another "what would you do" thread

[Mossy Bloke]

You've pulled up to a gas station near home. It's dark, maybe 8 pm. As you pull up to get gas, you notice, but pay no real attention to the fact that there's a guy using one of the payphones. (Not the ones on the side of the bldg, but one of the phones that you can drive up to and use, they're usually at the edge of the parking area.)

Nobody else around, but you're in a populated area of town. As you're standing there between your car and the pump, the guy abruptly starts yelling and cussing into the phone, does this for a minute or so and the slams the receiver down, yells out a couple more choice obscenities and then starts walking your way quickly.
(Picture a loser just getting dumped by his girlfriend here)

Now, he's not really looking at you, but he's walking at a quick pace. Chances are that he's just going into the gas station to buy some cigarettes or something, but he's already shown that he's really pissed off and willing to make a fool of himself in public. Your car is between you and him but he's obviously going to have to walk within 6 feet of you to get inside.

You have your CCW with you. What do you do?

 

[TheLastBoyScout]

I'd go to condition yellow, and assess the situation further. No more than that until he gives me a reason. I might try moving so I'm out of his path to the store, if he turns toward me, then that gives me more knowledge about his intent.

 

[Devonai]

I'd be watching him, for sure, but I wouldn't expect anything to come of it.

I have broken up many fights (I am a bona fide weirdness magnet), and so far neither combatant ever turned on me. If this guy started trouble with the clerk or anyone else I would intervene.

 

[Wildalaska]

Ignore him

 

[ahenry]

Say howdy, a kind word often ends most situations plus by doing so you seize the initiative.

 

[Chris Rhines]

Yellow? No, yellow is the condition you should be in when out in public, always. Orange is when you've picked up on a potential threat.

I'd keep an eye on the dude, but he hasn't done anything too terribly threatening yet. Keep the car between me and him, finish fueling up, and drive away. No big thing.

- Chris

 

[QuickDraw]

Nothing.First move is his.

QuickDraw

 

[sm]

what I did

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=136027&highlight=Stop+see+your+hands

 

[Edward429451]

Oh, I'd pull out the rocket launcher and blow him to kingdom come. Oh wait, thats a video game. I'd ignore him and continue my condition yellow.

 

[CWL]

Condition Orange.

Just casually move yourself so that something is between yourself and the person coming towards you, this can be a gas pump or your vehicle. This will buy you time to better observe him, obscure your hands for defensive preparation and place a barrier between both of you.

If he still comes at you, there's no mistaking that you are his intended object.

If he starts talking to you (asking for change or threatening you), you can continue to maintain distance by keeping the barrier between yourselves.

Beyond this goes to self defense mode.