CHAT What it means to have situational awareness.

Toosh

Toosh

Veteran Member
I don't know about you but as I walk to my motel room I count steps and make notice of the closest emergency exit. At a restaurant, I choose to sit facing the door. And as patrons come in, I make note of who has a familiar bulge at the ankle or waistband. When driving, I leave enough room between me and the car in front so I'm not blocked in and can escape a situation. I thought this was basic situational awareness.

Last weekend I crossed the Mississippi River on a road trip. I found myself researching where the next bridge upstream and downstream were in case something happened to the bridge I would normally use to return home. (Thank you Francis Scott Key.) I eyed every overpass for a possible sniper. I chose to pump gas from the pump furthest away from the station so I could escape quickly.

Not that I'm on pins and needles. Not that I'm in fear or expect trouble. I just seem to be unsettled and on high-alert in ways that I never was before. Anyone else?
 
L

Luddite

Veteran Member
I had a rude reminder last week. I was pumping gas with my driver door open. Poor planning I know but DW in the passenger seat would have made a mess of anyone trying to get in the driver's seat.

Anyway, I was completely oblivious to anyone around until this disheveled 20 something with a dog on a leash came up behind me within 3 feet.

All in one breath he said "can you spare a few dollars for gas, I live in my van, I'm a rock climber". I was already shaking my head no halfway through his spiel. I was livid with myself for letting him get so close but he didn't know at whom my anger was directed.

Little did he know I think rock climbing is a frivolous endeavor so even in my most charitable mood that would have been a deal breaker.

He walked away and I let my blood return to simmer from the full boil I CAUSED by being inattentive.
 
helen

helen

Panic Sex Lady
Restaurant trays fly like a Frisbee, but you should practice at home first until you get a feel for the weird trajectory. Restaurant ceramic plates fly a lot more like a Frisbee with decent precision, and they pack a lot of energy. Flying melamine plates can hurt if contact is on the edge. Paper beverage cups with lids fall apart before they get to the target, so they are last resort distractions. Bottles are great, but practice at home first. Flying chairs are unpredictable, and they bounce a lot, but they're heavy enough to hurt. If you can get into the back of a restaurant, keep running out the back door. If you have a doorstop in your pocket, barricade yourself in the restroom or supply closet. Restaurant freezer doors open outward, so don't go in there. Real silverware and cups and glasses are very useful.

Most attackers going after anonymous targets in a public venue have a "script" in mind. Interrupt the script with every random object you can find.

I never eat out for a reason.
 
Ractivist

Ractivist

Pride comes before the fall.....Pride month ended.
helen said:
Restaurant trays fly like a Frisbee, but you should practice at home first until you get a feel for the weird trajectory. Restaurant ceramic plates fly a lot more like a Frisbee with decent precision, and they pack a lot of energy. Flying melamine plates can hurt if contact is on the edge. Paper beverage cups with lids fall apart before they get to the target, so they are last resort distractions. Bottles are great, but practice at home first. Flying chairs are unpredictable, and they bounce a lot, but they're heavy enough to hurt. If you can get into the back of a restaurant, keep running out the back door. If you have a doorstop in your pocket, barricade yourself in the restroom or supply closet. Restaurant freezer doors open outward, so don't go in there. Real silverware and cups and glasses are very useful.

Most attackers going after anonymous targets in a public venue have a "script" in mind. Interrupt the script with every random object you can find.

I never eat out for a reason.
Click to expand...
Helen, you scare me now. All this time, I'm like thinking this chick in panty's in the bedroom with a laptop, of course, now you go and throw in the kitchen. With all the weapons, not even mentioning knives.......I'd be looking for pockets in those panty's.....just knowing Ninja Helen likely has some throwing stars......I'll do my best to not be afraid, to gain back the allure, without fear of crapping my panty's.........might take time, and counseling.. fyi, I don't blame you. It's me.
 
et2

et2

TB Fanatic
I always pull up to the gas pump and just past enough for my door to clear. I Leave it open to keep someone from walking up that way. They would need to close the door to get near me, and that wouldn’t be smart on them.

Only leaves one direction for them and the gas hose is something they would have to negotiate. I stand by the door with it open and monitor my surroundings.
 
O

Ogre

Veteran Member
Don't forget:

SITUATIONAL AWARENESS 101

As we have all become aware recently, our safety and security concerns have been receiving much-needed attention. With this in mind, we can all contribute to our personal safety by paying attention to our surroundings--landscape, people, objects, vehicles, etc. In this first scenario, I will...
www.timebomb2000.com www.timebomb2000.com
And I miss Mo.
 
Tundra Gypsy

Tundra Gypsy

Veteran Member
I'm always looking around at my surroundings; whether pumping gas, walking through a parking lot or down the street. I'll be traveling next week, staying at a motel I'm familiar with, but that doesn't mean I'll let my guard down. I still carry and I don't care if the states I'm driving through don't recognize my permit.

One year I got paranoid after hearing on the news of a lady that went missing while traveling on Hwy 84 near the Columbia Gorge in Oregon. I got a mannequin head, made her up to look very believable. She had hair, eyelashes, sunglasses, hat, and shirt and coat. She was my traveling companion for the 2000 trip.
 
B

bracketquant

Veteran Member
Toosh said:
I don't know about you but as I walk to my motel room I count steps and make notice of the closest emergency exit. At a restaurant, I choose to sit facing the door. And as patrons come in, I make note of who has a familiar bulge at the ankle or waistband. When driving, I leave enough room between me and the car in front so I'm not blocked in and can escape a situation. I thought this was basic situational awareness.

Last weekend I crossed the Mississippi River on a road trip. I found myself researching where the next bridge upstream and downstream were in case something happened to the bridge I would normally use to return home. (Thank you Francis Scott Key.) I eyed every overpass for a possible sniper. I chose to pump gas from the pump furthest away from the station so I could escape quickly.

Not that I'm on pins and needles. Not that I'm in fear or expect trouble. I just seem to be unsettled and on high-alert in ways that I never was before. Anyone else?
Click to expand...
You are paranoid.

Why in the world would a sniper stand in just about the most visible spot possible, on an overpass with thousands of vehicles passing just below him? If there's going to be a sniper, he'll be hidden in the woods off the side of the road. Or perhaps in a white van with a small hole in its side.

But then, you're only partially paranoid. You did not mention studying the escape routes on the fire exit map posted on the wall in the motel.

Since you mentioned pins and needles, not needing to mention it, you are on pins and needles.
 
Z

zeker

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Tundra Gypsy said:
One year I got paranoid after hearing on the news of a lady that went missing while traveling on Hwy 84 near the Columbia Gorge in Oregon. I got a mannequin head, made her up to look very believable. She had hair, eyelashes, sunglasses, hat, and shirt and coat. She was my traveling companion for the 2000 trip.
Click to expand...
is she made of soft rubber?

does she moan?

asking for a friend :shr:
 
T

Terrwyn

Veteran Member
That was a way of life for me driving around some of LA's most dangerous areas for 20 odd years.
That not getting too close to the car in front of you is a biggie. Another thing I would do late at night is treat red lights like a stop sign and not sit at one.
Gas stations are dangerous period for so many reasons. Good place to be on red alert. In my area there was a random shooting a couple of weeks ago where some guy walked up to a stranger sitting at the pump and shot her in the face.
I suppose many of us could write a book.
 
CaryC

CaryC

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Toosh said:
I chose to pump gas from the pump furthest away from the station
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There is sort of a double do-dad thingy on that one.

Being furthest away puts you away from any thing that might break out from inside the store. Robbery with shots fired.

It also puts you further away from any help if something/someone would attack you from outside the store. Kidnap, car jacking.

As much as you can know your places is the best policy.

It's like: do you park near the front of walmart, and get dings on your car, but everyone can see if anyone is breaking into your car and be on TV, or park way out at far end and don't get any dings, but your car broken into and attacked at night. We park up close and in full view. Even when traveling, and stopping at Love's, (except Memphis) with lots of lights, and foot traffic. And never at some podunk place with chainsaws hanging in the window, no customers, and only one light hanging from the ceiling, at 2 AM.

Personal choice.
 
U

UglyBird

Contributing Member
Several years ago we had an ATM video of an attempted robbery around here. The victim ran back to his truck, grabbed a can of kerosine, dumped it over the robber and then chased him around the parking lot with a lighter. It's a shame he didn't catch him.
 
KMR58

KMR58

Veteran Member
Ogre said:
Don't forget:

SITUATIONAL AWARENESS 101

As we have all become aware recently, our safety and security concerns have been receiving much-needed attention. With this in mind, we can all contribute to our personal safety by paying attention to our surroundings--landscape, people, objects, vehicles, etc. In this first scenario, I will...
www.timebomb2000.com www.timebomb2000.com
And I miss Mo.
Click to expand...
Me, too. Miss Mo I mean.
 
D

desertvet2

Veteran Member
Hello everyone. My name is Mike and I too am a paranoid..ahem paying attention type of person.....any cookies left to go with my coffee?

Those who wander blissfully ignorant in the world, have no clue as to what they are missing out on. All of the myriad scenarios that run at 10x (or faster) speed through our minds all day, every day would probably short them out.
 
Loretta Van Riet

Loretta Van Riet

Trying to hang out with the cool kids.
Toosh said:
I don't know about you but as I walk to my motel room I count steps and make notice of the closest emergency exit. At a restaurant, I choose to sit facing the door. And as patrons come in, I make note of who has a familiar bulge at the ankle or waistband. When driving, I leave enough room between me and the car in front so I'm not blocked in and can escape a situation. I thought this was basic situational awareness.

Last weekend I crossed the Mississippi River on a road trip. I found myself researching where the next bridge upstream and downstream were in case something happened to the bridge I would normally use to return home. (Thank you Francis Scott Key.) I eyed every overpass for a possible sniper. I chose to pump gas from the pump furthest away from the station so I could escape quickly.

Not that I'm on pins and needles. Not that I'm in fear or expect trouble. I just seem to be unsettled and on high-alert in ways that I never was before. Anyone else?
Click to expand...
WOW! When it comes to hotels I thought I was the wacky-one because I would count the number of doorknobs to the closest stairwell. I have been in a fire and experienced how quickly rising smoke impairs your vision.
 
CaryC

CaryC

Has No Life - Lives on TB
desertvet2 said:
Hello everyone. My name is Mike and I too am a paranoid..ahem paying attention type of person.....any cookies left to go with my coffee?

Those who wander blissfully ignorant in the world, have no clue as to what they are missing out on. All of the myriad scenarios that run at 10x (or faster) speed through our minds all day, every day would probably short them out.
Click to expand...
The first rule of PA (Paranoid Anon) is don't talk......... (that guy there, is that a suicide vest?) about (that woman over there with the cookie, woman are more favorable to poison) P (I'm out of here, going back to the BOL)

And thus ended the PA meeting for this week.
 
Knighttemplar

Knighttemplar

Veteran Member
We have talked about this before. As someone who is constatanly running what ifs in my head, many people cant/dont do that. I have a real problem understanding how they cope or can react to problems.
 
F

fi103r

Veteran Member
Yup been pinging at orange since the campus ‘protestors’ migrated to Dallas …too [redacted] close for comfort
have been at lock and load since Oct 7
r
 
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