Ask Lemmy

Anyone not aware of their surroundings is stupid imo.

I'm 99% of the time completely oblivious. There is absolutely no reason anyone would take any interest in me. I'm a completely nondescript guy and I'm almost never in shady areas. I'm either in a parking lot or a suburb or very public walking trails through the city. I always walk like I have a purpose. There's no reason anyone would even look twice at me and if they did there's almost always a bright, public place in full view a few steps away.

The only exception is when I'm walking some trails with my daughter. She is a little more independent and confident than I'd like. She is just fucking certain of anyone messed with her she'd fuck them up. Maybe. But I'd prefer a little more caution. So I keep an eye on things for her. It's not like it would be completely impossible to disappear someone from the city trails. I'm not worth the effort, but she could be.

On the contrary, on the road I'm always hyper aware. I always know who is in front of me, behind me, beside me. I always have an escape plan if there's a blowout or debris in the road ahead of me. I know who is a cop and who they are looking at.

Not sure why it's such a night and day difference, I just can't conceive of being in any personal danger when I'm walking around. Years ago, I took a stroll through downtown Bangkok at 3 in the morning. I probably wasn't as safe as I felt, but I felt pretty safe. I picked up on some shady shit in a nightclub there, but I'll never know if that was danger or paranoia. I definitely didn't leave my drink unattended. Didn't occur to look behind me after I left, but I wasn't alone and my attention was focused on her.

Look around? No, but I am listening.

Dang. I'm sorry yall. As a bigger dude I've never even thought of this. I'll just be in my own world doing whatever.

Actually, funny story though. Literally earlier at work today a car was creeping around a little slowly in the parking lot as I was walking on the sidewalk to check on somethings. And for the first time ever I did have a thought about how people abducting me would go down. It was a smaller car though so I just kinda laughed it off.

It's not so funny now that I think about how yall feel

All. The. Time.

I have been able to intervene several times in situations that were about to go south.

This translates to driving too. I always assume everyone is about to do something dumb, it's saved my ass from several serious accidents.

If someone has a weird vibe to them, I definitely check (discretely) what they are up to.

Oooh! Oooh! What's that feeling, when you're walking in the dead of night along a road, and you hear a car approaching from behind? That feeling that you need to get off the road and hide? That has to have a name.

Other people might do it, but that doesn't mean that you're not paranoid.

What evidence do you have that there is crime in your neighborhood, have you seen any firsthand? How well do you know your neighbours and wider community, are they concerned about any threats? Worrying about something like this is not healthy. I can't imagine living somewhere I need to continually look over my shoulder.

I don’t but I’m an old white dude

Yea pretty regularly, especially at night

As an adult man, occasionally. Probably once a day.

I'm a woman, so yeah. Especially while living in America right now.

Not unless I am walking downtown or in an unfamiliar area of my city. I live in a pretty boring suburb of a safe city in Canada. I usually am walking with my very large and loud dog, and mostly in the daytime