Attacked today in San Francisco

Situational awareness brother. Read Jeff Cooper's Principles of Personal Defense. It's about $10-15 and takes about 45 minutes to read. Mr. Cooper lived a dangerous life sometimes and he will help you stay alive.

All the training and weaponry in the world will not help you in Condition White. Glad you got through it OK; I remember some of the agressive panhandlers on 3rd St back in the late 80s, one every 10 feet or so.

He was probably trying to do a snatch and grab on your wallet, but failed. This is a common tactic. Do a linebacker hit, while reaching into your pocket with the other hand. You're too stunned from the hit to notice him grabbing your wallet. A quick arm to the outside chest would have spun him and knocked him on his ass.

Don't be too hard on yourself - we're all caught in Condition White every now and again. Learn from the experience. Cooper's Color Code of Mental Awareness is your friend:

http://www.teddytactical.com/SharpenBladeArticle/4_States of Awareness.htm

Don't be so hard on yourself, things happen. Do the best you can do and God will do the rest.

It's good that you didn't let your ego prevent you from posting something that could possibly help someone else.

hmm sounds like you looked like a tourist.

Winter Borne said:

I always thought I was ready for anything. College wrestler and boxer, a few years of mixed martial arts, plus the 20 years I have been a shooter . . . .

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I guess that the advantage I have over someone like you is that I know I'm a wimp . . . maybe that helps me stay on my toes.

Seriously, despite all the bravado we read here, many of us spend a lot of time in la-la land. I know I do. There are many reasons, not the least of which is the tendency to daydream about life's problems, attractive women, fast cars . . . whatever.

Those who study human behavior tell us that it is virtually impossible to maintain a state of high awareness at all times. The key, I think, is to accurately predict the times when high awareness is called for and adopt behaviors that alert your senses to be on "high alert."

If I could use an analogy, I'd turn to motorcycling, something I've done for years. As I'm droning down an Interstate it's virtually impossible to maintain the highest state of vigilance. Frankly, I don't even try, though I do attempt to remain alert. When I transition into riding that is more aggressive or in an environment that is more risky, I shift my feet on the footpegs, and begin riding on the balls of my feet. This small physical trigger puts me at a higher late of alertness and involvement. Seems weird, but it works for me.

I've tried to adopt a similar "trigger" for situations that require a bit more alertness when I'm out and about, clenching my right fist (fairly softly). That behavior, in itself, might cue a perp to avoid me, but that's not why I do it. Personally, it's just a small tangible reminder to keep on my toes. And, for me, it works.

Thanks for posting this; nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed over. It's not whether you get knocked down it's if you can get back up.

Good lesson in your post for all of us.

Glad you're okay.

Take care,
DFW1911

I am wondering why, in a "crowded street", he chose you for a possible robbery. Why choose the fit guy?

I am wondering why, in a "crowded street", he chose you for a possible robbery. Why choose the fit guy?

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Because he's NUTS! I lived in SF for 15 years and still work there and SF has more than its share of seriously-disturbed people, and some of them just mess with people. It probably was not a robbery attempt. There are pickpockets on public transit and other crowded places, and strong-arm artists in the crappier parts of town and at night, but basically you just ran into (literally) a crazy person. Glad you're OK.

Seriously, despite all the bravado we read here, many of us spend a lot of time in la-la land.

You nailed it. No one is fully-alert 100% of the time.

Sounds like you accidentally walked from Market St. into the Tenderloin.

Homeless will mess with you, follow you and yell at you, try to get your cash.

Tourism & conventions is big in SF, lots of people flush with cash. Too many predators disguised as homeless that most people ignore completely.

Some of the streets like Grant St. in Chinatown can give a newcomer sensory overload. Lots of people, sounds, smells and sights.

Too bad we have to miss some of the fun of being a tourist by being on the lookout for trouble.

I'm a reasonably big guy and can carry concealed when I go to San Francisco, but I'm in a brighter condition yellow in the whole Bay area.

Still an enjoyable city, in spite of the city "leaders".

To me, these things are somewhat like Automobile mishaps...

Sometimes, one's peripheral or other awareness does 'see it coming'...and sometimes, one's awareness does not...

Even if we all had excellent 'Radar Screens'...that would not mean we'd always be cogently watching them for in-coming or other vectors.


Such is Life...


The 'Deer' who are paying attention to their peripheral awares, and who act on it...are the ones the Hunter never sees...

An excellent 'real world' learning experience. Fortunately, no harm done, except maybe to your pride. Another day to come, something more serious might occur and you may benefit from this.

Glad you're okay,

Tuckerdog1

Actually, San Franisco is where I started carrying...

When I was 12, I made pretty decent Zip-Gun, then another in .50 Cal, one shot, a hefty 'Derringer' of sorts...and soon after, my dad got a repro Colt Navy Cap and Ball .36 Cal. Which I used to borrow.

Wow...was that evera BIG step up!


Anyway...this was like 1965...'66...

I used to hike, explore all those ( then ) abandonded Buildings South of Market...I hitch-hiked...rode my late '40s English 4-Speed Bicycle...I went all over...

Anyway, I was very sensitive to 'energys', but realized that sometimes, one logistically can not avoid a developing siuation with unpleasant people.


SF is a Poop-Pile now, compared to the overall safety and good nature of the '60s...early '70s is when one started seeing a lot of 'scarey' people.

'Street People' of addled, labile and voilent propensity, ( 'Speed', usually, ) displaced what had previously been HoBos ( Wine, usually)...HoBos were almost always harmless.


Anyway...I never once brandished, or drew...but having it on me was a great comfort, and a few times, allowed me the courage to stand well and tell someone they'd best find an other recourse and leave off trying to bully or corner me.

They 'felt' something, and either backed off or left.


Good..!



Anyway...fun to reminisce...


Phil
l v

Thanks for the post, Winter. You've given us all a quick reminder. Glad you're ok.
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If you aren't bouncing back and forth between yellow and orange fairly regularly when on the streets of almost any big American city, then you're probably letting some people get too close, IMHO.

I moved away from San Francisco in 1977...it'd really lost it's charm by then, and then some.


Last visit there, was 1988...stayed at a friend's house at Haight and Filmore.

Every night, getting in around 2:00 A.M., very hard finding anywhere to park, I'd end up finding a parking place three, four, five blocks away, and having to walk.


Oye, really creepy, preditory characters out at that hour...usually in twos...tallish Blacks in loose baggy clothes, their ways of being ultra-alert and zeroing 'in' on you from afar, the huddled conference, the quickening pace, then closing on you...


I had a old beater 1918 .45 Auto, reliable and well Oiled...carried it in my left Armpit of my beater Leather Jacket...and man, I was glad I had it...


I just walked along, gently alert, no hurry...feeling the 'tractor-beams' and 'Radars' locking on me...various 'twos' would break up into ones and close in from different directions...


I'd sort of send out the 'vibe' of "You won't be happy...but it's your call..." and, thank Goodness, all veered away before getting within 20 feet.

My resolve and 'plan' were clear - at fifteen feet, left hand goes out, palm up, as I both say "No", and right hand a ready on the Armpit 1911...


And if that were not to work, then Mr. 1911, would have.

That 'simple', that clean.


And, I was glad 20 feet was the apparent 'boundry' of vibe-threshold, none of those creeps crossed.


Yeeeeeeeesh...


I never went back to that crap hole of a city...



What a shame...it had been so lovely once, too...


Sad...what it became

As noted, despite best efforts and beliefs to the contrary, nobody can remain in yellow all the time. Glad that all was well that ended well.

Because he's NUTS!

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Second that. You'd be surprised how many people you pass on the street daily are nuttier than a squirrel turd. Crazy people are pretty hard to anticipate, glad you got away with nothing more than bruised pride.

It is true that nobody can remain in condition yellow or orange all the time. La La Land is an appealing place to wander through. The trick is to know when a side trip through La La Land is safe to you and just as importantly those around you. Even though I go to probably the safest college in the country (we can leave our laptop computers out in the student union or library for weeks at a time and nobody bothers them) I still have had to learn when to be in a heightened state of awareness. When ever I'm out at night, there are a few shady characters or drunk frat boys around who may want to start a tussle. I would much prefer to avoid fighting with these people, because I have no real desire to beat up on fools and drunks, but I'm not opposed to the use of force, deadly or otherwise if the situation calls for it. That's why I carry in every legal circumstance. So, if I'm out at night I make sure my state of awareness goes slightly brighter, but if I'm sitting in a class or at work, I do have a tendency to detour through La La Land. The safest way to live is to exercise reason at all times and just take a minuet to decide what you are going to do before you leave the house.

I made the point earlier that being in a heightened state of awareness is important for your personal safety but also for those around you. I say this because if you are in La La Land, and you suddenly go from white to orange or brighter, draw a weapon and fire, you may do something you regret and someone may get hurt or worse killed. When I carry, I always tell my self, that the gun is for my safety and those around me, and that being an armed citizen I have to respect the weapon. Thus, when carrying, I do my best to make sure to never detour through condition white and put those around me in danger. A heightened state of awareness should not lead to an itchy trigger finger.

Glad you made it through your experience alright.

It is interesting that they have managed to create probably the most dangerous place I have ever experienced in America with some of the most anti-gun policies.

I was stationed in Monterey for a year, and I decided to take the family to San Francisco. I had never been and it's one of those places that everyone should see once, right? The safety situation in town varies from bad to terrible. Yes the homeless pile up in places where you can't avoid them, and they are aggressive. I'm trying to walk through the pier with four kids, and a guy starts following my wife and yelling at her because she is ignoring him. I had to put one kid on my shoulders, and walk the other three in a single file with my wife in front and me in the back, so I could watch everyone.

I asked my wife if she wanted to come back, and she said she would think about it when the state of California and the city of San Francisco got their priorities straight and allowed me to protect her. She would come back with me, but she doesn't want the kids to come. Not a child-friendly place at all.

I think one reason why things like this don't happen to me is that I have a genuine dislike for, and distrust of people I don't know - although it's easy for me to start talking to people and warm up fairly quickly. Unless I'm on my own property or surrounded by friends I'm always on high alert. Yes, it's draining and I never enjoy the sights and sounds but I've never been surprised. Even been able to surprise other people that got too close on occasion although they meant no harm.

If I don't know anyone in the surrounding area, I assume the worst and keep an eye out. Probably makes me seem/appear slightly evil but nobody gets within 10 feet of me or my family without me ready to do some evasive manuevering while preparing to do something much louder.

I'm glad you're ok and thanks for sharing your experience.

Craig