Street Robberies and You

[74novaman]

Personally, ive been interviewed by both a panhandler looking for change and a thug looking for an opportunity. The scenarios feel different enough I don't think drawing if you feel it's gotten to that point of confrontation is necessarily wrong.

I agree. I was talking with a friend of mine about the arf post and he was asking what if the suspicious guy is a plainclothes cop. Good question, but like you said, I think you can tell the difference between an honest cop, a panhandler, and a mugger by how they react to your visual cues and verbalization.

When I was being interviewed by the thug, the hair on my neck literally rose. I was leaving a college sporting event, and had a nice DSLR camera and only a knife for self defense since I can't carry to athletic events. I was also with my then girlfriend (now wife) and her roommate.

I have no doubt if I hadn't been very assertive with him regarding eye contact/and saying No the second he started talking in addition to putting myself between him and the girls , he might have at a minimum tried to snatch the camera, and at worse tried to hurt the girls.

Bums have asked me for stuff before too. I never got that feeling from any other vagrant or stranger that thug was giving me.

[Heartland Patriot]

Personally, ive been interviewed by both a panhandler looking for change and a thug looking for an opportunity. The scenarios feel different enough I don't think drawing if you feel it's gotten to that point of confrontation is necessarily wrong.

I agree. I was talking with a friend of mine about the arf post and he was asking what if the suspicious guy is a plainclothes cop. Good question, but like you said, I think you can tell the difference between an honest cop, a panhandler, and a mugger by how they react to your visual cues and verbalization.

When I was being interviewed by the thug, the hair on my neck literally rose. I was leaving a college sporting event, and had a nice DSLR camera and only a knife for self defense since I can't carry to athletic events. I was also with my then girlfriend (now wife) and her roommate.

I have no doubt if I hadn't been very assertive with him regarding eye contact/and saying No the second he started talking in addition to putting myself between him and the girls , he might have at a minimum tried to snatch the camera, and at worse tried to hurt the girls.

Bums have asked me for stuff before too. I never got that feeling from any other vagrant or stranger that thug was giving me.

I understand what you are saying: bums and panhandlers, as lowly as we may see them to be, aren't DANGEROUS in general...dirty and a nuisance, yes...but dangerous, no...and its probably body language that provides the cues as to which is which.

[Scott in Houston]

I understand what you are saying: bums and panhandlers, as lowly as we may see them to be, aren't DANGEROUS in general...dirty and a nuisance, yes...but dangerous, no...and its probably body language that provides the cues as to which is which.

I truly believe good people can also sense evil at times. You can just feel it. Of course, this isn't a 100% as good people can be fooled, but in the presence of pure evil that is out to do harm, I believe there are often times when the Holy Spirit or an angel or just plain intuition kicks in and alerts us to the presence of true evil. I also believe we too often dismiss this warning signal and our head over-rules our gut. That can get us into trouble. Always go with your gut!

[bayouhazard]

Trust your feelings Luke.

[steveincowtown]

Great read, thanks.

Two notes:

#1> We were in New Orleans two weekends ago and took our dog out with us during the day; this was mostly in the French Quarter, but also it some of the outlying areas. We someone of questionable motives approached us, I just always said (in an almost serious tone) "Keep away from my dog, she can't be trusted." For whatever reason it seems like some folks are more afraid of dogs than a victim being armed.

#2> And loved this quote:

Also if you can not be trusted with a pistol after a few drinks you can't be trusted with a pistol period