Yes I do this and it works. Folks walk the other way and immediately cease eye contact.
Yes I do this and it works. Folks walk the other way and immediately cease eye contact.
Dark glasses also help. And some are more intimidating that others. Mirrored wraparounds (often worn by cops) are intimidating.
Don’t look like a sheep, don’t act like a wolf, act like you are a sheep dog.
Alert, pleasant, aware and, always armed and thinking.
One tip, use a shopping cart to take even only a few things to your vehicle. At least one hand should always be free to do a critical task, break a fall, snag some Rugrats about to be squished, draw your....keys, arm, phone. Plus, the cart is decent stand off if someone wants to get stupid.
Carry a padfolio that has the Clinton Foundation logo on it.
In me, nail biting means I’m bored.
Shotgun
I’ve found that being 6’ 3”, 200+ lbs and in pretty good shape prevents a lot of nonsense.
Hint. Don’t wear a face diaper.
Of course it doesn't work if this is you...
A friend of mine who was a bit of a gun nut (he had sport coats cut to fit his concealed weapon) said he could tell if people were carrying a piece by how they carried themself as they walked in downtown Seattle. He taught me how to walk “as if” I was armed. I took it to hear to this day. Of course, now I AM carrying. But the situational awareness part is also key.
I was walking through the Denny Regrade area of Seattle (second ave) just as the sun was setting, in turtleneck, sport coat and slacks one day (I was 45 at the time). This is an area that, after dark, could become a bit dicey. I was using the method my friend mentioned. I’m 6’1” and have longer than average legs, so I can walk pretty fast. I noticed a young girl of about 25 keeping pace with me just a couple of steps back. I suddenly realized what she was doing. I stopped, turned, and asked if she wanted to walk next to me until she reached her destination. Her relief was almost tangible. We went on for another three blocks toward downtown until she reached her building. I had that “strong fatherly” look, is how my wife described it later. I do have four daughters, after all.😁
But this was 25 years ago. This sort of thing is now just part of how I carry myself whenever in an urban area. But that’s pretty rare now that I’m retired and have acreage to maintain.
Does it work with a bear? 🙂
Yeah, that dude strikes me as somebody not to mess with.
My dead stare expression is pretty good with one exception: my nostrils flare. Relaxed brows - check. Relaxed jaws - check. Flat stare - check. Crap - my nostrils flared. I’ve been consciously trying to keep that from happening for years but it’s very difficult, especially with such a strong sense of smell.
Peach
Think Gus Fring. He had this down.
If a person is trying to be scary and intimidating, well that might work on normal law abiding folks and young stupid punks. But crazy meth users and viscous gang members will not be deterred at all.
Meth users will not notice and gang members will see it as a challenge to their authority.
Never get within a distance where you can be gotten to without your ability to react. If I’m walking through an airport or mall or such and I see someone I don’t like the looks of, I’ll change my course to avoid being near them.
And if they are don’t look like me screw them. I’ve already been classified as a racist so I may as well use it to my advantage.
its counter to one’s natural reactions, but being outwardly friendly and bullish***y if confronted by strangers also tends to confuse them.