Hi,
Not really a 'bushcraft' type thing, but it is a kind of 'survival' type issue.....
Not sure if anyone else gets this, (I'm sure we all do at some time), but in the wrong time and place, I sometimes feel there is something about my body language, mannerisims, posture and / or appearance that makes me appear a bit of a 'soft target' to people who are looking for an easy meal.
Don't get me wrong, I nearly always managed to avoid confruntation and conflict, but I feel something about me draws attention from the wrong sort of people on occasion.
Now, I'm no runt, but I'm no Arnold Schwarzeniger either, average height etc, and I guess I try and shy away from provacation when it is sent my way. I (think) I have a good sence of when things can get messy, and perhaps can be a tad overparanoid, but we can all sence aggression when it is near by, thats just human nature.
Tonight for instance, stopped for petrol, empy garage on my own, lift the nozzle, and a car full of lads pulls up behind me. Instantly my sences are heightened, and I know this could be trouble.
Guess what, they don't have a card between them, but can give me a £10 note if I would be so kind if I can lend them my card to top up with. Now under different circumstances I might of helped em out, but my 'spidy sences' are already going, so I mutter something about being 'at my credit limit', no eye contact, and shy away from their request.
Low and behold, they now magically produce a card , fill up and verbally flip me off. DILLIGAF..... Face, Bovered? Na.
Now I've herd this is a typical scam for blagging a tank full of gas from 'soft' targets, by force if needs be.
In my mind, they deleberatly set about to try and scam me, after deciding I was an 'easy meal'.
Am I too passive, should I confront these encounters more 'head on'?
I just often feel things are already on the edge of turning to voilence, and by being a bit passive, I'm avoiding the likely consequences of provactaion.
Maybe I should learn to alter my body language to be a bit more, how do I put it, 'In yer face', or 'What do fu you want'?
What do you think, and how do you deal, and avoid these situations once they arise?
Cheers for your thoughts
Not really a 'bushcraft' type thing, but it is a kind of 'survival' type issue.....
Not sure if anyone else gets this, (I'm sure we all do at some time), but in the wrong time and place, I sometimes feel there is something about my body language, mannerisims, posture and / or appearance that makes me appear a bit of a 'soft target' to people who are looking for an easy meal.
Don't get me wrong, I nearly always managed to avoid confruntation and conflict, but I feel something about me draws attention from the wrong sort of people on occasion.
Now, I'm no runt, but I'm no Arnold Schwarzeniger either, average height etc, and I guess I try and shy away from provacation when it is sent my way. I (think) I have a good sence of when things can get messy, and perhaps can be a tad overparanoid, but we can all sence aggression when it is near by, thats just human nature.
Tonight for instance, stopped for petrol, empy garage on my own, lift the nozzle, and a car full of lads pulls up behind me. Instantly my sences are heightened, and I know this could be trouble.
Guess what, they don't have a card between them, but can give me a £10 note if I would be so kind if I can lend them my card to top up with. Now under different circumstances I might of helped em out, but my 'spidy sences' are already going, so I mutter something about being 'at my credit limit', no eye contact, and shy away from their request.
Low and behold, they now magically produce a card , fill up and verbally flip me off. DILLIGAF..... Face, Bovered? Na.
Now I've herd this is a typical scam for blagging a tank full of gas from 'soft' targets, by force if needs be.
In my mind, they deleberatly set about to try and scam me, after deciding I was an 'easy meal'.
Am I too passive, should I confront these encounters more 'head on'?
I just often feel things are already on the edge of turning to voilence, and by being a bit passive, I'm avoiding the likely consequences of provactaion.
Maybe I should learn to alter my body language to be a bit more, how do I put it, 'In yer face', or 'What do fu you want'?
What do you think, and how do you deal, and avoid these situations once they arise?
Cheers for your thoughts