Join the Fun!

inkseep1 , Office of Public Affairs Report

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' If you get arrested, shut the f**k up. Ask for a lawyer, and then shut the f**k up. And when a lawyer shows up, shut the f**k up

Final score:

262points

POST

YouDontLikeMe? 3 years ago

Good advice. Initially frustrated with this post, but it isn't wrong. Maybe try not to get arrested to begin with.... but I can't argue with it, it is sound advice. Don't talk yourself into something.

79points

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' Always walk on the side of the road that opposes traffic. This puts distance between you and a car that might be trying to follow you

kannakantplay , Nathan Rogers Report

Final score:

249points

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Ola Pe 3 years ago

Good tip!

37points

usually_just_lurking , Mark Pan4ratte Report

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' Trust your gut. Your subconscious can notice details your conscious mind doesn’t. Don’t be afraid of making a scene to keep yourself safe

Final score:

231points

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JLH 3 years ago

I remember driving at night and getting a weird vibe. I pulled into the middle lane to stop. Everyone in the car was confused, and honestly so was I. Seconds later a car flies by with it's lights off, going the wrong direction in the lane I just came from. Almost caused a wreck behind us (fortunately it didn't), but it was so weird. I only remember thinking the lights ahead of us were off a little and that triggered a big warning. Crazy.

4points

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' I am female, these are tips to make you appear stronger as a female on the street (walking home, nighttime subway, etc):

If you think you are being followed or if you hear somebody behind you - feel free to turn around and look directly at them because it shows you are not afraid to be aware of your surroundings.

By the same measure, don't be afraid (generally) to meet people's eyes. Not in a confrontational "yeah? WHAT!?" sort of way, but in a "I am seeing the people in my world" sort of engaged and aware way.

This shows you do not fear engaging your surroundings.

Again - this is to show you are capable, this is not to provoke or antagonize - that's a different, defensive posture.

UnicornPanties , diaper Report

Final score:

209points

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Dark_flame 3 years ago

This will also make sure you get a good look at the person and might be able to describe them later if need be

78points

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' Do not engage with crazy.

If they address you directly, still don’t engage

NicNac_PattyMac , Victor Rodvang Report

Final score:

184points

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Jovita A 3 years ago

That's why I wear headphones.. I can't hear you... No, seriously headphones are a good way to stop people from engaging in conversations with you. Though as mentioned before, you shouldn't listen to music to loud so no one can sneak on you.

47points

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' Basically, just be aware of your surroundings. A lack of situational awareness can lead to some bad things.

tommytster , John Fornander Report

Final score:

169points

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Gandalf the Pink 3 years ago

I don't know if this counts as street smart or just generally a good rule. Don't be wandering deep forests without situational awareness, don't pilot an airplane without situational awareness.

33points

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' If someone is attempting to take you to a secondary location by car or something, fight like your life depends on it, because it does. Poke their eyes out. Punch them in the testicles. Bite them, scratch them, anything you can think of, do it to get yourself free. There are no rules when it comes to this situation. Some specific things you can do are screaming 'Fire!' Or 'Help my child!' This will catch more attention than just plain 'Help.'

Spook_Fuzz , Alexandre Brondino Report

Final score:

167points

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Biljana Malesevic 3 years ago

This is true. Once they get you into car or van you are in much more difficult situation. Don't let them get you in, use whatever you got!

35points

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' Use windows as mirrors to see your blind spots or to check behind you. Literally every window you walk past, you should take a quick glance to know what’s going on in your blind spots. You can almost completely get rid of blind spots altogether because of windows.

jjb8712 , Tim Gouw Report

Final score:

165points

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Deal _Anneal 3 years ago

Lol i just check myself out when i pass a window ヾ(⌐■_■)ノ♪

47points

#10

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' Don't walk into the street texting, tweeting, meme-ing, etc. I've seen people walking straight into traffic because of this

rip_andtear , Brian Evans Report

Final score:

155points

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Johnny Rodriguez 3 years ago

What about commenti

113points

#11

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' Cops will take the side of anyone that speaks calmly every time no matter the circumstances

NicNac_PattyMac , Steve Baker Report

Final score:

142points

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SydneyP 3 years ago

My goodness every single suggestion on here has a snarky comment underneath it. It leads me to one conclusion: there are A LOT of miserable, self conscious, know it alls around. Show some kindness, compassion, and love. It doesn’t hurt you at all. If one doesn’t like or approve of these stories/suggestions then don’t read it. These things could potentially save a life one day. Not everyone thinks the same way so this could help someone. Or you folks can go back to being miserable nitpicks. It’s your choice 🤷🏻‍♀️

38points

rusty_L_shackleford , Priscilla Du Preez Report

#12

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' Seriously, you should swing wide around corners, it’s no joke. Five or six ago, I was walking home from the bar. I lived two blocks away. At the time, I was 6'1" and probably weighed 280 pounds. I came around the corner about halfway home and BOOM, I went down. Some kid that didn't even look 18 nailed me in the face with a skateboard. I went down so fast and didn't even know what hit me

Final score:

131points

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Lucy Skinner 3 years ago

So true! This could have helped me avoid so many awkward situations!

8points

#13

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' If you are a woman in a public place a guy is giving you the creeps walk up to a big dude and just go “John! I can’t believe it’s you!” Then go into a hug and say “let me sit next to you, please.”

Most guys will get what’s going on and go with it and the chances that they themselves are creeps are slim.

NicNac_PattyMac , amir appel Report

Final score:

128points

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Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago (edited)

No. Just go into a well lit crowded place, and alert an employee—-especially a female employee—-to the situation. Believe me, if you come up to me while I’m at work, and tell me someone’s following you, I will let you hide in the employee breakroom, have a trusted make employee walk you out, or let you slip out the back door to get away from them. If they follow you into the building, I will walk by them and make a scene like they touched my ass or something, because I love to embarrass creeps who are relying on their victims being embarrassed and quiet. I’m also 60 now, so it’ll make them look like pervs who grope old ladies (I will laugh my ass off about it afterward). I put up with this s**t for decades myself, and older women were usually my first defenders. Now that the harassment doesn’t happen to me anymore (what a relief), I want to pay that favor forward.

68points

jannabanandroid , Martino Pietropoli Report

#14

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' Shadows can also be useful to pay attention to when you’re trying to peek behind you or see if there’s someone around a corner

Final score:

120points

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Matheus Oliveira 3 years ago

This is great! Too bad it doesn’t work on my place’s dead alleys, though.

10points

AgnosticPrankster , Clem Onojeghuo Report

#15

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' Walk confident on the street. Thieves often target people who lack confidence, appear nervous or walk irregularly.

Final score:

116points

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Gandalf the Pink 3 years ago

Imagine going through this list in your head, trying to recall all the details, and simultaneously thinking "don't appear nervous, don't appear nervous, don't appear nervous"

50points

#16

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' DO NOT WEAR HEADPHONES!!!

You make yourself an easy target by making it so even the most clod footed mugger can sneak up on you.

LinuxPariah , Marco Lastella Report

Final score:

113points

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Hans 3 years ago

There are headphones with "awareness mode" these days!

10points

#17

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' Always get your keys out before you leave a building to go to your car, and have them in hand as you exit it before you go into your house. Not only are they a great weapon if needed, but you aren't distracted while searching for them.

notthesedays , Abbie Parks Report

Final score:

112points

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Raven Sheridan 3 years ago

Grip your keys in your fist, with keys sticking out between your fingers. Like a spiked knuckleduster. I've done this a few times. Never needed it thankfully!

42points

Dutch Swimmer Goes Viral For Super Revealing Trunks During 2024 Olympics: “Is This Legal?”

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Thrill-Seeking Diver Jumps Down Extreme Waterslide, Ignoring The Strict Ban For Women

#18

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' Be weary of women who approach you at a bar and immediately try and get you to go to another bar.

Those people are called “pullers” and they are paid to do it.

NicNac_PattyMac , Elevate Report

Final score:

108points

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Miguel justino C 3 years ago

Pullers set up a situation where the man thinks he has a chance with a pretty woman. Then they get robbed by her cohorts.

24points

#19

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' If you drive an SUV and you're in a parking lot, beware if you get in and notice there's a flyer under the small wiper on your back window. Many people get in and look in the rear view mirror as they start to back out; that's when they see the flyer blocking their view. They pop out to grab it, leaving the engine on and the door open for the second it takes, and that's when someone jumps in and car jacks you.

BodySnag , William Krause Report

Final score:

93points

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Raven Sheridan 3 years ago

Be mindful of vans with sliding side doors parked next to your vehicle also. Someone could open the door, pull you in the vehicle, while their accomplice starts the van and drive away with you.

26points

#20

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' When you're at a bus or train stop at night, with nobody else around, and you hear young guys talking where you know they go in your direction, quickly disappear before you get in their sight.

They may be harmless, but as long as the probability they want to start [things] as soon as they notice you is there, don't take a risk. Learned that the hard way several times.

myhamsterisajerk , JimsFlicker Report

Final score:

89points

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Monty Is Fiennes 3 years ago

So incredibly sad....

20points

Woman Put A Water Fountain With A Camera In Her Yard, Here Are 24 Photos Of Regular Visitors (New Pics)

See Also on Bored Panda

“Ma’am I Live Here”: Woman Refuses To Back Out Of Driveway, Learns A Lesson The Hard Way

#21

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' Avoid gawking around. It screams 'tourist,' which screams 'money on them' and 'no idea what to do in a situation

NicNac_PattyMac , Lala Azizli Report

Final score:

83points

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Gurnox 3 years ago

See also 'staring at Google/Apple maps', which also tells an assailant you have something worth stealing. Know your route.

21points

#22

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' Walk like you know where you're going, make eye contact with strangers, and don't wear fancy clothes/purses/backpacks when walking around the neighborhood or using public transport

Lulu_42 , Alicia Steels Report

Final score:

78points

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Winston Smith 3 years ago

And dont leave anything with your name in it sitting where people can see it. They call your name in a parking lot and you stop, thinking its someone you know. Then they spring

15points

#23

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' Putting a chain on your wallet shows a thief exactly where your wallet is and a chain will not stop an experienced thief.

ILoveLampRon , Reuben Strayer Report

Final score:

78points

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Pungent Sauce 3 years ago

Wallet goes in the front pocket, always.

6points

#24

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' In most cases, dressing and acting like you belong where you are goes a long way to blending in.

Whether it's breaking into an office building or walking by yourself at night, your appearance goes a long way towards making you just another blotch of white nois

The_Quicktrigger , Marc Kleen Report

Final score:

76points

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Iapetos 3 years ago

I like to think I appear as an NPC to people.

11points

50 Of The Most Incredible Shots That Were Submitted To The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

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French Diver’s “Jewels” In Tight Swimming Trunks Become Talk Of The Town At Olympics

#25

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' Don’t fumble through your pockets.

If you think your being followed go into a store calmly and chat with the workers.

Carry a loose dollar bill or two if your someone that likes to give money to people. Less likely to target the dude that handed a single dollar than the guy who pulled a dollar out of a wallet full of 20’s

Spawn95 , Mike Schmid Report

Final score:

74points

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Wendillon 3 years ago

Pffft, please! I'm a woman! You don't honestly think my clothes have pockets do you?

32points

#26

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' Pay attention to your surroundings at all time but mind your own business. Depending on the neighborhood someone screaming for help from an alley isn't really the one in danger

Zkenny13 , Adam Birkett Report

Final score:

57points

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Gurnox 3 years ago

Still call the cops though, just in case.

78points

#27

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' Surround yourself with people who make you feel safe. There’s a difference between feeling comfortable and feeling safe. You could be comfortable with strangers— maybe you just met them and they’re nice. You might not be safe around those people, i.e. would those people help you if someone had a gun to your head, or run for their own safety? Find the people who you know would take a punch to keep you safe

badgerfishing , Oscar Chevillard Report

Final score:

44points

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Lea S. 3 years ago

This one is a little weird....I'm supposed to judge my friends and the people I surround myself with on whether or not they'd take a bullet for me? Excuse me, mother with two small children, if we are going to go this movie I need to know you'll throw yourself in front of a bullet for me first.

6points

Woman Moves Out Of Parents' Home After They Asked Her To Give Her Space To Brother, They Freak Out

See Also on Bored Panda

Mom Leaves $250k Inheritance To Son, Throws A Fit When Daughter Stops Looking After Her

#28

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' Realize the difference between someone trying to hurt you and trying rob you. Act accordingly.

NicNac_PattyMac , Cooper Report

Final score:

41points

POST

Grant Barke 3 years ago

Learn a martial art like origami and turn your assailant into a harmless paper flower.

22points

Rokas is a writer at Bored Panda with a BA in Communication. After working for a sculptor, he fell in love with visual storytelling and enjoys covering everything from TV shows (any Sopranos fans out there?) to photography. Throughout his years in Bored Panda, over 300 million people have read the posts he's written, which is probably more than he could count to.

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I'm a Visual Editor at Bored Panda since 2017. I've searched through a multitude of images to create over 2000 diverse posts on a wide range of topics. I love memes, funny, and cute stuff, but I'm also into social issues topics. Despite my background in communication, my heart belongs to visual media, especially photography. When I'm not at my desk, you're likely to find me in the streets with my camera, checking out cool exhibitions, watching a movie at the cinema or just chilling with a coffee in a cozy place

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What do you think ?

POST

Lori Spins 3 years ago

I really enjoyed reading all the men's comments. They really helped. Thanks a lot guys.

52points

Leo Domitrix 3 years ago

I'd upvote you ten times if I was allowed.

9points

Vincent Philippart 3 years ago

What the hell is this new trend of complaining whenever men express anything?? This is so toxic (and seeing the contributions here, unwarranted)

2points

Hans 3 years ago

Lori: this list has been proposed by BP as tips to EVERYONE. It is right in the title. If this list was to raise awareness for fears that women must face and how to mitigate them, it would be a completely different story. In fact, proposing such a list for everyone marginalizes the problems women face. And not agan, people, accuse me of negativity instead of accepting that you can also be critical about a good cause if they way it is presented has serious flaws...

1point

ArmindaBomar 3 years ago

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Draco Malfoy 3 years ago

I don't believe this was mentioned, but if someone is trying to mug you and you can tell that they are not intending to harm or take you, it is best to just give them what they want and report it to the police rather than risk being hurt. I don't know if that's obvious or not, but just in case haha

16points

Anne 3 years ago

This is why you have a couple small bills in your pocket - 20 is enough for a bit of drugs or booze and that's usually why you are mugged. Throw those bills away from you, so the mugger scrambles to pick them up (that's why you put it in small bills) - run the other way.

1point

Daria B 3 years ago (edited)

Here is mine. Don't be shy and don't show kindness when strangers who want to talk about religion knock onto your door, stop you on the street, or invade your space when you're on your own (waiting, reading, relaxing etc.) These people will literally hijack your time and try to get into your private information. They're most likely part of a sect and sects often are a cover for mafia-like shady secret societies. So, when it happens, try to ignore them, insist you're busy, close the door to their face if needed, never leave your door unattended (they will welcome themselves in without your permission). Literally run away from them if you can.

15points

Wolfowl 3 years ago

"Would you like to hear about our lord and savior Jesu-" Wanna join in my goat sacrifice?

12points

Joey Marlin 3 years ago

Or have CCTV/video doorbell and see them coming and not bother answering the door. Anyone with a package is fine, anyone with empty hands or a clipboard is usually not worth the bother.

5points

Draco Malfoy 3 years ago

Yes, you do not owe any of them anything

4points

AntiAntiVaxx 3 years ago

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Lori Spins 3 years ago

I really enjoyed reading all the men's comments. They really helped. Thanks a lot guys.

52points

Leo Domitrix 3 years ago

I'd upvote you ten times if I was allowed.

9points

Vincent Philippart 3 years ago

What the hell is this new trend of complaining whenever men express anything?? This is so toxic (and seeing the contributions here, unwarranted)

2points

Hans 3 years ago

1point

ArmindaBomar 3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Draco Malfoy 3 years ago

16points

Anne 3 years ago

1point

Daria B 3 years ago (edited)

15points

Wolfowl 3 years ago

"Would you like to hear about our lord and savior Jesu-" Wanna join in my goat sacrifice?

12points