From:	abortion_engine abortion_engine@*******.com
Subject:	Questions of great importance (Steve, Jon, RA:S people especially)
Date:	Thu, 2 Sep 1999 01:42:09 -0400

> > ::Black: Great for intimidation, sucks at concealment day or night.
> A moving, solid BLACK object stands out real fast, and you just
> siloutte your life away.
> > :
> > :Btw, if black sucks so hard, why do people insist on using it? Or is
> that a Hollywood fallacy?
> >
> > Because it's _GREAT_ for intimidation. :) That's often the reason
> why you'll see SWAT teams in black, for example.
> > -- Paul Gettle, #186 of 1000
>
> Yeah, but that doesn't help me. Why would spec forces or SEALs wear
> black? They don't need intimidation - they need concealment.

Okay, here's the thing. They don't; not always. Yeah, I've seen it used, and
in some times that I'd have called dumb, but it's not standard. You pick
smart clothes in the same way you pick any other equipment--at least for
SpecFo [grunts don't pick their gear :) ]. Whether that's Urban Camo or a
straight set of fatigues, or black, you pick tactical clothing on a
case-by-case basis.

I should note, sometimes black is okay. It really depends on the setting,
and on your concealment tactics. I've had a lot of luck with very dark blue
at night. In highly moonlit conditions, for whatever reason--thinking isn't
always my job, just usually--it seems to work better at concealment than
straight black.

The answer is this: only having one option available to you in the clothing
department is stupid for an infiltrator. Choices, choices, choices. It's
what makes this stuff work in real life.

Also remember, clothing is one--kinda unimportant, really--aspect of
concealment. Not being where people can see you, not moving quickly, not
skylining, leaving a small cross-section, all of these mean that what you're
wearing isn't important. If they never look your way, what does it matter
what you're wearing? [I know it's over-simplified, leave me alone.]

I hope this helps a little. If not, I can give it another shot if I have
more of an idea of what you're looking for.