I'm a borderline nervous wreck or lose cannon. One night when some "Chicken Ricans" (in the words of Freeper Hermann the Cherusker) on 4th Ave in Brooklyn did the old "got any spare money" routine, I simply replied "get the f-ck out of here" and they moved on.
In my first year in Manhattan, I was walking down E. 53rd at Park n my way to the 6 train on Lexington at about 9pm. There were only a couple people on the street.
A black teen thug walked up from behind me and next to me and said, "Gimme fi dollar."
I said "What"?
He said "Gimme fi dollar."
I said "F- You."
He said "Gimme fi dollar or that dude in front of you is going to stab you."
At that point I noticed that he was working with a buddy who was walking a head of me, but then slowed down trying to corner me.
Immediately I walked right across 53rd to the other side of the street very directly, but didn't run.
They did the same thing.
I increased the speed of my walk and they didn't.
So I was able to make it to Lexington and get into a cab.
I'm sure they mugged someone else that night.
It was really like the discovery channel. Two predators. But they're probably dead now or in prison. Thank goodness for Giuliani. I wish he was still mayor.