I’m not sure if this is really relevant – maybe I should say appropriate… if the moderator thinks not, please feel free to delete it…

The way, in which the world is changing at the moment, travellers are being kidnapped ! this is a very real danger.

Does anyone have sensible advice / experiences they can share ?

For example, what to / what not to say, what and who you should communicate to .. how to act and or promise…

I’m afraid it will all go out of the window and you’ll rely on your inner mental strength.

I would stay at home. It's far too dangerous abroad. All those foreigners, and all. What about the food? They don't even speak English, do they? There's people behind every lamp post just itching to kidnap you.

If I were to venture to foreign fields I would say I'm an athiest (or possibly, a dyslexic, agnostic, insomniac) buddhist and drive a tank.
HTH

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You’re absolutely right, stupid thread… should go to bed earlier and not stay up watching stupid movies…..

everywhere is dangerous, I have had more grief at home than abroad (but I do spend more time here...). If everyone you meet you greet with open smiles and warm handshakes, everybody will respond in the same way. That's my theory and I'm sticking to it......

The hint that claiming atheism would protect you might be a red-herring. In my experience travelling through Islamic countries the people who are 'religously motivated' will have more respect for a Christian than a godless individual. If you want to protect yourself maybe read the Qor'an, there's a lot in there about the close relationship between Muslims and Christians.

Best thing to do with people that tell you what you are doing is too dangerous is just ignore them, go in with blind faith in human nature but keep your eyes open!

My entire post was a red herring/tongue-in-cheek.

The punchline to the dyslexic/agnostic/insomniac joke was: He lay awake at night, worried if there was a dog or not.

ChrisB

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hey, that's my joke!

I once met a man who led nature tours in Rwanda I think it was. His tour was kidnapped, and I think almost half of the members were killed. It was made into a book, and perhaps it came out as a film too. I was surprised when he told one of the women who was 'chatting' with one of the abductors, to stop and be quiet. He seemed to feel making that link was dangerous, that you want minimal contact. Though I would certainly try that approach. I have no experience with this, but in situations dealing with people who are 'borderline', (always happened in the US, as opposed to abroad) getting them on your side, finding a bond, whatever, has always proved useful for me.
There are so many variables, that you can't possible pre-plan, but certainly useful to have some ideas ahead of time.
Lorraine

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Thanks Lorraine, you understood my original post !!! thanks M...

I wouldn't say this was a stupid thread. It's something that is extremely unlikely to happen but if it makes people feel better to think they are prepared for the eventuality then...

I remember reading once that the best thing to do if your are taken prisoner as a POW by a regime that does not abide by the Geneva convention (i.e. pretty much any country in the world apparently) you should try to be as non-descript as possible. Answer questions with the minimum of fuss, avoid eye contact etc, appear completely defeated.

This gives your captors no reason to pick you out for early summary execution/beatings/to be their new 'wife'. It also gives you more chance to escape as they are less likely to be keeping a close eye on you.

Whether this transfers to hostage situations I have no idea!

Matt

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*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!

Just tell any kidnappers that you are incontinent, and if they have guns/knives pointing at you they probably would believe you!!

An old female friend of mine who had been on some 'anti' rape course was told, that is the best way to deter a rapist.

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Never confuse the map with the journey.

Nice place you got here, I need a !

Now, under normal circumstances, much like that famous cowboy also born in Oklahoma, and who also went gaucho to Argentina, "I would never consider joining any group that would have me as a member,"

BUT I WAS SENT HERE! UNBELIEVEABLE!!!

And, as all patrons of this bar surely know, kidnappings are not normal circumstances.

The other guy was the famous Cherokee-American cowboy, comedian, humorist, social commentator, vaudeville performer and actor. Will Rogers until his untimely death in a plane crash in 1935 with his friend and also famous one eyed pilot Wally Post. Arguably, Will Rogers most famous quote is, " I never met a man I didn't like." Today that quote would be I never met a "person" I didn't like. I try my best, to live my life with these two simple, but brilliant, beliefs.

Enough, about me and my beliefs, here is what I want to share with you regarding kidnappings. Not, myself as a victim, but as a vicarious spectator wanting with all my heart to help the hostages.

If you are a trained and experienced *"remote viewer" (*DOD, CIA , etc and Wikipedia plus thousands of other internet references) and you are able to discover any truth about missing travelers in Tunisia, during a remote viewing sessions, do not post that information on:

Travellers' Advisories, Safety and Security on the Road.

Especially if your post is 5 days prior to breaking news of the travelers kidnapping. For example, I posted:

"This info gathered via a remote viewing session. Take it or leave it, but I had to try. I am better than average but certainly not 100% all the time."

"I believe They went caravanning into desert, after Matmata about 150-175 K oases, or further in direction of TOZEUR some reason they are without their own cloths, dressing as locals? Fuel problem of some kind, keeps jamming in. Not absolutely sure about this at all.

My advice immediate contact with Berbers between Matmata and KEBILI, DOUZ or as far as TOZEUR indicated. Contact should be done in a manner conforming to Berber culture and language. Someone should spend some effort here. Wish I was there!"

Yep, I knew that and according to recent reports, it seems to be true.

And especially don't post if you are able to describe anything about the kidnapping with any detail that might turn out to have been true.

If you are the only one posting anything helpful, other than news reports, before it breaks in the international media beware, you will end up in the BAR, like me.

But first you will be insulted, and admonished for bringing to the table the religious based nature motivating the kidnapping. Oh no, we can't talk about that, oh no, we might hear something that conflicts with our beliefs. Your posts will be edited so your response to insulting remarks look like they come from thin air... And you will get a nice e-mail from the moderator, who has himself been raked over the coals, for allowing someone to even allude to the basic why of the kidnapping.

No, let's keep it all quiet, let's pretend they are the bad guys and we are compassionate loving people.

And second, never offer a solution that requires the participation of others that might actually, and this based on well documented similar situations in the past, help the abductors release their victims.

No, don't do that. I recommend you find a sandy patch of beach, no one has yet discovered, and just stick your head in the sand and wait.

Thanks for listening, Now, where's that ? xfiltrate

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Free speech

I may not agree with what you say, but to your death I will defend your right to say it." - Voltaire

But at the same time I strongly agree with:-

The Demon-Haunted World - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

And to my life I would rather defend a defender of science than a misseller of hope.

I wish all well

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Land's End to Sydney 2009

Here, have a xfiltrate. Your efforts to help did not go unnoticed. Not sure what that was all about earlier. I think a number of misunderstandings got muddled, and alas, you were bumped. Not fair at all.
What you said about adhering to standards/customs of local culture was completely on. And I certainly don't think you should bury your head in the sand if it happens again. Instead, another , and get back on the bike again???
Lorraine

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Seriously . . . got held up by Maoists in Nepal last year. Cost me $60 to 'escape'. I got a discount from the standard $100 fee because I was not an American! They even gave me an official receipt!
But the real scary part was; they really did kidnap 35 males from the small village we were in (1 male person from each family) and took then all into the hills for the mandatory 6 month brainwashing before letting them return to their families!

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This thread reminds me of the Long Way Down chat about Kidnappings and when in Africa things go downhill very quickly.... "The PRATS"

Statistically you stand more chance of setting foot on the south pole then being kidnapped while being away form home.

But just in case Smile be nice and friendly, play dumb, if your going to be knidnapped might as well make em like you at least a little bit. Look at Patty Hearst she made it FUN to be kidnapped.