The world can be a tough place. Not everyone is out to help you, and some people are actively out to harm you.
While it can be disturbing to find yourself employing myriad strategies to keep yourself safe while out in public (women, especially), it doesn’t hurt to have a couple of tricks up your sleeve.
On Reddit, people are sharing the best ways to be “street smart” and avoid dangerous situations.
Of course, you can be as prepared as possible and still find yourself in a problematic encounter.
Maybe some of these bits of advice can help you stay calm and keep safe.
1. Be aware.
“Basically, just be aware of your surroundings. A lack of situational awareness can lead to some bad things.” — tommytster
2. Trust your gut.
“Our brains subconsciously pick up on things that we don’t really acknowledge or know in the moment, so that gut feeling that you should leave is most likely correct because of the little details that are causing you to feel that way. Also, know not just the main exit, but other exits that are less obvious. You won’t have to fight through a crowd and will get out faster and easier.” — Spook_Fuzz
3. Use windows as mirrors.
“Windows are mirrors, use them to see who’s behind you. Act like you know where you’re going. Swing wide around corners. Don’t show off anything you’re not willing to lose. The nicer you look, the bigger of a mark you become – look like you’ve got nothing and people will assume you’ve got nothing. Stay focused on the sound of your footsteps and you’ll hear nearby footsteps too.” — charliefuckstick
4. Know your rights.
“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.” — inkseep1
5. Never go to a second location.
“Never allow someone to move you to a secondary location. You may also want to invest in a (engraved?) money clip for quick getaways when in a mugging situation.” — Aus-Ronin
6. Get scrappy.
“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 gonads. 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.’ Try to vomit on them, this may distract them and make them loosen their grip so you can get away. Even if it doesn’t distract them, they now have your DNA all over them. If you manage to free yourself, run like absolute hell. Once you feel that you’re far enough away, get farther or try to go into a public place like a convenience store or a cafe. If they do manage to get you in the car, you’re most likely not gonna get out, so leave your DNA (pull out your hair, itch off dead skin, cough or puke in the car) everywhere. This will make the investigation (if the police conduct one) a lot easier. To avoid this situation in the first place, walk like you’re on a mission and try to look confident. If you think someone’s following you, get out your phone and pretend you’re answering a call with your mom or parent. Act like you have a curfew or have to be home to do something soon, so your mom/parent is expecting you. This may deter the person following you.” — Spook_Fuzz
7. Be assertive.
“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
8. MYOB.
“Mind ya business.” — 121DEEP2 days ago
9. Don’t fumble.
“Don’t fumble through your pockets. If you think you’re being followed go into a store calmly and chat with the workers. Carry a loose dollar bill or two if you’re 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
10. Watch out for sellers.
“I’m personally skeptical of anyone trying to sell me anything, this includes ideas.” — corvidspirit