you can imagine, there's only so many cars on the island, and it's very expensive to ship them here from another island or the mainland. So a solution Honolulu P.D. came up with was to allow certain police officers working certain shifts to drive their personally owned vehicles with one of those blue lights on top.

Last night my boyfriend and I were going to a movie and I noticed a car was pulled over on the other side of the road we were on with one of those civilian "blue light" vehicles behind it. I told my boyfriend there's no way I'd ever stop for one of those. Even if I were pursued in Mililani where we were at the time (a good twenty minutes from the Honolulu Police station), I'd keep driving until I made it downtown or were pursued by a marked, official police vehicle.

[Corky Kneivel]

SageSlowdive, just out of curiosity: are you a guy or a girl?

[SageSlowdive]

Originally Posted by MegtheEgg86

Way too late for that.

Thank God you came away from both those events unharmed, though.



Here on Oahu, we don't have enough official police vehicles to go around. As you can imagine, there's only so many cars on the island, and it's very expensive to ship them here from another island or the mainland. So a solution Honolulu P.D. came up with was to allow certain police officers working certain shifts to drive their personally owned vehicles with one of those blue lights on top.

Last night my boyfriend and I were going to a movie and I noticed a car was pulled over on the other side of the road we were on with one of those civilian "blue light" vehicles behind it. I told my boyfriend there's no way I'd ever stop for one of those. Even if I were pursued in Mililani where we were at the time (a good twenty minutes from the Honolulu Police station), I'd keep driving until I made it downtown or were pursued by a marked, official police vehicle.

Thank you Meg. The second incident in particular really bothered me for a long time...it was kinda like a "what if" situation. What if I did get into that van...

Where I live, the police always look out for those vechiles, and always pull them over.

[SageSlowdive]

Originally Posted by Corky Kneivel

SageSlowdive, just out of curiosity: are you a guy or a girl?

Girl

[yellowVWchase]

UM has taught me to stop videotaping my satanic monologues after I set houses on fire.

[DP1]

Originally Posted by yellowVWchase

UM has taught me to stop videotaping my satanic monologues after I set houses on fire.

LOL!

[SheRaaa]

Ever since I started re-watching UM online (a habit that has happily coincided with my interest in true crime in general), I've been a lot more cognizant of my surroundings -- I go running or walking almost every day, and I'm constantly looking around, seeing who is around me, quickly memorizing the license plates of slow-moving cars, etc.

And, when I leave my current living situation and live alone again, I will absolutely own a.) a dog, and b.) a firearm...obviously these are no guarantees of personal safety, but I think it's good to be at least a little proactive.

[WishfulDreamer]

Originally Posted by SageSlowdive

Unsolved Mysteries has helped me out in the two scariest moments in my life:

1) When I was about 15, I was walking around in a Wal-Mart. I caught the eye of a man wearing a camouflage jacket, black pants, and green hat, I smiled at him, really I was just happy to have a little freedom from my mother who was at the McDonalds on the other side of the store. Well, I started down a boxed corner, and in the corner of my eye, I could see he was following me. So, I got nervous, thinking of the countless UM segments where people were kidnapped, and took a unexpected turn down the previous aisle where the electronics are. Suddenly, he was 4 feet from me, and he was going to kidnap me. I hurried up and swung my shopping cart behind me to block him and I ran as fast as I could. Ironically, no one believed this story, including my mother. I didn't even contact the police because she wouldn't let me...

2) Anyways, fast forward in time, to about a year ago. A friend and I decided to spend the day walking and visiting a park that offered several little stores. We planned on riding a transit bus that would get us back home. We were waiting at the side of the road where the bus would come, when a white van (shudders, Tara Calico) went back, turned around, and came back. The man in the vehicle looked about 40, with blond hair, and asked us if we needed a ride. When we said no, he preceded to get out, and persuade us that the bus was nothing we should be on, and told us he was going as far as we were. I gave him the meanest look I could give a person and said "we don't need your help". When he realized we weren't just two naive possible victims he left, and in his rear view window, we could see him throwing a rope into his back seat.

I hope I don't freak anyone out with these stories

You just reminded me of a few incidents actually.

1. When I was about 12 (started watching UM at 9, loved it ever since) a friend and I were walking back from the store just a block down from my house. We were on a cul-de-sac (sp?) and this van with a bunch of rowdy men turns around at the end. I immediately had a terrible feeling in the pit of my stomach- and my instinct was right. The van screeched to a halt alongside us. It wasn't windowless or anything (those never fail to creep me out) but the men started saying things to us. I couldn't even hear what they said but the two of us took off running, diverting from that dead-end street and being sure to remain on the side of the busy street instead. Very chilling.

2. Just last month, I was vacationing in Europe, actually just got back. Mainly, it was very safe over there and my friend and I had no problem walking together at night. One day while in England I was alone and decided to walk on this path alongside a river (I know, how could I be so silly after the bikepath segment? ) Everything was fine and beautiful, and on the way back some friendly locals said hello. Then one man wanted to speak more and I kept going. He began to follow me. There were very few people on the path and it was broad daylight but still I was freaked out. I crossed an overpass to get over to the other side of the river and was sure I'd lost him. I wandered into this meadow, where I was pretty sure more people would be since it was such a lovely day but there was no one. Then I saw him in the distance and he actually waved to me like I was a long lost friend or something. I took off running as fast as I could, running on adrenaline. I ended up on this elementary school campus and was so shaken I just stood there, feeling safer with all the children and parents around. When I finally made it back to where I was staying, I realized just how much danger I had been in. I'm just glad that I wasn't farther in the meadow and was able to get back on the path within a minute or things could have been horrible. I usually never walk alone or do things like this, but I had just gotten some bad news and was in a funk and not thinking straight. UM has taught me to be careful no matter where you are and always, above all, trust your gut! And especially don't wander around like this when upset about other things. I'm really glad nothing happened. The crazy thing is that just before this happened, two men had been behind me on the path and I had grown tense, but they had turned out to be harmless. Lapses of judgment can turn out far worse, as we have seen on UM.

UM has definitely made me more safety conscious and jump at noises in the house. I used to get mad at my brother when he would forget to lock the door (now he doesn't forget). I never use ATMs at night and will often back a friend who is using one even during broad daylight. I am definitely on my guard more. The show is very helpful in reminding us of safety.

[InStackWeTrust]

Unsolved Mysteries has inspired my friend and I to establish a system of philosophy called "Stackism." As the name implies, our philosophy revolves around the presence of Robert Stack on Unsolved Mysteries, specifically his unwavering objectivity, sophisticated vocabulary, profound presence, and impressive wardrobe. My friend and I both have a tattoo (on my right shoulder and his left shoulder) that says "In Stack We Trust" in the "Mysteries" font.

[DP1]

-I never use an ATM at night.

-UM and AMW have taught me NEVER to pull over during the course of a road rage incident. When I was driving to my job, this car overshot me and nearly smacked into a tunnel wall. I don't know how this happened but the guy sped up beside me and yelled for me to pull over. I sure as hell wasn't going to do that. I told the guy I was sorry which seemed to just make him more angry. He continued yelling for another minute or two but then just drove off. I'm not sure the reason why. He might have calmed down or had to make turn to get off the road. It's also possible that he spotted a police car...one was in the distance. But no way in hell was I going to pull over there.