Interview Techniques

[Kanewpadle]

My son and I was stopped outside a hardware store by one of those slugs. When the guy asked for some money, my son walked over to him and very quietly whispered something to him. When we left the store, they were gone. He never told me what he said, but it hit home.

IMO, approaching someone close enough to whisper to is inadvisable. In my experience, and if I have to talk to someone like that I find a firm commanding NO works better.

 

[Springfeildkid585]

I've never been mugged, so I can't attest to the techniques of muggers. I am relatively sure that there was a gentleman intending to mug me about two years ago. I was riding my bike towards campus (unarmed given university rules). It was probably 9 pm and early November so jacket weather. A man was walking towards me, in my path right hand in his coat pocket and appeared intent on me. I looked him dead in the eye and picked up my speed. His eyes widened and he stepped out of my way. It's amazing what body language can do. If you take presume a defensive stature and make it apparent that you're not an easy target, most ne'er do well's leave you alone.

 

[Smoke]

That's pretty extreme. Please tell us what this "bad advice" is so we can learn.

At one point the author suggests drawing on an unknown person who hasn't displayed a weapon or articuable intent. All the personis doing is walking towards you in a parking lot.

In another place the author suggests not calling the police after doing so.

The author also suggests making it very clear you are armed as an intimidation technique (Felony menacing in Colorado).

There's a really good in depth thread about it on THR

 

[gaf]

As a police administrator I helped develop a program to assist indigent travelers. The local churches provided the funds and a police officer could issue a voucher for gas/food at a local vendor with a supervisor's approval. Of course this was always after a computer check to confirm that we weren't giving Ted Bundy a tank of gas to get to his next victim and after the officer verified as best he could that the need was real.

Since I have retired I have been approached several times. Each time I have offered to call a police officer to get the person some gas. Each time the person has magically had enough gas to scurry away without an officer being called.
Gaf

 

[Rastoff]

At one point the author suggests drawing on an unknown person who hasn't displayed a weapon or articuable intent. All the person is doing is walking towards you in a parking lot.

The author also suggests making it very clear you are armed as an intimidation technique (Felony menacing in Colorado).

That would be felony menacing, as I understand it, unless the person/defender felt threatened. For example, just telling people you're armed, or showing your gun, to intimidate them is felony menacing. If you're in a dark parking lot, by yourself and are approached by a larger person. You tell the person to stop advancing toward you, but they keep coming. Then you present the gun and tell them to stop or you'll shoot. This would not be felony menacing, but self-defense. Right?

In another place the author suggests not calling the police after doing so.

Yeah, that's wrong.

I'll admit that I didn't read the whole thing in detail, but much of what I did read was good. Obviously we won't agree on everything, but I think the bulk of it is good.

 

[feralmerril]

On this subject at least its before hand, there is a lot of what we used to call guard house lawyering. When something does happen we dont have the luxury of time and carrying law books with us to peruse. Most cases are different in details anyway. I believe we act on prior learned morals, personal nerve, knowing our ability and limitations. Maybe some prior training and past personal experiences and being told of others past BSing experiences. All this in a micro second! In other words we or at least me, go by smell, better known as instinct.
I have preached Demeanor. What is going to happen is going to hinge about 99% on your demeanor. Odds are if you show over caution, fear, or a over aggressive attitude you may have trouble. Why do you suppose a street cop isnt often challenged? Its because he knows he has the law, and a virtual army to back him up. Knowing that alone gives him the air of confidence even if he is in plain cloths and would be muggers or whatever can sense it. We dont want to be over cocky here either and give a certain type a challenge they cant resist.
Worked for me or else I just was plain lucky and maybe I was just a good example of God looking out for fools.

 

[Smoke]

That would be felony menacing, as I understand it, unless the person/defender felt threatened.

I’m gonna split hairs just a little bit here because it’s a pretty important hair.

The standard isn’t I felt threatened, the standard is any reasonable person in the same situation would have felt threatened enough to react in the same manner I did and whether you meet that standard is very likely to be decided by persons other than yourself.

 

[Comrad]

I have recently changed my feeling toward homeless bums begging for change or cigarettes or whatever. About two weeks ago in my neighborhood shopping plaza the local, well known homeless guy stabbed to men, one sixty year old dead and an 80 year old critical.

I'm pretty sure the next homeless person who approaches me is not going to receive a warm welcome and may see a field goal attempt.

You just never know these days.

 

[feralmerril]

Some say these homeless wineo bums just might be angels in disguise to see how we treat the down and out. Dunno, what do you think?
Believe it or not, I several times gave a drunk with the shakes something for a drink. Irregardless, with all the patter about maybe feeding them so they dont starve, with some drunk chattering and shaking, they DO need a drink far more than food to get them through it.

 

[Rastoff]

Dunno, what do you think?

I think that Satan knows this too and works hard every day to damage what little good there is in the world.

Giving a street bum a dollar does not equal treating them with kindness. Most often it is an example of a person trying to buy piece of mind rather than doing real help.

 

[Yiogo]

I throw a $1 or some change in the cup. If I've helped one in 10 with such a pittance it's ok with me but I don't walk by and do nothing usually. Yiogo

 

[Protected One]

There is a guy around here that makes pretty good money with a sign that says, "Any spare change? I'm dying for a drink." I always see people laughing and giving him money.

I guess the honesty is refreshing in a way. Ed.

I just got back from a week on Oahu. There were panhandlers all over the place (they don't like being called "homeless" because they'll tell you Hawaii IS their home...they call themselves "houseless"). Anyway. One of them had a sign that read - "Alcohol research. Funding needed". My wife and I laughed...but I still didn't give any of them my money.

 

[forrestinmathews]

People asking for the time, for money, lemme ask you a question...delaying tactics by nefarious people. I treat them firmly, but with respect. Some people are foolish enough to get themselves in trouble over "disrespect," and that would really put a damper on my day.

 

[VictorLouis]

A polite "Sorry, can't help you today" has worked 100% for me. Don't antagonize.

I've used that verbiage, as well as "No thank you, I'm not interested". Afterall, they ARE about to solicit you, right? Either way, it's paired with my weak hand held up with the palm out, in the "STOP. You're getting too close" gesture.

Sometimes, I think the Spirit moves me to give, and at those times, I will. Sometimes money, sometimes driving thru for a sack-of-heart-attack to hand them. My son has seen me in both instances, and asks how I differentiate. It's tough to describe that 'gut' feelin', LOL.

EDIT: Just read the linked thread on BarfCom. I agree with it. The caveat is, you DO have to know your state's laws. As has been pointed out, there's a fine line between you saying/doing something 'defensive', and aggravated assault/battery. Our state codified it a couple years back as 'defensive display (of a weapon)'. What SHOULD be common sense, isn't. Most folks may use the ruse of stating they're armed, when they may NOT be...and the actor keeps advancing. When you SHOW them you mean business, as that poster points out, they often don't want the hassle.

Where I DIFFER, is that I WOULD call the police. I firmly believe that your assailant may drop the dime on YOU, claiming YOU were the bad-guy. It's that old saw of "Complainant is the 'victim', and anyone else is a 'suspect'. Remember, they don't have to make contact with the police, they can remain anonymous, and bring a world of aggravation down on you. Have you read of the vicious 'prank' of 'SWAT-ting', yet? Do a quick Google....

 

[DR505]

Once while heading back to the ship in Pusan, Korea, I was accosted by a man with a box. While I kept walking he said, "Nice tea set, $30." I said NO and kept walking. He persisted, walking along, reducing the price a few bucks each time with me saying NO each time, trying to ignore him. He got down to $20, and in exasperation I looked at him and said, "Look, I don't even have $20." A quizzical look came over his face and he asked, "Well, how much do you have?" Without thinking I blurted out, "About 12 bucks." He smiled and said, "SOLD!" I laughed so hard I gave him the $12 and took the tea set. It was actually beautiful and made a nice gift once back in the States. The laugh alone was worth the $12.

 

[feralmerril]

I had a friend on the LAPD. He was sent on a nusance call and this guy was going on about a barking dog or whatever. My buddy listened for a minute and said, were you in the army? Yeah. Were you in germany in 1962? Yeah! Well you ---- you still owe me $80 bucks! Pay up!

 

[wheelgun1958]

The best line I heard from a female panhandler was, "Can you spare a buck, I need to buy a tampon." Yes, I gave her a dollar... and then she walked across the street into a bar.

Perhaps they had one of those machines in the ladies loo?

 

[feralmerril]

My buddy bill said he drove home to New Orleans. He bought a pencil from a blind man. He started off and the guy seen his license plate and yelled out, Hey man! How yo like california?

 

[Smoke]

Once while heading back to the ship in Pusan, Korea, I was accosted by a man with a box. While I kept walking he said, "Nice tea set, $30." I said NO and kept walking. He persisted, walking along, reducing the price a few bucks each time with me saying NO each time, trying to ignore him. He got down to $20, and in exasperation I looked at him and said, "Look, I don't even have $20." A quizzical look came over his face and he asked, "Well, how much do you have?" Without thinking I blurted out, "About 12 bucks." He smiled and said, "SOLD!" I laughed so hard I gave him the $12 and took the tea set. It was actually beautiful and made a nice gift once back in the States. The laugh alone was worth the $12.

Is it still around?

 

[Rangerpat]

Perhaps they had one of those machines in the ladies loo?

As memory serves, the woman hit me up for the dollar in front of a pharmacy, but after I gave her the money, she went across the street into a bar. This happened many years ago when college bars had .25 cent draft beer at happy-hour.