I'm in favor of self-defense -- but buying a can of pepper spray and keeping it in your purse, pocket, glove box, whatever and never training with it is not likely to be a significant benefit in event of an attack. More likely, it will harm you more than it helps.<p>a) If you've never sprayed it before, how do you know how far it goes, the spray pattern, how much pressure it takes to depress the button, how long it lasts?<p>b) pepper spray is indiscriminate - it <i>will</i> get on you, and if you're not ready for that, it's very possible that you will find yourself completely helpless, eyes burning, coughing, gasping for breath - all while being attacked.<p>This is why law enforcement and the military, before they leave "basic training", are exposed to a wide variety of agents they expect to meet in the field, including pepper spray (I went through pepper spray training. Very eye opening {or closing!} to say the least).<p>If you are carrying pepper spray, you owe it to yourself to get proper training that includes being sprayed with it in the face and how to still defend yourself while under the effects. Otherwise, it's just a potentially deadly talisman.<p><a href="http://www.aaa-safetyfirst.com/pepper-spray-reaction.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.aaa-safetyfirst.com/pepper-spray-reaction.htm</a>
<a href="http://www.safariland.com/blog/post/OC-Spray-Training-To-Be-or-Not-to-Be-Sprayed.aspx" rel="nofollow">http://www.safariland.com/blog/post/OC-Spray-Training-To-Be-...</a>
While I support the overall idea, the name "Pepper the Pigs" is going to be very confusing in the USA- 'pigs' is a slang term for a policeman, so my immediate association was that you want to pepperspray police officers.
I'm not sure pepper spray gets to the heart of the issue. We're talking about something much more ingrained in the culture than simple predators lurking in some alley, no? Do you have any idea what could happen to a woman that pepper sprays the wrong man in some parts of the world? We're talking about a place that still has thousands of cases of bride burning each year (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bride_burning#In_India" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bride_burning#In_India</a>). Not sure how pepper spray is the first step here.
I think I've heard self defense experts recommend against pepper spray. Not sure why - perhaps fumbling around for it in your purse wastes too much valuable time, and there is the danger of hurting yourself instead of the attacker?<p>In any case it seems very naive to me to think the problem could be solved in such a way. I certainly don't think it is because of pepper spray that we presumably have less rape incidents in the western world.
Two problems (IMO):<p>A. I understand that this is an inspired act sparked by the very recent events in India...but more explanation needs to be visible in order to make this organization seem legit. I'm not talking about showing us your registration and non-profit organization permit, I mean "Kickstarter Pitch" level: I'm just giving my money to who now (listing a few organizations isn't enough, I need names of reps to at least be assured you're just not misappropriating their name)? How is it being spent? What is the purchasing price that you're using? What are your plans for transparency (i.e. a weekly/monthly report on how many sprays have been given out).<p>I realize that last bit may be hard because you're not at that volume-of-action yet...but this could be slightly mitigated by either securing a decent donation from a group/benefactor or the organizers themselves making the initial sizable donation. Yes I guess that sounds a bit entitled ("why can't you build the distribution site AND purchase the supplies") but if your call to action is going to berate people for just sitting around on Facebook...well, you kind of put yourself in the position to set an example, right?<p>B) The "Buy a pepper spray" graph just reeks of "white knight syndrome":<p>> <i>A can costs Rs. 400. Have enough money to buy one? Do it. If you are a dude, buy one for your sister, your partner and every girl you care about (which should be every girl you know).</i><p>What if you are not a "dude"? Just hope that, as a female, someone will purchase pepper sprays for your sister, partner, etc.? Also, not all affected by the rape problem are girls. Some of them, including the victim at the most currently famous case, are women. And that last sentence parenthetical is just patronizing and redundant: if I am the type of dude who would buy pepper spray for the women in my life, I don't need to be told that I should care about women, or any fellow human being, for that matter.<p>Not trying to be overly harsh here. Congrats on you for stepping it up and trying something out. But if there's resolvable problems (IMO, of course), might as well think about them now and help the success of your noble mission.
I like this idea, at least as a temporary stop-gap. Long term, more needs to be done in terms of teaching the men the value of women. That involves a change of the heart as well as mind.