Always be aware of your surroundings!!

[Jimmy Hoffa]

I'm a very polite and helpful southern raised gentleman - until somebody encroaches on me. Crazy, lonely, whatever, I think the language was inappropriate and I have the right not to hear it. Were you in danger? Now we know you probably weren't but in the moment you could have been.

Thanks for sharing your story.

 

[milemaker13]

I think maybe you guys are making too much of others reactions and missing the point. I dont think a pitch fork wielding weirdo should be discounted as harmless, no more than a guy standing by the corner of a building as you walk by or whatever. The topic is awareness, not who to ostracize or why or when. Potential and opportunity for harm, thats what we should be aware of...

 

[Jimmy Hoffa]

The encounter reminds me of this:



Funny in a movie but not in a hardware store.

 

[LoonWulf]

I honestly wouldn't have found that conversation horribly odd. I usually let them babble at me for a few minutes, then smile, say I'm sorry but I have to go, and leave. If imI'out and about, there's nothing I NEED to be doing that I can't give someone a few mins of my time. I've met some interesting people that way.
One thing I might have done is take the pitch fork to "test the weight" and hung onto it unless he directly asked for it back.
I've gotten, beers, knives, and other random stuff away from people I've just met simply by asking for or about the items. Usually they don't even ask for them back for a while if at all.

Awareness wise, the only issue I see is he managed to sneak up on you by accident. That happens to everyone now and then.

 

[FlSwampRat]

joed is right, you don't always need a gun to deal with them. You can shine a tac-lite in their
crazy eyes. It will blind them long enough for you to exit stage right.

Reminds me of a moment when Caine is receiving instruction at the Shaolin Temple:
‘Master Tae, What is the best way to deal with force?’ -Disciple Caine
‘As we prize peace and quiet above victory, there is a simple and preferred method…. Run away.’ -Master Tae
Something to distract the crazy person, which doesn't have to be any sort of physical attack, so that you can do your best Usain Bolt impression.