"head on a swivel"

[old lady new shooter]

The phrase "head on a swivel" is used a lot here (or at least this is where I learned it). Trying to improve my situational awareness I do now consciously keep looking in all directions whenever I am on foot outdoors. But I can't help feeling like doing this while walking down the street must look suspicious to anyone observing me (although maybe less so than if instead of an old lady I were a young male), like wouldn't for example a shoplifter or pickpocket possibly do this to see if anyone was following him or her? What do other folks here think, if you saw someone walking down the street repeatedly looking around and behind him/herself, would you wonder about them?

 

[Deaf Smith]

Mam,

When I was 20, I always worried about what people thought of me.

When I was 40, I didn't care what people thought of me.

But now at 60, I realize that people mostly don't think of me at all.

Now do you notice people looking around? Or looking behind themselves?

Deaf

 

[Drail]

Personally I believe you should have your head on a swivel all of the time. Who cares how other people may interpret it? Look at all of the idiots who walk into open manholes and step in front of cars and buses because they're staring at their cellphones. Be aware if you want to live to a ripe old age. John Cleese commented once in an interview that when he turned 60 the first thing he realized was that what other people think didn't really matter any more. It didn't really matter when you were young either - you just thought it did. Keeping your eyes moving on a street goes a long way towards not getting mugged also - the muggers, purse snatchers and pick pockets are looking for people who are totally unaware of what's going on around them. If they see you taking everything in - they'll pass.

 

[Jeff White]

I've had a couple people tell me I have "cop eyes" because I'm always watching what goes on around me. Some people are offended as they think you aren't paying sufficient attention to them. At 59 I'm well past caring if they are offended that I take in what's happening around me.

At a certain point it becomes second nature and you don't even realize you are doing it.

Seeing a situation develop in time to take action has worked out well for me. I'm not about to change now.

 

[2zulu1]

Also, keep in mind that you need to comprehend what you are seeing. Shoplifters were mentioned, if you spend a lot of time in stores, how often do you see shoplifters?

 

[lemaymiami]

At first you'll be quite self conscious as you gain the skills of being aware of your surroundings and what's going on around you. Over time you'll relax a bit and learn to be less obvious about checking out your surroundings. All those years ago when I was taught basic surveillance skills (long before a police career…) I was taught to never make eye contact, or linger long on anything out of place in your daily world -just note it and keep moving. Gradually you'll become comfortable that you're noting your surroundings (and the people/cars, etc. in or moving through it) and the stuff that belongs won't get a second glance. Once you spot something that rings a bell -don't stare, but come back to it more than once to see if something that caught your eye is nothing -or a potential problem you'll need to deal with… By "dealing with" I'm only encouraging you to think about your situation (is there someone loitering near your car in a parking lot? Is there someone changing course to move in your direction?) The best defense is the one not needed if you're able avoid a situation (or at least prepare yourself for one by moving to where the advantage is on your side if things aren't good….).

As I said, over time this will become automatic and you'll simply be much more aware of your surroundings than the ordinary citizen. For what it's worth -in our world women aren't usually considered a threat or very aware of their surroundings by potential predators - that's something that's to your great advantage. Long before police work (1972) I was a young store detective in a big store in downtown Miami. A skilled shoplifter was usually able to spot me long before I could see him/her stealing… the middle aged gal that taught me the ropes could go stand right next to a thief and they'd never notice her at all….

 

[Tirod]

Keeping your head constantly moving isn't really possible. We aren't physically built that way.

The point is to be aware - using your eyes and actually noticing things. If you approach a building, is it necessary to repeatedly scan 360 degrees around you in a revolving circle? Once should have been enough getting out of the car, noting where people parked and who is moving in what direction. At best you can only handle a periodic 180 view, most of it will be 90 degrees or less. You will look at who is moving - we are designed to do that.

You can also take advantage of reflective surfaces - many storefronts are glass, so are the doors, what's behind you can be seen in a lot of circumstances. And most of us can hear - that is a 360 approach because we have the ability to locate things behind us thru interpretation of sound.

Being aware isn't necessarily spinning your head around like an owl constantly. There is a lot more finesse to it. It is considered a "tell" to see someone looking around - it signals guilt in our society, checking to see if someone else is looking and who can observe us.

If you saw someone walking up to a doorway "normally,' vs "head swiveling," and then survey the public observing them which would be more likely to commit a violent act, what do you think the response would be? Most would pinpoint the head swiveler as the one more likely to act out. It's my opinion, sure. Show me a crime drama where the actors aren't prompted to do exactly that to telegraph to you the viewer who they are.

With that kind of constant reinforcement, the head swiveler gets my attention. I want to make further discretion of who they are and they get a stare, including eye contact. You'd be surprised how many store security and undercover types out themselves at that point - you get a return stare as they realize you realize what they are doing. It's hard to ignore getting attention.

Be aware, yes. Go Hooty Owl into every place you are, not so much. There are a lot of other ways to get a view of the entire scene long before you see the whites of their eyes.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Keeping your head constantly moving isn't really possible. We aren't physically built that way.

Yeah we are. The atlas and axis vertebrae and supporting neck muscles make this possible.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Keeping your head constantly moving isn't really possible. We aren't physically built that way.

The point is to be aware - using your eyes and actually noticing things.

This.

I'd add that it implies we should pay more attention to our other senses. To me, the idiom doesn't mean to literally pan back and forth constantly, but to pay attention to your peripheral, as well as to auditory, tactile and olfactory inputs. Vision is our primary sense for determination, but often secondary for detection, as we have a pretty limited FOV even with peripheral as a predatory species with forward facing eyes, and are far more limited in what we can actually focus on (peripheral really picks up movement and very general shapes only). But our ears pick up on things in a 360° sphere, including those which are concealed from sight. Our noses can detect potential threats that none of our other senses will in time (noxious fumes being an easy example of that which cannot be seen, heard or touched). And tactile input can tell us things which none of the others can, especially high sensitivity to temperature variations or vibrations at a frequency too low for auditory detection.

 

[Coyote3855]

Based on my observations, 95% of people pay no attention at all to what's going on around them. In my opinion, situational awareness is the corner stone of self defense. If you are alert and observing your surroundings, you look less like a potential victim. Am I always 100% aware? No, but I work towards that and am vigilant in situations where I may be vulnerable - parking lots, gas stations, convenience stores, etc.

 

[2zulu1]

Based on my observations, 95% of people pay no attention at all to what's going on around them. In my opinion, situational awareness is the corner stone of self defense. If you are alert and observing your surroundings, you look less like a potential victim. Am I always 100% aware? No, but I work towards that and am vigilant in situations where I may be vulnerable - parking lots, gas stations, convenience stores, etc.

Excellent post, especially your statement about reducing the chances of becoming a potential victim.

 

[Shovelhead]

Situational Awareness also involves NOT staring/talking into an IPhone constantly, preventing you from seeing, or wearing ear buds that shut off your ability to hear, what might be going on in your vicinity.

Don't look like a clueless victim, you might stop yourself from becoming one.

 

[Drail]

I am pretty sure that big city criminals just LOVE stupid people who never stop looking at their cell phone as they walk down the street. 10 guys could approach and surround them and these people would never see it coming. My wife has learned to assume that any time we enter a restaurant I am going to choose a seat that allows me to see all of the entrances and exits - and if possible close to an exit.

 

[Scooter22]

I still have and use my Agent 86 mirror sunglasses and wear them daily.

 

[strambo]

It should be a relaxed and casual observation. Take advantage of times to scan that makes sense, like about to cross a street etc. Use reflections from store/car windows. It shouldn't be a paranoid scanning, just laid back observation.

Pay particular attention in "transitional" areas. Areas that are between one relatively safe location (say, inside your car) and another (inside the building you are visiting). Transitional areas are typically parking lots, alleys/walkways or any other publicly accessable area with less people around and more cover to commit a crime.

Think like a criminal, where would you hang out to mug someone? Pay particular attention to those areas! For example, as you approach a dumpster, give it some extra room (don't walk right beside it) and scan behind it as you pass. Same with rounding any corner etc. Give it a little extra room (reaction time) and visually clear it as you go by.

Nobody will notice you are doing these things except the criminals (because they see that you see them and thus don't target you) and maybe cops. Everyone else has their head in a smartphone. "Walking ATMs"

Finally, don't be afraid/embarrassed to just change directions and leave the area if you get a funny feeling about someone. Cross the street, act like you forgot something and turn around, don't get in the elevator with the creep! "But he'll think I'm racist if I don't!" OK, so willing trap yourself in a small metal box with someone who puts you in fear for your safety because of what a stranger might think if they aren't a rapist, makes sense... (A lot of women get victimized due to thinking and behaviors like this...men get victimized because they can't control their egos)

 

[Sheepdog1968]

I've been reading a good book called Left of Bang. In it, they talk about how most people are completely oblivious to what's around them (with smart phones I think it's even worse). The book goes on to say that they only folks who are looking about and checking their six are either the good or bad guys and no one else. I kinda liked the way they pointed this out. Hadn't really thought of it in those terms.

 

[old lady new shooter]

Mam,

When I was 20, I always worried about what people thought of me.

When I was 40, I didn't care what people thought of me.

But now at 60, I realize that people mostly don't think of me at all.

Now do you notice people looking around? Or looking behind themselves?

Deaf

Truly it's not about what people think of me. (If you saw my car, you'd believe me. <g but serious>)

What I didn't express in my original post, maybe because the thought wasn't completely fleshed out in my mind yet, was something more along the lines that if this behavior does look "suspicious" it might invite some type of unwelcome interaction.

 

[old lady new shooter]

It is considered a "tell" to see someone looking around - it signals guilt in our society, checking to see if someone else is looking and who can observe us.

If you saw someone walking up to a doorway "normally,' vs "head swiveling," and then survey the public observing them which would be more likely to commit a violent act, what do you think the response would be? Most would pinpoint the head swiveler as the one more likely to act out. It's my opinion, sure. Show me a crime drama where the actors aren't prompted to do exactly that to telegraph to you the viewer who they are.

With that kind of constant reinforcement, the head swiveler gets my attention. I want to make further discretion of who they are and they get a stare, including eye contact. You'd be surprised how many store security and undercover types out themselves at that point - you get a return stare as they realize you realize what they are doing. It's hard to ignore getting attention.

That's what I meant, yes.

And thank you (and others who posted similar things) for the pointers on seeing everything without necessarily literally "swiveling the head".

 

[old lady new shooter]

I still have and use my Agent 86 mirror sunglasses and wear them daily.

Oh yeah, daytime is easy, my wraparound overlenses are very dark, nobody can see what I'm looking at. Nighttime is the more critical time, also because it's harder to see in the dark. Sometimes now I use my flashlight even walking down the street if I have to be out at night.

 

[old lady new shooter]

Situational Awareness also involves NOT staring/talking into an IPhone constantly, preventing you from seeing, or wearing ear buds that shut off your ability to hear, what might be going on in your vicinity.

Don't look like a clueless victim, you might stop yourself from becoming one.

Honestly I shudder when I see people walking along texting, or jogging with earbuds (especially women).

 

[Pilot]

Honestly I shudder when I see people walking along texting, or jogging with earbuds (especially women).

I saw a woman doing this on a bicycle on a busy street at the beach. She almost ran into a parked car.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Honestly I shudder when I see people walking along texting, or jogging with earbuds (especially women).

No reason to shudder. Many people choose not to live their lives in a constant state of making sure that they are safe and secure. And don't kid yourself, the claims of constant vigilance that people make is of often just a bit of self serving self deception to help people feel more secure. They tell themselves that they know what is going on around them and then don't realize when they don't.

We all have to feel like we are safe somewhere. It may be a fantasy, but we all do it.

 

[waterhouse]

The most common thing I hear from street robbery victims (as opposed to business robberies) is "this guy appeared out of nowhere."

As mentioned, most people walk around with their face in their cell phone, which tells the robber that you are not paying attention and you have an expensive device that is both worth stealing and that taking said device will delay your ability to call for help.

Probably the worst thing that could happen to you if someone thought you were "looking around suspiciously" is that they would call the cops. In most cases, you would be gone long before the cops arrived and you would have no idea they called anyway.

 

[Jeff White]

Moderator hat on

I just deleted an off topic sidebar discussion. Let's keep the discussion ON TOPIC.

 

[herrwalther]

When I was 20, I always worried about what people thought of me.

At 20 I didn't care what people thought of me. Then again I was an Army PFC at that age.

But I can't help feeling like doing this while walking down the street must look suspicious to anyone observing me

In all honesty I would love to see people demonstrate situational awareness. Far too often at work people bump into others because they are looking down at their phones. While I am in the typical demographic to be distracted by one, I rarely use it while walking around other than a casual glance.