How do you react when a stranger approaches you in public?

[chud333]

I'm kinda like feralmerril in that there's not too many people
who i find a threat. I stay away from the places where these
kind hang out i guess. Hardly ever met a stranger. If approached
by a haggard looking dude or bum i'll keep a sharp eye out
on his movements and hands. Won't let them get behind me
or in a position where i cannot react quickly.
I try to deal with everyone with the same respect i like to recieve.
It would be a sad world if everyone treated people they
have'nt yet met with disdain or intolerance.
Guess i'm just a trusting soul, until someone gives me a
reason not to.

Chuck

 

[DeadAye]

The sensible (also known as *the PC*) thing to do is to cry and immediately take shelter under a parked car or truck

P.S. Be ABSOLUTELY SURE that the car (or truck) is indeed parked!

 

[GaryS]

McD's of course.Are there any better?

Five Guys.

 

[GaryS]

A couple of other things that you should know about the homeless population in general. This doesn't apply just to the homeless veterans, but I will say that the homeless veterans run the same spectrum as the non veteran homeless.

About 60% of all homeless people have some combination of mental health issues, substance abuse, or alcohol abuse problems. A significant percentage of homeless people are ex convicts.

Veteran or not, I use a lot of caution when dealing with homeless people while I'm working. I use even more caution dealing with them when I'm NOT at work. I don't engage in conversation with them, nor do I stop or slow down when I'm walking and they approach me. When at intersections, I roll up my windows and make sure my doors are locked.

I never, under any circumstances, give them money. I know from experience that money goes to booze or drugs, not food, not clothing for their kids, not a bus ticket to go back home, not gas for the car that is always "around the corner".

If you think police are cynical, talk to some long time EMS providers. We see a lot of the same people at the police do and believe it or not, they lie to us as much or more than they do to the police.

I'm reading these posts and I see a lot of LEO experience in here. There's little that will make your more cynical than that, I understand, trust me. I will not sit with my back to a door, have to see hands, think anytime someone's lips are moving there's a good chance they are lying...I get it.

My wife and I are trying to get a charity off the ground for veterans, probably the most under appreciated group we have. Here's some thing's I've learned:

1. Between 529,000 and 840,000 veterans are homeless at some time during the year.
2. On any given night, more than 300,000 veterans are living on the streets or in shelters in the U.S.
3. Approx. 33% of homeless males in the U.S. are veterans.
4. Veterans are twice as likely as other Americans to become chronically homeless.
5. Veterans represent 11% of the adult civilian population, but 26% of the homeless population, according to the Homeless Research Institute (2007).
6.The number of homeless Vietnam-era veterans, male and female, is greater than the number of soldiers who died during the war.

My point is this, not all of the homeless are "bums", 25% of them are Vets who left themselves on a battlefield somewhere. You may not feel this way, but I think we owe them a debt, I will not turn my back on a man based on outward appearance.

Do what I do, buy $100 worth of $5 McDonalds gift certificates and $100 worth of $5 gas cards, problem solved.

JMO, forgive me for getting my soapbox out.

 

[truckemup97]

Being a truck driver, I get approached frequently, usually in a bad part of town or a place unfamiliar to me. Like some of you, I am larger than the general population and may look slightly intimidating, which I tend to use to my advantage in those situations. I always have a plan of attack and a plan of retreat. The latter is always preferable. As far as giving someone cash, it rarely happens, but I will buy anyone a meal. I've bought three meals in the last 15 years, which tells me that *most* folks don't want the money for food. When asked for gas money, I usually say something about having to pay a bunch of money to fix the truck (sometimes true), and they go on their way. Twice in the last fifteen years, I've thought there was going to be a fight. Both times, by coincidence (no really, it was), I had my hickory tire thumper in my hand. I'm pretty sure it deterred one guy from escalating the situation; the other, I believe, backed down due to my demeanor and size. Stay calm, speak in a quiet, even tone, and stand your ground, and most bullies will decide it's not worth the effort.

 

[DeathGrip]

I have absolutely no idea what you are trying to convey and have to assume you were intoxicated at the time you posted the above quoted gibberish. Please seek help for your problem...

Sorry you didn't get it. Here's a couple of pics to help convey.

 

[Rule3]

Sorry you didn't get it. Here's a couple of pics to help convey.

So you are saying we should carry a case of beer around to offer rather than cash money. Will they mind what brand and if it's warm?

 

[DeathGrip]

So you are saying we should carry a case of beer around to offer rather than cash money. Will they mind what brand and if it's warm?

I can't speak for them, I like mine cold and prefer a German Pilsner.

 

[vytoland]

I keep a bunch of job applications on hand. When approached by someone looking for "help" I promptly give them one.
the looks, in reply, are priceless.

 

[LAS&W4me]

I had a buddy that took a trip home to new orleans area from california. He pulled into a convieance store and comeing out a old black blind man was selling pencils. As bill was steping into his car with california plates the guy asks bill, "Hey! How do ya all like california?"

Yep that sounds about right

Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using Tapatalk 2

 

[sipowicz]

If I didn't talk to strangers, I'd still be single....

 

[1HAWKEYE]

Rule #1 be firm but polite. rule # 2 always double tap.

 

[chadwimc]

Having worked 3rd shift for 12 years, I've heard every line out there.
I reply "I can't help you". No matter the request. Sometimes I have to emphasize my reply by raising my voice...

The last one was kinda unique. My wife and I were leaving a Walgreens in Florida. As we reached the car, another car pulled in front of mine. The guy effectively blocked my escape. My hand went to my pocket instantly. When the poor, mis unnerstood yoot got out of his car, my revolver came out. I held it behind my leg, while holding the top of my car door with my weak hand. He asked me for "...fitty one cents to get a registered letter out da post office..."

"I can't help you"

"It jes fitty one cents"

"Get away from me. I said I can't help you"

We stared at each other for a long few seconds. He turned and got in his car and drove away.

There's no doubt in my mind he was debating the situation. For whatever reason, he decided to look elsewhere for 51 cents.

In the car, my wife says "That was strange. Do you have a gun in the car"? I replied "I've got my gun in my hand. Where's your pistol"?
"In my suitcase, back at the condo". "Well, thats a good place for it..."

 

[shutupdata113]

i dont descriminate...i hate all equally

 

[MaximumLawman]

I usually give them a few bucks. If they rob me with a gun, I guess I'd shoot them when they ran away.....

 

[GatorFarmer]

Some did not want money, instead asking for
"odd rainbow favors". I work in a real Sodom and Gomorrah. I am always
checking my flanks day or night out there.

Take the hanky out of your pocket. Oh and never stop to chat with a guy in leather carrying a can of Crisco and a pair of bovine ob birthing gloves.

 

[CO_Kid]

As my LE career progresses, I get a shorter and shorter rope with most of the homeless community I come in contact with.

I live outside the city where I work. There's one corner in particular in the nearest little town, where bums stand with their signs. What ticks me off to no end is that the corner is at the end of a Walmart parking lot, and within eyesight of that particular corner, besides the Walmart, there is a McD's, a Wendy's, a KFC, a Carl's Jr, a Culver's, and a Safeway grocery store among other small businesses.

I remember being in Kansas travelling from Colorado to Pennsylvania to visit family, and we stopped at a truckstop type place. The only building that could be seen. There in the parking lot was a bum with his sign. 10 feet behind the bum with his sign was a big "help wanted' sign.

And finally, especially in the winter, we get the ones who abuse the medical system. They'll get treated in a hospital, get discharged, walk across the street to a payphone, and call 911 to report an injury. Then, when the medics find out he was just in the hospital, they refuse to transport him. And then, every single time, they'll say "I should just kill myelf, maybe I'll jump in front of a car", forcing them to transport for the "suicidal thoughts". Of course not a single one of them ever intend on paying a single medical bill. And, almost 100% of the time, they refuse going to the shelter instead because "I don't belong in a shelter".

I swear, some of them have conditioned themselves to be completely helpless. We had one guy a month back who wanted to scam, I mean spend, a night in a hospital. Oddly enough, he had not just been discharged from one, so had he walked in, they would have treated his imaginary illness.

But this guy was so lazy, he called 911, tying up an ambulance and a police car, when he was two freakin blocks from the ER door. I asked him why he didn't walk to the hospital since it was in sight instead of waiting for 15 minutes for all os us to arrive. His reply was "I don't know man, just give me a ride".

 

[kudzu3]

I usually just hang my head, shake spasmatically, and wet my pants.

 

[Engineer1911]

Another educational discussion that this Forum does so well. Now I think even less of the "homeless and needy". I have a really short list of recipients of my money donations: my church and the NRA. We try to give 10% to the church each month.

 

[Brian41]

I usually just say no and go about my business. No way am I going to pull my wallet out to give them money and have it snatched. That's exactly what happened to my father in law and he knew the punk even. You can't very well shoot someone for snatching your wallet either.
Saying no keeps them out of your space where you have less a chance of defending yourself.
I gave a guy a few bucks once as he had a good story. I waited in the parking lot and watched him go into a store and return with a bottle in a bag. I'm sorry as I know some are hungry and I'd like to help them but you can't tell the difference from the scam artists.