I had a guy try to mug me in long beach 25 years ago with a knife. I didn’t acknowledge him and just kept walking and he left me alone.
My daughters friend was a 6'3" football player at a university in Chicago where the suburban nerdy white and asian kids were easy prey for a few local thugs.
A mugger came at him with a small knife, demanding wallet, phone, etc... He simply told the mugger - "That's all you have? I'm not giving you sh**, out of principle. You need to work harder and earn it if you want my cash."
The mugger laughed and walked away.