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Street Smart Members Of This Online Group Share 30 Of The Most Important Pieces Of Advice They Know
If you’ve ever been out at night or visited a shady part of town, you probably didn’t feel welcome in the jungle, no matter how much Guns N’ Roses you listened to.
Wanting to help you feel more at home in any environment, we’ve got some tips that will help you up your street smarts and stay safe out there!
More info: Reddit
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Know when to leave. Is friend getting too drunk? Leave. Is the room getting too crowded? Leave. Are you feeling too intoxicated? Leave. Someone bothering you too much? Leave. Anything that doesn’t feel right, just leave.
#2
If you get arrested, shut the f**k up.
and_a_touch_of_the_’tism 1 year ago
Police are not your friends, and they can and will lie to you. Shut up and lawyer up.
#3
No matter how well you think you fight, you NEVER know if the other guy has a knife.
Being stabbed is indescribable. The pain lasts for weeks and you can still feel it in the cold months later.
Walking away, or running away is always your best form of self defence. Some may call you a coward. I'd rather be a coward and smart than dead and stupid.
To get some self-defense advice from someone who is an actual expert rather than a faceless netizen, Bored Panda got in touch with Evan Dzierzynski, owner and lead coach of NOVA Self Defense. He’s been training in various martial arts and self-defense programs for over 15 years now and has been teaching seminars and workshops to corporate groups and workplace violence prevention. More about him and his work on the NOVA Self Defense website.
#4
Never consent to a police search of your vehicle or your home.
If they have to get a warrant, they are *much* more limited in where they can search and what they can take as evidence. Giving them consent to go on a fishing expedition can *only* hurt you. Don't do it.
and_a_touch_of_the_’tism 1 year ago
This is true in the US, I don’t know about other places, but yeah if you’re American do NOT let them in without a warrant! They’re legally not allowed to search without consent or a warrant, and it’ll give you some time to get your stuff together.
#5
If a random guy says “Hey man you want to see something?” You don’t.
You don’t want to see something.
Con O Cuinn 1 year ago
A random homeless guy in Amsterdam asked me if I wanted to see something crazy . Dude was at least 60 if not older. Colour me intrigued, so I said sure. Guy starts doing legit mad s**t, flips and all. According to him, he used to train with Bruce Lee back in the day. Dude had the skills to back it up. I definitely was glad I saw that something.
#6
not so much street, but general advice an uncle gave me when I was a teen starting to party
- if you're already in bed and someone invites you out, decline and stay in bed-
is eery how many fights, crashes, and drama I avoided, because I stayed in bed.
With “run away” being the most popular piece of self defense advice, we asked Evan about it. “Running away is sensible advice if it fits the situation and your ability,” he starts, saying that running isn’t an option if you’ve got a child or someone you care about that cannot run with you. You must also consider your own injuries and whether you’re in good enough shape to run away. Additionally, if the aggressor is too close, you may have to defend yourself and then attempt your escape, Evan adds.
#7
Also, there's no such thing as a fair fight. Go for the nuts.
#8
Keep your car locked always. And Lock your car as soon as you get inside.
Adam Belaire 1 year ago
I've known a few people that do the opposite. They feel It's easier to lose a car stereo than get glass all over your car, deal will insurance and still have your car stereo stolen.
#9
If you are in another country & the locals are running, you run too.
example:
Indonesia & the tsunami.
and_a_touch_of_the_’tism 1 year ago
Really, if a large crowd starts doing anything (running, gets quiet, gets on the ground, etc) DO IT TOO.
Whenever you run, you’re attempting to escape from the immediate threat to relative safety - a more populated area, a place where you can call the police, a barrier, such as a locked door, cover, a weapon, even, or you may be simply trying to put as much distance between you and the aggressor as possible.
Another tricky thing is that if you’ve got a lot of martial arts or self-defense experience, it may be difficult for you to disengage from someone who is attempting to attack you, especially if you’re under extreme duress.
#10
Look like you know where you're going.
Headless Roach 1 year ago
🎶 Well, we know where we're goin' / But we don't know where we've been / And we know what we're knowin' / But we can't say what we've seen 🎶
#11
If you think you’re being followed, never go straight home. Have heard of being told to make 4 consecutive same-direction turns (if driving). If they’re still behind you they’re following you.
#12
Never, I repeat never talk to the cops about anything! If questioned, act stupid. If interrogated, lawyer up.
Evan has also got some advice for de-escalating situations verbally. For a start, you should maintain your personal boundaries, as someone being verbally aggressive 6-10 feet (2-3 meters) away from you is completely different from someone getting in your face.
“Your hands should be up, open, and engaged as a barrier between you and the aggressor showing palms, what is referred to as a 'fence position' as you are using your social skills to de-escalate and remove yourself. Your goal is to safely remove yourself.”
To this end, you should avoid insulting the attacker, disrespecting them, or escalating the situation in any way, all while considering your body language. If you allow your ego to run wild, you’re likely to make a mistake, Evan continues.
#13
Get a new TV or a computer in a big box? Don’t let anyone else know you did. Cut down the box or throw it out on trash day before they pickup. Don’t let the neighborhood know the kind of life you’re living.
#14
99% of fights start because someone *said* something offensive to the wrong people. Be careful to not just run your mouth around people you don't know. Real life doesn't always play out like social media.
#15
If someone is annoying in public, don’t confront them or ask anything of them. You might get popped and you have no idea who they are or what their issues are.
Don’t make eye contact with people on the street.
Don’t get involved in other peoples beef when you get asked to take sides or a friend is complaining about others. Just listen and say “good luck with that, that’s a bummer.”
Don’t do drugs. Fetty is in everything and a bump in a bar bathroom can drop you.
**EDIT** People are pointing out harm reduction and drug testing kits. That's great. However, my advice stands - as a recovering alcoholic/addict (6 years clean and sober), I wish I'd never started in the first place. I have friends that normalize carrying around narcan to parties and s**t. You can see the insanity right? They want to keep partying so badly they carry around a f*****g narcan kit in case they hit a hot bag. Just f*****g stop.
Con O Cuinn 1 year ago
Don't make eye contact? Staring at the ground is a surefire way to paint "victim" across your forehead
#16
Don't get in the van I don't care how many 10mm sockets they say are in the van ITS A LIE
Headless Roach 1 year ago
@Nathaniel, how many mm sockets do you have in your van? I'm smelling a better option here.
If you feel unsafe, in the short term, you should seek self-defense programs or seminars that address the problem very broadly. Optimally, these topics should be covered, according to Evan: “awareness, verbal de-escalation, managing encroachment into your space, protecting yourself proactively and reactively, blending striking, grappling, and dealing with weapons and doing scenario work with role-players to pressure-test your skills with resistance.”
It may be difficult to find something that would train all of these competencies in one place, though.
For the long term - seek out a martial art that you enjoy, jiu-jitsu, striking, whatever you like. “If you want to get better, you’ll be more likely to show up when you enjoy it and like the people you train with,” Evan finishes.
Once again, if you’re interested in Evan’s work or would like to find out more about self-defense, visit his website.
#17
Even if you are a tourist, don’t look and act like a tourist.
Cosmologist wannabe 1 year ago
Act as a person who has come to see its culture and what it is like, not like a person who comes to well, buy a lot of junk. (pls don't downvote. I probably phrased this pretty badly, but hope u get the point)
#18
If you find yourself in a street fight the point isn’t to win, but to escape.
It only takes one nasty fall on concrete to f**k up your entire life.
Do whatever it takes to get out
kitten levels tokyo 1 year ago
Exactly! Life isn’t a Disney movie. The good guy doesn’t always end up with the bad guy’s head on a spear.
#19
If you know you'll be walking through a sketchy area, look sketchy.
Back when I used to do a lot of night photography in an area with frequent muggings and robberies, this kept me out of bad situations. If people cross the street instead of passing by you, you're doing it right.
Edit to add that these replies are hilarious. This worked for my countless night excursions in a high crime area. The one time someone tried to rob me was when I happened to be out in my regular clothes on my way to meet friends.
"what looks sketchy" depends on where you are. For my situation, it was a plain dark hoodie with the hood always up (hood up shows you'd rather not be recognized and that you're comfortable where you are), slightly tattered pants/shoes (I had these from skateboarding) and walking like you know exactly where you are and where you're going. My camera was compact enough to hold in my hoodie pocket.
SkyBlueandBlack 1 year ago
No, you're right. I used to have to take the subway home to North Hollywood at 1am, then walk four blocks to my apartment. I'd light a cig as soon as I got up the escalator and walk casually home. I didn't rush, didn't look around, but I did walk with purpose and kept my eyes and ears open. Never got hassled.
#20
Stay aware of your surroundings and trust your instincts.
LonelyLittleLeafSheep 1 year ago
And remember that situational awareness includes three dimensions, so look up occasionally.
#21
If someone arguing with you is standing close to you and they look away from you, you are about to get sucker punched.
#22
If there are kids playing in the street when you walk into a shop, but the street is empty when you walk outside 5 minutes later, go back inside.
#23
everybody snitches when facing 25 to life. don't do the crime unless you willing to do the time.
#24
never do more than 1 illegal thing at a time.
Headless Roach 1 year ago
So if I want to continue stalking Nathaniel, I can no longer do it from a stolen car. Crâp, that's getting complicated.
#25
Don't flash your money especially in bars
Hugh Cookson 1 year ago
I had a big win (think £1000's) on the horses many years ago, got paid out in cash and decided to hit the town with a few friends with money stuffed into every pocket apart from the £10k I'd sensibly left with the racecourse security chaps. Got hit on pretty much wherever we went and was happy to pay for beer / drinks. Sadly some idiot then decided to try and rob me at knifepoint at about 2am whilst we were between bars ; my friends (and I) are ex military, we don't like knives. Let's leave it that the chap whilst not quite crippled, wasn't going to walk for a while, had a permanently altered look, facially and I suspect he probably wouldn't be a dad again.
#26
If someone ask you for a lighter, “sorry, don’t smoke.”
Con O Cuinn 1 year ago
There's literally a comment higher up where the person said this and got the s**t kicked out of them.
#27
Mind your business and watch your back.
VikingAbroad 1 year ago
Keep a rain cover on your hiking backpack while travelling through a city. Minimise the opportunity for someone to empty the pockets you cannot see.
#28
When someone hits you up for something/tries to engage you in a scammy way in a public place, the best thing to do is not respond at all. Pretend they don’t exist. It’s cold but it’s your best option and all they really deserve. Even just saying “sorry no” can sometimes provoke a response or follow up with the more aggressive ones. And ffs I promise you they don’t have a job interview/sick relative in the hospital/etc that they need to get to. It really blows my mind how many intelligent urban dwelling people I know still say “Well what if they really did the help?”
and_a_touch_of_the_’tism 1 year ago
When I was in 4th or 5th grade, there was a lady in the parking lot, blocking the exit from school. My mom, being a good person and maybe a little naïve, stopped to ask her what she needed. She gave some sob story about needing a birthday present for her daughter and asked for a ride. Mom panicked, gave her a few bucks and a ride to a dollar store. It was really really scary and she cried for an hour after and felt really guilty cause I was in the car and FREAKED THE F**K OUT.
#29
Never look down at your phone for walking directions - do not have an obvious look, pause, look at street sights, look again. Check it in your watch or stop at a store to “check your phone”. Makes you stand out otherwise.
( basically a longer version of look like you know where you’re going)
kitten levels tokyo 1 year ago (edited)
And for heaven’s sake, don’t pick your nose in public. You might as well have a flashing neon sign that says “Professional underwear bricker.” EDIT: typos
#30
Look with your eyes, not your head
What do you think ?
crowspectre (he/they) 1 year ago
If you hear people yelling, even if it's right near your destination, go a different way. Go somewhere else even. Especially if they sound like they're yelling at nothing/ innocent passersby. They're probably drunk, on drugs, and/or looking for a fight. Also, if someone seems very messed up (drugs, usually, but also alcohol) and you think they might be dangerous, stay completely quiet and very subtly speed up, move around them. If they're not actively looking for a fight you should be fine, and they probably won't notice you if they're that f****d up. Turning around would be more conspicuous and might draw their attention to you, which could lead to them getting aggressive. Don't make eye contact with them, don't reply ro them if they try to talk to you, or agree with everything they say. Don't give them any reasons to get angry at you, you might get attacked. Also, don't do drugs
siddik sid 1 year ago
If a group of guys are commenting or trying to provoke you and your girl .Walk away .Don't try to be a hero in front of your girl .Her safety is important than you being a hero there .Make sure she is safe first especially if you are in an empty street .
Rachel Reynolds 1 year ago
I play that game with my kids. We call it "Zombie Escape"; If zombies get into the store, how many exits can you find? It teaches them to look for the exits without instilling ~too much~ fear
Load More Replies...
Apatheist Account2 1 year ago
Disturbing that there's so much about avoiding getting nicked when committing crimes. How about be nice and behave?
kitten levels tokyo 1 year ago
If someone is walking towards you with a bloody knife, go the other way.
bruce wayne's girlfriend 1 year ago
bro why would you do anything else....
Load More Replies...
Elia Skarda 1 year ago
Is anyone else concerned that this piece of advice starts with "If you're chasing someone and want them to fall", or is it just me?
Libstak 1 year ago (edited)
Situational awareness, always know where others around you are and what they are doing. I've watched people mark me and then put their head down and walk away many times because I showed I knew what they were up to. Had a mother in a supermarket with 4 teenagers making scenes in the aisles, going every which way to cause confusion, then one would get real close to my trolley and handbag for no conceivable reason, I would catch their eye and they would studiously stare at a random selection of shelf items. They tried 3 times, finally mum calls them together and leaves the aisle with them, I then hear her in the next aisle....She was onto us.
Alan Fallguy 1 year ago
The place where all of these are true is not worth living in. And it sounds suspiciously like the USA.
Old Roadie 1 year ago
33,000 gangs in America. Some are not homegrown. Each is here doing business. All are armed, with their own armories and gunsmiths. They *will protect their business interests and laugh in the face of American laws... especially gun laws. They basically own the prison system, and each gang has shot callers in each prison. They are not especially worried about confinement. How you move within their territories is important, if you want to avoid being targeted.
Load More Replies...
Oerff On Tour 1 year ago
The best way to stay out of trouble when abroad is to follow the old saying: "When in Rome, do as the Romans do!"
martymcmatrix 1 year ago
Well, it will be boring from tomorrow. More than lying in bed and breathing in and out is forbidden then.
mandy the capibara 1 year ago
Maybe I'm just lucky enough to live in a relatively safe country, but to me it feels like there is a difference between being streetwise, and acting like the entire world is out to get you. It is not just about being sensible in dangerous situations, it is also about being able to judge when your fight or flight response is not needed.
crowspectre (he/they) 1 year ago
If you hear people yelling, even if it's right near your destination, go a different way. Go somewhere else even. Especially if they sound like they're yelling at nothing/ innocent passersby. They're probably drunk, on drugs, and/or looking for a fight. Also, if someone seems very messed up (drugs, usually, but also alcohol) and you think they might be dangerous, stay completely quiet and very subtly speed up, move around them. If they're not actively looking for a fight you should be fine, and they probably won't notice you if they're that f****d up. Turning around would be more conspicuous and might draw their attention to you, which could lead to them getting aggressive. Don't make eye contact with them, don't reply ro them if they try to talk to you, or agree with everything they say. Don't give them any reasons to get angry at you, you might get attacked. Also, don't do drugs
siddik sid 1 year ago
If a group of guys are commenting or trying to provoke you and your girl .Walk away .Don't try to be a hero in front of your girl .Her safety is important than you being a hero there .Make sure she is safe first especially if you are in an empty street .
Rachel Reynolds 1 year ago
I play that game with my kids. We call it "Zombie Escape"; If zombies get into the store, how many exits can you find? It teaches them to look for the exits without instilling ~too much~ fear
Load More Replies... Apatheist Account2 1 year ago
Disturbing that there's so much about avoiding getting nicked when committing crimes. How about be nice and behave?
kitten levels tokyo 1 year ago
If someone is walking towards you with a bloody knife, go the other way.
bruce wayne's girlfriend 1 year ago
bro why would you do anything else....
Load More Replies... Elia Skarda 1 year ago
Is anyone else concerned that this piece of advice starts with "If you're chasing someone and want them to fall", or is it just me?
Libstak 1 year ago (edited)
Situational awareness, always know where others around you are and what they are doing. I've watched people mark me and then put their head down and walk away many times because I showed I knew what they were up to. Had a mother in a supermarket with 4 teenagers making scenes in the aisles, going every which way to cause confusion, then one would get real close to my trolley and handbag for no conceivable reason, I would catch their eye and they would studiously stare at a random selection of shelf items. They tried 3 times, finally mum calls them together and leaves the aisle with them, I then hear her in the next aisle....She was onto us.
Alan Fallguy 1 year ago
The place where all of these are true is not worth living in. And it sounds suspiciously like the USA.
Old Roadie 1 year ago
33,000 gangs in America. Some are not homegrown. Each is here doing business. All are armed, with their own armories and gunsmiths. They *will protect their business interests and laugh in the face of American laws... especially gun laws. They basically own the prison system, and each gang has shot callers in each prison. They are not especially worried about confinement. How you move within their territories is important, if you want to avoid being targeted.
Load More Replies... Oerff On Tour 1 year ago
The best way to stay out of trouble when abroad is to follow the old saying: "When in Rome, do as the Romans do!"
martymcmatrix 1 year ago
Well, it will be boring from tomorrow. More than lying in bed and breathing in and out is forbidden then.
mandy the capibara 1 year ago
Maybe I'm just lucky enough to live in a relatively safe country, but to me it feels like there is a difference between being streetwise, and acting like the entire world is out to get you. It is not just about being sensible in dangerous situations, it is also about being able to judge when your fight or flight response is not needed.
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