Hello all, here is today's article posted on TheArmoryLife.com. It is titled “Blend or Bleed: Will You Make the Right Choice?” and can be found at https://www.thearmorylife.com/blend-or-bleed-its-your-choice/.
Blend or Bleed: Will You Make the Right Choice?
- Thread starter Mike H.
- Start date
Decent article. The only thing I’d question is the issue of appearing “self confident”. I’m not talking about being cocky. But being alert, walking with a positive attitude and a confident appearance just might convince the local thug to seek an “easier”target. Just my 2 cents.
Grayfox
Professional
I fully agree with the Gray Man concept and try my best to live by it. However, I disagree with the author's demeanor remarks. Bad guys are looking for people who aren't paying attention and tend to avoid those that obviously do. Sometimes all it takes is a firm, but not threatening, look into someone's eyes to make them turn away from you.
HayesGreener
SAINT
Yep. Don't look like prey.
FNFAN
Master Class
Probably isn't going to work for me. 6'5" and at my skinniest post divorce I was 220 lbs. Usually float at around 250 depending on whether I've been going hard at the weights or at pasta and garlic knots. Son & I just got back from a week in Boston walking around doing touristy things. Two city cops at a street corner as we walk up... one elbows the other who looks at my baby boy, who is my height but a pretty hard core lifter, bearded and shaved head. Cops eyes widen and he says, "I would want to have to clothe, feed or fight youse two!" 
One thing I learned early on came from a Zig Ziglar sales seminar where the instructor suggested learning how to smile "with your eyes" and to practice doing that on command in front of a mirror as method of expressing sincerity and friendliness. One of my tells is I have a really fast and large pupil dilation when angry. Ex said it's like reading a vampire novel where the vampire's eyes turn black before they strike. I usually try to model John D. MacDonald's description of Travis McGee "A shambling, good natured, smiling man, never taking the world seriously."
One thing I learned early on came from a Zig Ziglar sales seminar where the instructor suggested learning how to smile "with your eyes" and to practice doing that on command in front of a mirror as method of expressing sincerity and friendliness. One of my tells is I have a really fast and large pupil dilation when angry. Ex said it's like reading a vampire novel where the vampire's eyes turn black before they strike. I usually try to model John D. MacDonald's description of Travis McGee "A shambling, good natured, smiling man, never taking the world seriously."
Last edited:
SimonRL
Ronin
The article above is just like all the other media where they try and scare its readers/viewers into coming back to continue reading/viewing. Such as the very first line from the article in The Democrats Still Can’t Figure It Out thread, which reads like the liner notes from the latest Reacher novel;
Chaos erupted across the US on Saturday, with three separate mass shootings threatening to snuff out dozens in Virginia, Kentucky and Chicago.
In the final paragraph of the article in this thread they almost got it right except that the statement should have been reversed.
Being prepared is not the same as being paranoid.
Should have read:
Being paranoid is not the same as being prepared.
Trust but verify folks, just because it’s right wing media doesn’t make it any more reliable. Bias is bias.
But what do I know? I just make a handsome living in an industry that exists to get people to buy stuff they don’t need.
Chaos erupted across the US on Saturday, with three separate mass shootings threatening to snuff out dozens in Virginia, Kentucky and Chicago.
In the final paragraph of the article in this thread they almost got it right except that the statement should have been reversed.
Being prepared is not the same as being paranoid.
Should have read:
Being paranoid is not the same as being prepared.
Trust but verify folks, just because it’s right wing media doesn’t make it any more reliable. Bias is bias.
But what do I know? I just make a handsome living in an industry that exists to get people to buy stuff they don’t need.
Belt Fed
Emissary
They just don't want to get on yer bad side cause they may need some advice on stock market trading later.
SimonRL
Ronin
This is the crux of it all. 99 times out of 100 people become victims because of bad situational awareness or ignoring their intuition. The color of your shirt doesn’t make a damn bit of difference to a determined criminal.
The Night Rider
Hellcat
When ever I run into my chickens I give them the stink eye. So far it's worked.
SimonRL
Ronin
I’m not the gray man, I’m the green man. I carry a tree everywhere in case I need to lean on one in a hurry.
bc22wm
Professional
Add to that Don't put bumper stickers on your car. don't wear that logo, endorse such and such with signs, etc. etc. etc. Sure, don't go out of your way to be provocative, But I'm not a damned church mouse either. Wear the NRA hat, put up funny no trespassing signs, and without bumper stickers how are you to fix the rust spots on the old truck.
Belt Fed
Emissary
OldGrunt
Hellcat
Yes, bad idea. Not everyone is fortunate enough to know their multiplication tables. You should know better.
Talyn
Emissary
The last time I had a real close encounter was back in the early 90's when I was in downtown Portland, OR for an agency meeting there, from out of my state at the time so I wasn't able to carry then.
After checking in I went for a early evening walk on the path along the Willamette River. I say a large group a hunderd 100 yd away, and they saw me an rapidly approach. I stopped in place and recognized them as a feral group of youth with a woman leader with crazy eyes when they came up to me. The two of us locked eyes & sized each other up.
I was definetly out-numbered, and was prepped for things going south but she decided I wasn't worth the conflict and ordered her mongrel pack to back off. I kept an eye on were they were going and finished my walk on a differerent route.
That encounter was before things got progressivly worse in Portland in the later decades, but an indicator of the beginning of the decline of Oregon where I had spent years living in the past.
Situation awareness and making eye contact with potential threats is always a priority.
History has shown that human behavior can rapidly degrade to the lowest levels.
That being said, one has to be prepared for things going south, and as Josey said...
After checking in I went for a early evening walk on the path along the Willamette River. I say a large group a hunderd 100 yd away, and they saw me an rapidly approach. I stopped in place and recognized them as a feral group of youth with a woman leader with crazy eyes when they came up to me. The two of us locked eyes & sized each other up.
I was definetly out-numbered, and was prepped for things going south but she decided I wasn't worth the conflict and ordered her mongrel pack to back off. I kept an eye on were they were going and finished my walk on a differerent route.
That encounter was before things got progressivly worse in Portland in the later decades, but an indicator of the beginning of the decline of Oregon where I had spent years living in the past.
Situation awareness and making eye contact with potential threats is always a priority.
History has shown that human behavior can rapidly degrade to the lowest levels.
That being said, one has to be prepared for things going south, and as Josey said...
Last edited:
The Night Rider
Hellcat
Once you hit a certain age you're going to look like a potential target no matter what you.
It is what it is.
TEXASforLIFE
SAINT
But how many people's age's is their iq
! My current age is about 40% of my last iq test and going down
TEXASforLIFE
SAINT
26 is the answer in arkyesaw