Some of the worst things that can happen to us in our daily lives include getting attacked, mugged, or harassed simply while on your way to work, school, or walking back home. And, unfortunately, far too many of us Pandas have horrible experiences of this that we would love to never happen again. Me included.
Some street smart redditors have been sharing their tips about safety, what to be aware of, and how criminals think in a viral thread on r/AskReddit, started up by user u/Jamestusk007. Scroll down to read their advice, upvote the tips that you found the most useful, and if you’re feeling brave, share your own insights about being savvy outside. Meanwhile, be sure to read Bored Panda’s interview with a New York police officer about what it’s like to be on patrol, why it’s vital to stay grounded, and how it’s important to develop genuine trust and respect in the local community, not just catch 'the bad guys.'
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Trust your gut. You see people acting normally your whole life. You know what it looks like. If you see something that makes you uncomfortable, there’s a reason, even if you don’t know what it is yet.
This is so important, especially for women - we've grown up conditioned to be "nice" and sometimes this goes against our safety. If something makes me uncomfortable, I nope out of that situation immediately. My partner and I were stargazing once in a completely empty parking lot in a remote national park once, when a car entered the parking lot and chose to park immediately next to us. I told my partner we're leaving and before the other people were even out of their car, we jumped into ours and left. Could that have been a completely innocent situation? Absolutely. Was it weird that they chose the spot right next to ours despite the parking lot being completely empty? Also absolutely. I don't regret leaving at all.
Look both ways crossing a one way street.... there may always be one idiot
Teach your kids how to effectively draw attention to themselves if they are in danger. A screaming child gets nobody's attention.
I was taught, if a stranger ever grabbed me, to scream at the top of my lungs, "LET GO OF ME! I DO NOT KNOW YOU!"
Above everything else, maintaining constant vigilance seems to lie at the core of surviving any dangerous encounters. Preempt any risks by not getting into those situations at all or knowing how to defuse them. And, like one redditor wrote, “Don’t worry about your pride, run.” Though that’s easier said than done when you’re panicking and fearing for your life.
New York police officer Sadaka Kitonyi told Bored Panda what it’s like to work as a patrolman. He explained to me that the foundation of being a quality officer begins with taking care of one’s health, both physical and mental.
“A good cop must have a healthy lifestyle—and physical health creates mental stability,” he said that leading a healthy lifestyle is about more than just health. A police officer who is sharp, always in control of their emotions, can defuse tense situations and solve things diplomatically before things get out of hand.
Don't post location photos until you return home. People shouldn't know when your house is empty.
Girls, don't be afraid to fight as dirty as you need to. nut shots, scratching eyes, whatever you have to do, all bets are off. There is absolutely no honour if a guy is trying to grab or detain you or pull you somewhere, so he deserves none.
if you are pinned down, smash his head with a headbutt. The part of your skull that's right near your hairline is what you want to impact his face with. other than that, use your elbow, which will strike harder than your fist might if you are a small person.
If it comes to the worst and someone tries to rape you, make yourself disgusting to them. Pee and s**t yourself, vomit if you can. The predator might be too disgusted to continue.
As someone who was r*ped whilst vomiting, this is not true. Rape is about power, not attraction. This is awful advice.
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On that note - beware of using a "nut shot". Nuts are well protected by nature and men instinctively guard them. If you manage to hit them it will be "game over" but miss and you will have one really pissed off man to cope with. Far more effective is a kick to the side or front of the knee, preferably of the leg with most of his weight on it. It doesn't need a lot of force to break that joint and will still be effective even if you hit a bit low or high. A stiletto stamped into the top of his foot or raked down his shin will also get his attention and slow him down while you run.
I was taught in self defence class to *exhale* while headbutting (especially if hitting with the back of your head, ex: grabbed from behind) to reduce the chance of you blacking out.
advice I got a while ago....hard parts to soft places. headbutt, fingers to that notch in the neck, that kind of stuff
Also, SCRATCH AS MUCH AS YOU CAN! I know it's morbid but.. in the even that you don't make it out alive... atleast this way the cops have a better Chance of finding who did this. Also, NEVER GET INTO A CAR, let them get you into a car, never let them take you to a secondary location... that's bad news and you probably won't make it out alive. Scream, kick, fight, draw as much attention to yourself before this happens.. they're trying to get you somewhere private.. so they can have their way with you.. but if you're in public they're not Going to want that attention and risk getting caught so fighting for your life is going to bring them the attention they don't want. Carry weapons. I carry a taser, multiple knives, self protection pencil (it's like, a super sharp and hard pencil that works like a knife, google it!).. I was almost kidnapped in New Orleans and my boot knife saved me from being taken and now I don't go anywhere without multiple weapons. Be extra. It could save your life.
Buy one of those pointy metal nail files, they work exactly like a knife and no one will ask why you have one!!
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I hate there are 0 tolerance laws that charge you for self-defence.
A heel on an instep can incapacitate someone long enough for you to escape... hurts like hell and breaks the small bones on the top of the foot. High heels work best, but any shoe can do it.
tbh, i run this down every night i can’t sleep. I always thought to bite them, kick them, punch them, vomit, etc. anything to try and live
No such thing as fair fighting. Anything goes. Just get your ass out of it alive. It's not advice just for girls.
Try and contact with you forehead on the curve of the attackers nose, with a bit of luck you'll break it or cause enough pain to gain second or two. Elbows knees are very hard and effective close up. If you can get a swing try for the chin, my instructor used to call it the "sleep switch"
A comment I made elsewhere about personal alarms. $5. Loud. Attract attention and deter assaulters. Easy to be trigger happy with (as opposed to say, mace or a weapon) - pull it early on without a second though.
It might be different where you live, but where I live alarms are just annoying. People ignore them.
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Fight. It may let you get away, it may scare the attacker off. At the worst, the scratches, bruises, black eyes, and split lips are incontrovertible proof that you did not “ask for it”, you were not a willing partner. Because lawyers, both prosecutors and defense, will smear the victim anyway they can.
My dad taught me the bigger they are the harder they fall and to go for the knee...smash someone in the knee and they're going down and they can't run to chase you so you can get away...also ladies you don't need to strike with your fist the heel of your hand (especially when striking the nose) is far more effective and less damaging to your hand. And it only takes 4lbs of direct pressure to break a human bone.
My dad taught me to fight when I was pretty young. Rule #1 was "find an equalizer", a brick, a big rock or stick, whatever is at hand.
Let's not forget a good hard throat punch. Do that hard enough, out of nowhere and your attacker won't be able to breathe
My 5'3" friend incapacitated a man over 6 feet by grabbing his larynx. Doesn't take much pressure but you have to know where to grab so they can't pull away.
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Carry a weapon, only YOU can protect yourself - get training on whatever weapon you choose...
That head-butting idea. Pull down with force, break contact and run. Trying to hit someone with your head could knock you out. Create distance from you and the attacker. If you are close enough to butt then that means you're facing the attacker and probably wrapped up in arms... pull down with force. Forcibly push your foot down the shin, stomp foot, step out of distance and run
Aim a punch about an inch below the bottom of the ear lobe, it's the mandible of the jaw and takes only a small amount of force to damage it (when some bawbag gets grabby a broken jaw is a great way to teach them a lesson).
Gigi Hadid received backlash for elbowing a guy straight into his face because he grabbed her from the behind and lifted her up. People were mad AT HER because she wasn't acting like a Barbie doll and let him do what he wants with here. She's my idol when it comes to this topic.
Yep. Fight dirty. Scream. Bad guys don't like it when their victims resist and try to draw attention. Mix in some self defense classes. Krav Maga is a good fighting technique to learn.
I always say if someone is trying to rape you, aim to kill. Bc you know d*mn well the chances of the court actually doing something about it are slim to none.
Take out the sexist aspect of this and it's a good one. There are men and boys that should also follow this too but you want to be sexist when you want equality... See how engrained it is in our society? So change if you want equality.
Why is this only for "girls"? Why, as a male, do I have to fight "honorably" (whatever that means)? If someone attacks me, f**k yeah, I'll kick 'em in the nutz or gouge an eye -- who am I trying to impress, my attacker?
If someone has their hands on you, you have already failed. Situational awareness is key. Predators are looking for the person who is daydreaming and forgot where they parked their car. Don’t go shopping and leave products in your car, not even the trunk. Predators love to sit in parking lots just waiting for a victim
My dad preached "Focus sound more than any other sense. Your eyes can only see a 180°, your ears can see 360°." Saved my life more than once!!
“As a patrolman, our main responsibility is to answer and respond to 911 and radio calls—very reactive, yes, but the unique thing is we can all choose how we do our job in between answering calls,” the officer said.
“Some guys look for guns and drugs or guys with warrants. This is a proactive approach and that’s great—it’s needed—but I choose to take that time to develop relationships,” he said.
“I check in on businesses and residents and get out of the car for a few minutes. It may not be proactive in preventing crime, but it is proactive in developing trust and respect with the community because that’s an important part of policing too,” Sadaka told Bored Panda.
You don't owe anybody anything, including conversation. People who want to take advantage of you will usually start by initiating unsolicited conversation.
Women. Don't be afraid of being impolite if you feel threatened.
Don't think "oh no I might hurt his feelings" or "well that one time I was told I over react so maybe this is another one of those times".
No. If someone isnt a pos they will realize that the situation was misinterpreted. If they're a rapist murderer, they will most likely make a big deal about how they're not going to hurt you. Don't be afraid to make a scene if you're afraid.
Women are taught to be nice, soft, kind. NO. If you feel the situation is off, yell Fu*k Off and be as rude as possible. Act aggressive, I mean "foam at the mouth" style. Use body language, when cussing and swearing push your chin forward and take a step towards the person. They will step back...
“I don’t sit or live in an ivory tower, I'm on the ground level with everyone else out here. I'm not an administrator calling shots from the top or some outsider looking in just to make comments and posts on social media for attention,” he said that he’s in the trenches, day in, day out.
“I’m out here—walking up and down these streets with the residents and business owners day in and out. I look at it like this, I have the ability to ruin someone’s day or make it. I don’t know about you but I like to see people smile.”
Never talk money on public transportation, and never count money in a parking lot.
Look like you know where you are going even when you don't. If you have any misgivings about a particular street or area, go with it. If you do have to walk through an area where you are being scoped acting like you are insane and barely keeping it in makes you not worth the trouble. Don't worry about being polite if approached but don't be an a-hole. If an area smells like piss no one gives a f**k what happens there. Never fall for the I need 20 bucks for sick kid/locksmith/medicine/tow truck scam. Never pull out your money or wallet to check it. Even if you put it back they will know where it is. If you get bumped and feel for your wallet its also a cue for a pickpocket.
Use reflections in windows to see behind you and possibly around a corner.
I'm glad I grew up in a big city. Travelling around the world was much easier than for others I've seen.
If you have to walk thru a dangerous area, walk very quickly, as if you're late for something important. People are much more likely to approach someone strolling along than someone who maybe meeting someone on the corner.
Never underestimate anybody, and i mean both ways, good and bad.
Give people a nod. Like giving a friendly “what’s up” and keep minding your own business. I usually just say “what’s up” if I’m in a sketchy area (I grew up in one). The nod and tone of voice being friendly usually lets people know you aren’t a concern.
I also worked in the hood, filled with Mexican gangs. I was stocking shelves, and said what’s up to this giant ass dude, with face tats, and a big 13 tattooed on his head.
I said “what’s up, bro” and just kept minding my own business, we ending up talking for a good few minutes about what chips were best.
But it’s the nod and tone, IMO that goes along way. Especially if you’re in someone’s “territory”, it’s a way of showing respect and recognizing those around you.
This is absolutely true. I was a visiting white dude in what was clearly a gang territory in downtown Oakland. They asked if I wanted drugs (to test me, I believe) and I just said I was good, shrugged slightly, and kept walking like I already was. Later, when I walked to my car to grab something, they were sitting on a car in front of mine. They apologized and started to get off before I just said it wasn't me. If you are chill, polite, and don't react, they'll know you're not a threat. My car never even received a scratch, even when a literal gang fight broke out that afternoon. TL;DR: I've seen the truth of this many times. Be friendly while appearing slightly bored and you'll likely be alright.
If you feel like you're being followed, take a selfie. pickpockets disappear REAL fast when you do that
If you need to scream for help, don’t yell HELP! Yell FIRE! Instead. Not all people who hear a yell for help will think it’s genuine, or they don’t want to get involved. When you yell fire, everyone wants to get out of the building in case theirs is the one on fire.
The chances of people coming to take videos of your situation is more likely to happen these days than not. I went to assist an elderly woman whose shopping cart stopped on those yellow bump plates, she went down hard, I knew her hip was broken, I asked if anyone in the growing crowd would call 911, nobody did. I had my friend stay with the woman while I called, then took her groceries back to the store, asked them to hold them (gave them the woman’s name), then contacted the shopping center security to let them know her car might be here for awhile,. I was disappointed but not surprised that nobody in the crowd would do anything but watch. We are such morbid creatures
I dunno if this is street smarts but so many people lack situational awareness.
By that I mean they are not being fully aware of their surroundings. Which has been made even worse with phones and headphones.
If you sense anything dodgy trust that instinct and do something about it. I’d rather cross the street and look paranoid that get mugged. Or even just run. This group of guys were following close behind me when I was walking home from the pub alone. They could have just been walking the same way but as soon as I hit a corner I sprinted a hundred metres or so and didn’t see them again.
I don’t care how strong you are you are losing 99% of the time versus 3 people.
100% spot on. Plus if you feel uneasy, do something about it. My friend was in an elevator, got a bad feeling about the guy already there, she got in anyways. I said Don’t die because you are worried you might hurt someone’s feelings, talk out loud to yourself, turn around to head back to your place chastising yourself about forgetting the dog, make up any excuse, it does not matter. Practice this, especially timid women. And for GAWDS SAKE STOP APOLOGIZING ALL THE TIME!! It makes you look weak and becomes meaningless
Act like you're in a hurry and less people will want to bother you.
If you're homeless, don't let anyone know where you sleep or where you stash your stuff. It's okay to meet up with a buddy and spend the day with them, and it's okay to trust the staff at the shelter, but from the first day to the last day you're homeless, don't let anyone find your stash of stuff.
Once your stash is found, other homeless folks will usually clean it out or homed people will usually throw your stuff away.
Similarly, don't let anyone know where you sleep and try not to bother anybody. If you bother people, or you consistently sleep in your car somewhere, eventually someone will notice and that's always a recipe for trouble.
Keep safe, keep secret, and keep out of sight.
Match their crazy. Dude pulled a knife on me on the train in Chicago 9mos pregnant & !stood up & said double homicide?
If someone is posing as a cop and you get a funny feeling, always look at their shoes! That's often the forgotten part of replicating a uniform.
Here we have fake cops that chase you in a car with uniforms and blue lights. You won't be able to tell they're real or fake. The advice is: ask them to follow you to a police station. Ask Waze where is the nearest police station. If they follow you and go inside with you, all is fine. If they pull away... no, they were fake. Take a photo with your cell and go to the police and report it.
Memorize phone numbers !!!! So underrated nowadays, you never know when you will need it
Walk with purpose and stare past/through people, everyone will move out of your way.
When visiting a new city, pick a landmark that you can see from anywhere. Maybe it's a big tower in the downtown core. Maybe it's a mountain in the distance, or the city is on the shore of a lake, or there's a river or highway that cuts through in a clear and logical way. Great. That's your orientation now. Wherever you go, you're not lost. You have that landmark. Maybe it's further away, maybe it's closer, but if you know what direction the landmark is, you can't really get turned around. Now take it a step further. As you walk around, pick a landmark in the neighborhood you are moving through. Maybe it's a corner store, or a park, or a prominent intersection, or a house with a funny roof. It doesn't matter. Between the big city landmark and the smaller neighborhood landmark, you're basically triangulated to a pretty narrowly defined area. You can explore with a lot of confidence just by keeping you bearings on which direction your two landmarks are, and if you're moving closer or further away from them.
People make pickpockets' livelihood so easy. Just check out how many phones are in people's back pockets, how many handbags dangle by the side, easily accessible.
Always put valuables in an inside, preferably zipped pocket. If you in a notorious pickpocket area like Paris or Naples, you can even carry a fake wallet with monopoly money in an outside pocket.
Pretend to be crazy, talk to yourself and swear loudly, no one knows how to handle crazy.
Not a good strategy unless you’re already massive since statically the mentality ill are more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators.
Look both ways before coming out of a doorway if you think you're in a bad neighborhood. Think you're being followed? Go down the block, make a left. Make a left. Make a left. You eventually come full circle. If the same person is behind you, you're definitely being followed. Be confident and walk tall. Bad guys typically try to pick on the weak. Typically if you're not scared, they think there's a good reason for that, ie. packing heat.
Keys! Wrap your keys around your knuckles like claws so if it comes to it, you'll have at least a little protection. Don't go to your house, go somewhere else (if you live in an apartment complex, you can get home using the basement). Try to get someone's attention. Have a trusted person on speed dial. Someone fact check me on this. Edit: thank you for the replies! Steer clear from the key punches.
Don't always take the same route home
Long story time: Guy notices I take the same route to my class from home. Follows on bike, parks behind me and asks, "Is this XYZ area?" Me, having no clue and confused looks back, guy has his pants down and is masturbating. Me, shocked, tries to scream, no sound comes out, sees a family a bit ahead, runs to them. Guy initially not seeing the family vrooms his bike to follow, sees the family and flees. So yeah, don't always take the same route home.[ Edit: To the ppl thinking it's a made-up story, trust me it's not. I had nightmares and sleeping problems for 2 months straight.]
If you think that someone is looking at you, look at another direction and if they look in the same direction, they were looking at you.
Pay attention to the ppl at parties who are not drinking.
Why? I don't drink because I don't like the taste. Is that a red flag? And for what?
The answer is NO. You got the time? NO. Got a light, NO. Got some change? NO. Keep you distance. Watch your back
I will buy a panhandler food or drink but we wont give them money. Nine times out of ten they want money to feed their habit, not their bodies. I will offer food or drink and if they turn me down. I just keep walking. As far as the time goes, most everyone has a watch or phone which gives the time. Remember, con artists are often aggressive, you can spot them trying to work people from half a block away. I suggest one if two options, keeping them six feet from you at all times, carry that pepper spray. Just be aware of your surroundings at all times. Get ugly if you need to get someone away from you - embrace your inner Karen.
Applies to everyone. Keep your mouth shut and listen.
Too many people think too much of themselves. Being straightforward cause that's me or believing it's your right to speak. The more you speak, the more you expose yourself. Don't put yourself out there and be s target. Smart mofos can use your words against you.
Sit back and listen. Pay attention to how everyone act and respond. Give out as little info as you can. Protect yourself
When you're getting into your car, check the back seat carefully. Whoever you are, wherever you are.
If you're in an argument with somebody and they get in your face and then look away, there's a good chance they're about to try and knock your head off
Nobody has the right to touch you..ever. Learn to walk away before things get to this point. Let the angry person know you need space to clear your head, make it about you, not about attacking them (dong say I need to get away from you). Don’t hesitate to call 911 BEFORE someone puts there hands on you.
90% of the time, if you don't start trouble, you don't get trouble.
That said, the 10% is what you need to focus on. Don't flash money or valuables around in public. Stay alert. If someone tries to start s**t, walk away fast if you can. If forced to fight, fight dirty and then get away as soon as you can. Try not to walk around in deserted areas alone, especially at night.
Don't hail taxis in the street, watch your drinks at the bar and keep your wits about you.
And, if you need to strike someone, curl your fingers up tightly and strike them with the exposed palm. The nose, cheeks, and eye brows are all good choices if open. Hitting someone in the nose or above, especially with something hard and/or sharp, will probably reduce their ability to see (faces bleed heavily and a broken nose will likely cause tears).
If you’re meeting someone on one of those exchange apps like OfferUp, Close5, or even Craigslist, ALWAYS meet in a PUBLIC and WELL LIT area, preferably one with cameras. McDonalds and Starbucks are safe bets for me. Never bring strangers to your house. Even if nothing goes wrong, they might remember where you live and something bad could happen in a few years from the meet up.
I had a friend who did one of two things. She would say she would wear a flower in her hair, she would arrive s bit early, sit in a discrete place and watch for the person she was meant to meet. Knowing what he was wearing, if she wasn’t comfortable with his vibes, she would leave, make up some excuse about car trouble snd that was it, if she liked what she saw, she would go put the flower in her hair. Don’t forget, you can invite a friend, they don’t have to sit with you, but can be there for you if needed. Don’t be shy about self preservation
Make it a habit to lock your car as soon as you get in. It only takes a second for someone to yank open the door and grab a bag you might have sitting on the seat while you’re fiddling with the radio.
You never put your bag visibly in the car here, always in the boot ("Trunk"), or cubbyhole ("glove compartment"). Cellphone you can put on the GPS holder if you like, but when you're out the city and onto the motorway. HOWEVER when you are at a movie or restaurant, the bag goes on your lap AND preferably tied around a chair so even if it's snatched it drags the chair with it.
If someone's trying to hassle you, give quick, short answers as you're walking. Don't pull your phone out. Don't let them see your wallet. Don't turn your body. Ignoring them has risk if they're a crazy person who will give chase until you acknowledge them. Stopping is always a mistake. Short answers as you're walking.
Don't normalize unacceptable behaviors to avoid confrontation. If something makes you uncomfortable, acknowledge the problem, preferably loudly, and disengage as soon as possible. Ignoring something and hoping it goes away will only make the aggressor more confident.
it actually depends in the situation...sometimes you have to prioritize safety, that means letting people get away with a little bullshit to avoid a loosing fight...sometimes the best way is to get away...doesn't mean that you have take s**t from everybody, just in those cases you are an disadvantage.
If u think someone is about to rob u, pretend u are waving at someone so u make the robber think that u know someone really close
Walk in the middle of the sidewalk so you have more room to react if someone jumps out of an alley or comes from the street, never hug a wall
If you're walking around a big city and someone walks up to you and asks you your name or is anyway friendly, they're about to try to con you.
I was just I'm NYC where the CD scam is prevalent (con artist asks you your name, they your name on their hip hop CD and when you accept the CD they intimidate you to pay for the CD). Just keep walking. Don't even smile at them.
Aimless people are generally up to no good. If you see a person walking around like they don't have a destination or they are looking around like they don't know what to do with themselves it means they are planning on jumping someone. They are trying to seem non threatening while at the same time scouting for victims. They are hoping some poor oblivious person lets them get too close. The best case is they are planning to pick pocket someone. The worst case is a violent mugging. If you see someone like this don't get near them and definitely don't take your eyes off them. Often just staring at them is enough to discourage them because they are cowards looking for easy prey and they don't want to be identified later.
Always consider the other guy's angle. What's in it for him? How does he benefit?
If you're in an unfamiliar area, take a look around. If you see lots of trash, s**tty cars, houses in disrepair, bars over the windows, and no ground level window A/C units if it's hot, that's probably not a place you want to be. If you've moved to a new place, scout it out during the daytime, and keep your night tavern to familiar places.
Good advise!! Also, tour your potential new apartment in the day to make certain the building isn’t a slum, walk the perimeter. Make not if where trash is etc. Then return after people get home and settle in, that’s when the noise starts. I have gone to a potential new place even on the weekends to get a sense of the place. You can even contact the local police department, ask to see the daily incident log, look for reports in the area you intend to move into. Most police departments have these log books, they are available to the public free of charge. The press uses them all the time
When travelling, always try to act like you're a local. Learn prices, learn routes, learn behaviors and when possible try to copy their accent. I do this all the time and it's easier to haggle. You also have less chances of being targeted by local thieves.
Look back once in a while. if your shadow is in front of u, make sure it’s only your shadow. If there’s a car parked on the side of the road and your street doesn’t have sidewalks, walk a bit far from the car just in case someone opens the door and snatch u
Looking back is great advice for everyday. Not just to check for danger, but for... other humans! There's loads of us around. See where we are and what we're doing. Maybe make some allowances for them. Peeps stopping at the top of escalators, in shop doorways or just zombying around town stuck in a phone - that's you. Look up, look around. Even try a smile.
Lots of different things can be used as pepper spray. I keep a can of wasp spray by my bed. Lots of different things can be weapons too
College students are lazy idiots. If you live near a university, check the dumpsters close to campus when the semester is over and the kids are moving. I've gotten laptops, furniture, high end barely worn sneakers and more this way.
Blatantly start filming someone with your phone if you think they're up to no good and you might become a victim. Make sure they see you do it. Send the video to a friend or f**k it make a public post like "if something happens to me, this the guy". Just the act of filming them alone will deter them from choosing you as their victim.
If you're in a fight, first move should be push them and make space between you, second should be kick their knees out.
If a salesman is happy after a transaction, you got fleeced.
Look on this one, it depends. Most of our foot-bound small salesmen here are selling cheap products or handmade products. In either case, you are helping them survive and avoid a life of crime. If they smile afterwards it means you helped them. Let me give two examples. One, an old lady selling panama hats. She told me they were R50 each ($3). I gave her R100 and told her to keep the change, because for me, handmade panamas are worth at least R100. Another example. Guy selling boardgames. He asks for R 180. I know in the shop it's like R 300. So I promise to buy tomorrow, and the next day I give him 300 instead. Be ethical. You are the one with the money.
Don't tell them which hotel you're staying at. And if at reception they state your room number then refuse and ask for different room. It should be: Your room number is stated on your keycard.
That and my parents used to tell me, if you stay at a hotel where the halls/doors are inside the building, ask for a room not on the 1st floor. (Being a female.) If the doors/hallway are on the outside of the building, then stay 1st floor and not upper floors. This was a safety thing and made for easier escape or harder for someone to enter. Like upstairs, they can't come in through window, or it's harder to do so. Downstairs, if someone tries the window, you run out the door, or jump out the window. It seems weird, but sort of makes sense?
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Definitely. Never go out in a bad neighborhood in heels.
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One thing useful if you know more than 1 language. If somebody aproaches you to beg/sell you something and you dont feel comfortable it is better to reply in a different language and pretend you dont understand (while walking away). It works really well
haha i do this all the time. they are super confused with such langugages as Slovak ( there are only a few millions ppl in the whole world who can speak it- 5,5millions in Slovakia plus some expats and Czechs)
Load More Replies... Geez, almost all of these are about dangerous situations again. What kind of world do these people live in? I'm so happy that I don't live in that world. Sure, I pay attention and in the 'big city' you need to be more careful, but I don't have to live like everyone is out to rob or murder me all the time.
I'm guessing you are in Netherlands from your name? This is all big city advice. If you ever come to South Africa, almost all the above advice is sensible. Most of our tourist hotspots are in big cities.
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It is kind of scary that people live in places where this is necessary.
Quite a few of these contradict each other, but a good chunk of these seem valid and make perfect sense.
I learned street smarts as a child because my mother was an alcoholic. I walked the streets at night just so I didn't have to be around her. I had to start taking care of washing clothes, hanging them to dry and folding them, you name it. I did all of these things starting at age 5.I got myself up to get ready to for school. I hated smelling like cigarettes. I was mean as hell. There wasn't one boy in my neighborhood that I didn't beat the crap out of. It made me strong mentally. I knew I could do anything. I became a nurse and later I became a police officer. I am now 67 and am enjoying retirement!
I know some of them sound a bit paranoid for people who were lucky enough to grow up in a better part of a city (as I did). But I know that there are parts of my city where it's safer not to go, and if you have to, it's better to make a use of some of these tips. 'Couse you know. Better safe than sorry.
As a teen living in Mexico, there is one thing i didnt see here. If there is someone around you you feel is dangerous or threatening or maybe you just have a feeling about it, and you're alone, pretend like you're calling someone and then say "so you'll be here in 2 minutes" and make sure they hear. If they realize you won't be alone much longer they'll back down.
This is something I always did. Pretending you are talking with someone one the phone and waiting for him to show up. I never told my real name to people, I used a fake one, only when I trust somebody, I tell my real name.
Load More Replies... Trust your pets in any uncertain situation. If your pets are generally nice & then react strangly towards a stranger or someone they know there's a reason. Also watch your pets during severe thunderstorms if they're acting normal don't worry. If they go and hide when that's not normal for them to hide during a storm you need to get into your storm safe place ASAP.
Some comments here are writing these off as paranoia, however, a lot of people (especially women) need to think about things like this when they go out in the world. It doesn't mean you obsess over them, it just means you keep them in mind if an iffy situation arises. Sure would be fantastic if we lived in a world where no one needed to think about things like this.
Wow. So.... everything my mom taught me by age 18 at latest, nobody learns anymore? That's kinda freaking me out way more than the idea that the world is out to get me if I forget any of the "rules" from a TikTok post!
Does the fact that some of these sound like paranoia mean I am going to be a good victim? :-0
Pay attention too the people not drinking at parties. Why because they are the designated drivers? Or is it because they want to stay sober so they can be aware when they attack people? More information about this please.
So, basically, live in fear of everything, don't trust anyone ever, never visit large cities, don't talk to anyone....or just stay home with all the doors and windows shut and locked, and never answer the door without grilling the wannabe visitor intensively. Man, what a sick, sick world we live in, and it's even worse because humankind has made it this way ourselves!
Don't tell them which hotel you're staying at. And if at reception they state your room number then refuse and ask for different room. It should be: Your room number is stated on your keycard.
That and my parents used to tell me, if you stay at a hotel where the halls/doors are inside the building, ask for a room not on the 1st floor. (Being a female.) If the doors/hallway are on the outside of the building, then stay 1st floor and not upper floors. This was a safety thing and made for easier escape or harder for someone to enter. Like upstairs, they can't come in through window, or it's harder to do so. Downstairs, if someone tries the window, you run out the door, or jump out the window. It seems weird, but sort of makes sense?
Load More Replies... Definitely. Never go out in a bad neighborhood in heels.
Load More Replies... One thing useful if you know more than 1 language. If somebody aproaches you to beg/sell you something and you dont feel comfortable it is better to reply in a different language and pretend you dont understand (while walking away). It works really well
haha i do this all the time. they are super confused with such langugages as Slovak ( there are only a few millions ppl in the whole world who can speak it- 5,5millions in Slovakia plus some expats and Czechs)
Load More Replies... Geez, almost all of these are about dangerous situations again. What kind of world do these people live in? I'm so happy that I don't live in that world. Sure, I pay attention and in the 'big city' you need to be more careful, but I don't have to live like everyone is out to rob or murder me all the time.
I'm guessing you are in Netherlands from your name? This is all big city advice. If you ever come to South Africa, almost all the above advice is sensible. Most of our tourist hotspots are in big cities.
Load More Replies... It is kind of scary that people live in places where this is necessary.
Quite a few of these contradict each other, but a good chunk of these seem valid and make perfect sense.
I learned street smarts as a child because my mother was an alcoholic. I walked the streets at night just so I didn't have to be around her. I had to start taking care of washing clothes, hanging them to dry and folding them, you name it. I did all of these things starting at age 5.I got myself up to get ready to for school. I hated smelling like cigarettes. I was mean as hell. There wasn't one boy in my neighborhood that I didn't beat the crap out of. It made me strong mentally. I knew I could do anything. I became a nurse and later I became a police officer. I am now 67 and am enjoying retirement!
I know some of them sound a bit paranoid for people who were lucky enough to grow up in a better part of a city (as I did). But I know that there are parts of my city where it's safer not to go, and if you have to, it's better to make a use of some of these tips. 'Couse you know. Better safe than sorry.
As a teen living in Mexico, there is one thing i didnt see here. If there is someone around you you feel is dangerous or threatening or maybe you just have a feeling about it, and you're alone, pretend like you're calling someone and then say "so you'll be here in 2 minutes" and make sure they hear. If they realize you won't be alone much longer they'll back down.
This is something I always did. Pretending you are talking with someone one the phone and waiting for him to show up. I never told my real name to people, I used a fake one, only when I trust somebody, I tell my real name.
Load More Replies... Trust your pets in any uncertain situation. If your pets are generally nice & then react strangly towards a stranger or someone they know there's a reason. Also watch your pets during severe thunderstorms if they're acting normal don't worry. If they go and hide when that's not normal for them to hide during a storm you need to get into your storm safe place ASAP.
Some comments here are writing these off as paranoia, however, a lot of people (especially women) need to think about things like this when they go out in the world. It doesn't mean you obsess over them, it just means you keep them in mind if an iffy situation arises. Sure would be fantastic if we lived in a world where no one needed to think about things like this.
Wow. So.... everything my mom taught me by age 18 at latest, nobody learns anymore? That's kinda freaking me out way more than the idea that the world is out to get me if I forget any of the "rules" from a TikTok post!
Does the fact that some of these sound like paranoia mean I am going to be a good victim? :-0
Pay attention too the people not drinking at parties. Why because they are the designated drivers? Or is it because they want to stay sober so they can be aware when they attack people? More information about this please.
So, basically, live in fear of everything, don't trust anyone ever, never visit large cities, don't talk to anyone....or just stay home with all the doors and windows shut and locked, and never answer the door without grilling the wannabe visitor intensively. Man, what a sick, sick world we live in, and it's even worse because humankind has made it this way ourselves!
