was thinking it more along the lines of persuading people to pay debts under the threat of re-arranged limbs

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

interestingly, this one guy says that if you use an ethical/moral purpose for your actions, you can defend yourself against anything, for example, prostitute who wants to feed her family, drug dealer who has a sick mother, etc.

Now I understand Rick Santorum and his attachment to religion.

But the whole thing is fascinating -  for example, they advise you to change your appearance often, because there is apparently a love/hate cycle going on, and that is why some famous people are always toying with their appearance.