Quote:
Originally Posted by Red October1984
Well...I can be paranoid about certain things sometimes. I've read too many spy novels. I've gone into a room and done the room-scan thing and I've been known to stand in a corner around people I don't know. I've done that in some St. Louis gas stations. Pick a corner in full view of a security camera and no windows behind you and you won't get attacked from behind. If you do get attacked, well, they have it clearly on camera. If it's somewhere local I'll probably have my knife on me but I don't want to have to use it. I mainly carry it as a tool but it's there if I need it. There are some shady people around here. I remember the Civil Air Patrol OPSEC presentation. All the "situational awareness" stuff I already knew...  
Everybody is a little paranoid. Everybody is a little crazy. There's just certain things that sometimes you have to watch. |
There is a difference between being aware of your surroundings and being paranoid.You want to enjoy your life and be safe at the same time.
If you are paranoid you are one step away from fear which is the polar opposite of situational awareness.People that are afraid make terrible mistakes like harming a person that had no ill intent towards them.
You really have to learn to read body language first and foremost.You can tell if a girl is interested in you by the body language she displays at the same time you can also tell when a person may have ill intent towards you just by their body language.
For example you might see two guys one in a nice suit and one in baggy pants and a sideways hat most people will based on clothing choose to mistrust the latter person.But did they look at the body language the two displayed? Usually not the "gangster" looking person might have displayed neutral or even friendly body language while the man the nice suit displayed hostile language.
At the same time you should always when in public try to display a neutral disposition you do not want to appear hostile and you do not want to appear fearful.