EDC Lesson

[squidsix]

You aren't paranoid. Humans are dangerous.

 

[JohnK]

If you look like food, you may be eaten.

Double-O Dave handled that well.

I'm 74 now, really have to keep situational awareness constant.

 

[TomkinsSP]

One of my professors at John Jay (wish I could remember his name) described this type of situation. People who have (or have learned to develop) situational awareness notice small patterns in their environment, and then they anticipate potential future outcomes from those cues. It is not paranoia, even if the rustling grass is not a hungry lioness, the gazelle did well to move away.

On the street we occasionally busted storefront 'psycics' who preyed upon extraordinarily superstitious and ignorant clients (not that I am judging.) Many were just con artists and neer-do-wells, but those who stuck around year after year were mostly just entrepreneurial folks who understood their client's superstitions and had a better than average (which is to say phenomenal compared to thier clients) ability to read these little patterns and translate them into moron.

So if you are in a position of vulnerability, and you feel that tingle, you are psychic (at least in the Flatbush Ave sense), and even if its not a clear and present danger, you are not paranoid.

 

[Fastbolt]

Well, while I'd rather not fire/light off a round near gasoline fumes, I rather doubt any miscreant would want to be threatening someone holding a gasoline pump nozzle, either.

Yes, if you're inattentive to what's going on around you, and look like it, it might appear to present an opportunity to someone looking for a victim.

 

[Buford57]

They prey on the unwary.

Thanks for sharing that reminder that eternal vigilance is indeed the price of freedom...and safety.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Approaching someone holding gas pump is not very bright, I agree!

So if you are in a position of vulnerability, and you feel that tingle, you are psychic (at least in the Flatbush Ave sense), and even if its not a clear and present danger, you are not paranoid.

That's the neighborhood I picked up my Spidey sense in, too. I enhanced it after Colonel Cooper taught us the color codes.

 

[misswired]

Was your fly up?

That's funny, I don't care who you are ....!
My 'golden' rule.... Don't let a stranger within 'touching distance'....period!

 

[Lee's Landing Billy]

Carry and shoot every day.........I see what I mean.

 

[diegobxr]

I look like an easy mark, past 70 and handicapped.

This thread made me think of an excellent phrase I once read here:

"A young guy may kick your ***, but an old guy will kill you".


CCW or not, your advantage was your excellent situational awareness and effective response. Congrats to you, sir.

 

[amazingflapjack]

Here in the sunshine state you can "flash," but even before you could, I would. A knowing look at the potential perp while scratching the side of my head with a Bull Dog .44 pretty much sets the stage for what's gonna' come next. Their choice.

 

[sousana]

Go with your gut feeling. If you thought he was sizing you up, He was very likely sizing you up.

Good advice. Carry everywhere every day.

Wing master

Learn to trust your gut.

 

[oldiegoldie]

Andy Grove, former CEO at Intel, wrote a book titled "Only The Paranoid Survive". I think he's onto something....nothing wrong with being a little paranoid.

 

[Squarebutt]

One habit I've picked up over the years is to use any nearby glass or shiny surface as a mirror to watch my 6, and sometime my 5 and 7. You can keep an eye on your surroundings and decide on your next move without obviously turning and looking over your shoulder constantly.

 

[catadjuster]

I don't think that it is about paranoia at all. Our brains pick up messages and cues about our surroundings and set our nerve endings to tingling. So; at that point, you begin to pay conscious attention to your surroundings and the predator sees you paying attention. Then, when nothing happens (because you were aware and the predator decides to find an easier target) then the natural inclination is for you to just discard your awareness as paranoia since nothing "actually" happened.

The truth is that something DID happen - you were targeted, evaluated and eliminated as a victim. Trust your gut instinct.

 

[wingriderz]

Well done gas stations are a dangerous place. For car jackers and robberies

 

[forrestinmathews]

Well, while I'd rather not fire/light off a round near gasoline fumes, I rather doubt any miscreant would want to be threatening someone holding a gasoline pump nozzle, either.

Yes, if you're inattentive to what's going on around you, and look like it, it might appear to present an opportunity to someone looking for a victim.

Most people don't think of the gas pump as a weapon. It goes into the car and back into the pump. I'd be more likely to draw and shoot someone before spraying them with gasoline. Nice thought though. Simple and highly effective.

 

[BigDog48]

Situational awareness is the most important part of everyday carry, right after the "everyday" part. You did good!

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

I'm not so sure of my 'situational awareness' abilities at all times. When I got a lot of things on my mind sometimes I'm not aware of what I'm doing, let alone anyone else. When I was building houses I went to Ace Hardware to pickup several things then walked right past the cash registers out to my truck and got about half way back to the job before I realized I had not paid for anything. The Ace girls chuckled upon my return and said "We knew you'd be back".

 

[Old cop]

Not sure how old you are ChattanoogaPhil but I walk into a different part of the house and forgot why I wanted to go there, and this happens all the time. As long as I maintain my LEO cops eyes (situtional awareness) I'll be happy.

 

[ken158]

This thread made me think of an excellent phrase I once read here:

"A young guy may kick your ***, but an old guy will kill you".


CCW or not, your advantage was your excellent situational awareness and effective response. Congrats to you, sir.

Been a long time since I went through academy training but even then we were not taught to fight "fair" but we were taught to fight to win.