True. You don't know the long term effects.

YEARS after I was assaulted by my girlfriend's ex-boyfriend, I happened to run into him on the street corner.  He clearly didn't remember who I was, but I most definitely remembered him, and so I stood, staring at him, until the light changed.  He eventually asked what my problem was, and so I reminded him of that night.  He turned around and went the other way, changing his route so he wouldn't have to walk near me.

I had the entire fight or flight response going, and was ready for a  full blown battle. It took me half a day to calm down again, and I was literally reliving it in my head.

If there's a place where the old 'half an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure' saw fits, it's with violent crime. Getting hammered simply isn't worth it.