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[FuzzyZergling]

How exactly does one come to "know how to use" a fluorescent tube as a weapon? Why would anyone train to use a tube of fragile glass to defend themselves? What would make them think it's such a good and useful idea that it's worth spending a significant amount of time on?

I read a Starwars parody where the Jedi-equivilents used fluorescent tubes instead of lightsabres.
I wish I could remember what it was called...

[Lagslayer]

How exactly does one come to "know how to use" a fluorescent tube as a weapon? Why would anyone train to use a tube of fragile glass to defend themselves? What would make them think it's such a good and useful idea that it's worth spending a significant amount of time on?

I read a Starwars parody where the Jedi-equivilents used fluorescent tubes instead of lightsabres.
I wish I could remember what it was called...

Fluorescent lightbulbs are deadly. Those things have mercury in them, which is poisonous, and jagged glass will cut you very easily.

[G-Flex]

Those things have mercury in them, which is poisonous

Did you miss the whole conversation we just had about that?

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Long-term bioaccumulation of heavy metals is not a good method of self-defense.

[G-Flex]

I'm really not sure why this conversation is being taken seriously. So a Bay12er has large fluorescent lightbulbs that may or may not work as weapons in self-defence.

It's just amusing when some teenager starts talking about how he's learned to use jars and coathangers and lightbulbs "with deadly efficiency" against people, like he's some kind of cross between MacGyver and a Mossad agent.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

To be fair, you probably could get a good hit in on someone with a fluorescent tube lightbulb. I know from experience that they're fairly durable, and if it does break then you have something fairly sharp as well.

[G-Flex]

Durable? In my experience, the things break if you look at them funny. Long tubes of glass will do that to you. The things also basically shatter when they break.

[MaximumZero]

I'm gonna back up G-Flex on this one. The ones that I've had experience with tended to shatter due to any rough handling at all (like, walking while carrying them over one's shoulder. Or twisting just a little too hard when removing them from the ceiling fixtures. Or launching them like javelins at the dumpster.) Srsly, light bulb != weapon.

[Vault]

If they're not quite burnt out they also like to ... I don't want to say explode but they do "pop". And don't I recall a news story about some Star Wars fans replicating Lightsabre effects with fluorescent bulbs and gasoline Which did in fact result in a more proper explosion?

[ArKFallen]

G-Flex you ask why I'd learn to use these things, the answer is really simple. They're what I've got, and I've got a lot of them. If I had one totally legit weapon I wouldn't have even mentioned anything else, but I don't. Maybe "deadly efficiency" was too high a phrase but every other phrase I can think of that'd mean "I know how to use this to inflict pain and draw blood" comes out as a synonym.
Examples of use:
1]Fluorescent light-bulbs/tubes shatter when they're used but always leaves giant jagged bits of glass attached. For them to be deadly all you really need to do is shatter it on anything near the face and thrust. They're dangerous to use due to suspect mercury poison (if you use too often) and the shattered glass hazard. Best used when you have some protection over hands and feet (I used sheets).
2]Jars are best thrown and used to hamper movement. This is about as efficient as you get with glass jars (barring suicidal charging). Regardless they're still deadly.
3]Coathangers suck. They're only really useful if you bend the bottoms in a grip-like fashion, angle the hanging part farther out, and use it to gouge soft flesh (mainly eyes, ears, throat). I've got them bent into a variety of shapes all over the room (from when I experimented with them) and there are no plastic ones in the basement (all metal).

I was just trying to say the closest thing I had to bed-defense. It's shitty, low-dollar defense (most the stuff has been there for years) and the only things I'm really allowed. I'll likely never have to use these things seeing how the basement only has three small windows, but I don't doubt that knowing how to use the things I've got will come in handy.
If anyone has anymore rebuttals and what have you, PM me. I'd like us to get back to the OT and stop cluttering this thread.

[DJ]

What's wrong with a good old kitchen knife? Hell, I'd take a butter knife over light bulbs and coat hangers.

[Andir]

On-Topic...

Cotton shorts over my underwear.  All year round.  (It helps that I happen to be one of the few left with a waterbed for warmth.)  No shirts.  If I get up to answer the door or have company over, I'll throw on a t-shirt.  It bugs me to wake up having the neck of the shirt stretching up on my throat or the sleeve just slightly off.  Actually, any piece of clothing that has a chance of shifting seems to bug the snot out of me.  Cotton shorts, however, keep things comfortable.

Off-Topic...

I have one weapon I use as a first line of defense... but it's broken.  It's just a pump shotgun with a disabled trigger and if the sound of the pump doesn't frighten them off, my Sig works quickly enough.

[Puzzlemaker]

I SLEEP NAKED

[Grimshot]

@ ArKFallen

 You could always make a shiv out of what you have laying around or get a sturdy tree branch for a club.

[G-Flex]

I'd just like to say that I know how to use an empty prescription bottle with deadly efficiency because I sat in my room this one time and pretended to hurt people with it. Now I'm a master too, thanks to the River City Ransom improvised-weapon DVD program.

[Grimshot]

I'd just like to say that I know how to use an empty prescription bottle with deadly efficiency because I sat in my room this one time and pretended to hurt people with it. Now I'm a master too, thanks to the River City Ransom improvised-weapon DVD program.

 I suppose if you wedged it in their throat it would work, you would just have to get them to open up first (and also be really fast).