Kate Hackett
Whenever I hear the term “street smart”, I immediately think of Aladdin, which is the absolute most exposure to street smarts I’ve ever had. Guy sprinted across buildings to get away from the guards! Surely he knows some things about the mean streets of Agrabah.
So this viral thread on r/AskReddit was super helpful for me, the world’s most sheltered human being, and I hope it will be interesting for you!
u/Jamestusk007 asked:
“People with ‘street smarts’ what is your most street tip?”
And we combed through the list to bring you some of the best answers.
1. Mugging
I’m my experience the first 60 or so seconds of this clip from Atlanta are the most realistic media depiction I’ve seen of how a real life mugging goes down: https://youtu.be/u18_b2KjIvI
The distraction throw is something I’ve seen irl. Most muggings I’ve seen the mugger will hit you in the face with as little warning as possible to throw you off balance and make you compliant. The rules of the road are “friendly conversation to enter their personal space, then an explosion of unexpected violence, then take their stuff”. If you’ve never been mugged you should know there’s not usually people going around telling people “im mugging you, give me all your stuff or get hurt.” theyre going to hurt you first and then take all your stuff.
If you are walking alone and someone says something to you you its a good idea to respond politely but do not stop walking. Allowing a stranger to control your actions with only a word is as good as painting “mark” right on your forehead. If you stop you’re vastly increasing the liklihood of getting mugged or worse. If they follow you, start running. Dont worry about your pride, run.
2. Duck
If you’re in an argument with somebody and they get in your face and then look away, there’s a good chance they’re about to try and knock your head off.
3. Money
Never talk money on public transportation, and never count money in a parking lot.
4. Trust that gut
Trust your gut. You see people acting normally your whole life. You know what it looks like. If you see something that makes you uncomfortable, there’s a reason, even if you don’t know what it is yet.
5. Hurry up
Act like you’re in a hurry and less people will want to bother you.
6. Look around
Always be aware of your surroundings what and who’s ahead and behind you. And trust your gut no matter how dumb it may seem.
7. It’s a scam
If you’re walking around a big city and someone walks up to you and asks you your name or is anyway friendly, they’re about to try to con you.
I was just I’m NYC where the CD scam is prevalent (con artist asks you your name, they your name on their hip hop CD and when you accept the CD they intimidate you to pay for the CD). Just keep walking. Don’t even smile at them.
8. Know where you are
Look like you know where you are going even when you don’t. If you have any misgivings about a particular street or area, go with it. If you do have to walk through an area where you are being scoped acting like you are insane and barely keeping it in makes you not worth the trouble. Don’t worry about being polite if approached but don’t be an asshole. If an area smells like piss no one gives a fuck what happens there. Never fall for the I need 20 bucks for sick kid/locksmith/medicine/tow truck scam. Never pull out your money or wallet to check it. Even if you put it back they will know where it is. If you get bumped and feel for your wallet its also a cue for a pickpocket.
9. You owe nothing
You don’t owe anybody anything, including conversation. People who want to take advantage of you will usually start by initiating unsolicited conversation.
10. Ignore them
Ignore randoms who try to stop to you or talk to you. Face forward power walk. Don’t buy blow from people you don’t know.
11. Be aware
I dunno if this is street smarts but so many people lack situational awareness.
By that I mean they are not being fully aware of their surroundings. Which has been made even worse with phones and headphones.
If you sense anything dodgy trust that instinct and do something about it. I’d rather cross the street and look paranoid that get mugged. Or even just run. This group of guys were following close behind me when I was walking home from the pub alone. They could have just been walking the same way but as soon as I hit a corner I sprinted a hundred metres or so and didn’t see them again.
I don’t care how strong you are you are losing 99% of the time versus 3 people.
12. Don’t underestimate
Never underestimate anybody, and i mean both ways, good and bad.
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13. Don’t go to another location
Women especially, if you are grabbed and he says he has a gun or knife, take the chance right there. If you are taken to another place you may be tortured and slowly die anyway.
14. Trust
Trust your instincts, don’t let people put you in compromising situations. If you’re not feeling something, bail.
15. Pick a landmark
When visiting a new city, pick a landmark that you can see from anywhere. Maybe it’s a big tower in the downtown core. Maybe it’s a mountain in the distance, or the city is on the shore of a lake, or there’s a river or highway that cuts through in a clear and logical way. Great. That’s your orientation now. Wherever you go, you’re not lost. You have that landmark. Maybe it’s further away, maybe it’s closer, but if you know what direction the landmark is, you can’t really get turned around. Now take it a step further. As you walk around, pick a landmark in the neighborhood you are moving through. Maybe it’s a corner store, or a park, or a prominent intersection, or a house with a funny roof. It doesn’t matter. Between the big city landmark and the smaller neighborhood landmark, you’re basically triangulated to a pretty narrowly defined area. You can explore with a lot of confidence just by keeping you bearings on which direction your two landmarks are, and if you’re moving closer or further away from them.
16. You Live Here
Act like you live wherever you are — like you know the place. Like you know exactly where you are going. I use a wheelchair and do this whenever I travel. I figure out where I am going before I venture out. If I am lost, I duck into a store or restaurant in order to look at my phone or ask directions. Be focused on the direction you are going and don’t act like a fucking tourist. Ironically I feel much safer by myself when I can act like this instead of when I’m traveling with some clueless friend or relative who has to stop for pictures every 20 feet. I rarely, if ever, get approached for money or anything when I am by myself. But throw in my dumb aunt Susan and we’re brushing off weirdos all day long.
17. “No”
If someone asks you, “Can I ask you a question?” reply with, “Sorry, I’m in a hurry,” or bluntly “No.” If someone needs something, they will ask you directly, i.e. “Where is the nearest gas station?” “Can you spare a dollar?” Nothing good comes from random conversation on the street.
18. Pickpockets
People make pickpockets’ livelihood so easy. Just check out how many phones are in people’s back pockets, how many handbags dangle by the side, easily accessible.
Always put valuables in an inside, preferably zipped pocket. If you in a notorious pickpocket area like Paris or Naples, you can even carry a fake wallet with monopoly money in an outside pocket.
19. Head up
IDK if this counts because it’s cross-culture, but I’ve been to and been lost in a lot of different countries, including several where they do not advise women to go out alone (for non-religious reasons, I’m not messing with those countries). My experience is that if you keep your head up and your face neutral, meet people’s eyes if they’re looking at you and nod politely to acknowledge you see and respect their space, they’ll leave you alone.
That said, if you start seeing hostile faces instead of disinterested ones, proceed calmly in a different direction.
20. Stay alive
Always always trust your gut because that’s what made your ancestors alive in the most dangerous times.
