As one commenter pointed out yesterday, my little escapade is the second close call of this sort in four months. (The first being my encounter with a couple of other local youths while I was in town interviewing for my new job.)
So the question becomes one of why this keeps happening to me. Am I doing something to invite this sort of contact?
The answer actually is yes, kinda.
I'm going about my business in the areas that street criminal predators are looking for easy prey, and I'm doing the same things that easy prey does. In the first instance, running along the river is something that tourists staying at the downtown hotels often do. And tourists or business travelers tend to carry money or nice things and leave town eventually. Bad guys know that many of these folks won't be coming back to testify at a trial even if the bad guys do get arrested and charged with a crime against them.
In the second occurrence, predators know that people leaving bars are often less than sober, and bars in semi-dodgy areas that are frequented by tourists and locals from nearby affluent neighborhoods can make for some good pickings.
My problem here is that I tend at first glance to look like easy prey because I'm doing the same sort of things that easy prey does and in the same areas that easy prey go. The predator types can't tell at first glance who I am, or what my experiences and skills are, or know that I'm usually carrying a firearm whose caliber starts with a "4". Still, I'd really prefer not to have to use that firearm, despite countless hours of training to do so.
So what do I do? Do I stop doing the things that I like to do, just because there are bad people about? Do I concede the streets to the predators and just stay shut up in my house after dark?
No, I can't do that. That's not living. I'm going to keep doing the things that I want to do and going the places that I want to go, and I'll do so with my eyes open and my antennae up. I won't purposefully go down dark alleys alone or give the bad guys a free shot by virtue of my decisions or inattentiveness, but I'm definitely not going to cede the streets of my own community, either. I will travel freely and do my best to mitigate my risks and avoid confrontation, but I'll also do so with the intent to protect myself from any gremlins that force my hand.
I love this city, and I'm going to enjoy it. I'm just not going to be a victim in the process. I will go where it makes sense to go and do what I want to do, but I will maintain my readiness and be prepared to win the fight should some morlock bring one on.
Hear, hear! Two thumbs up.
ReplyDeleteOne of the things I have learned living and working in less than amiable zones is you become a regular and they realize you are not one to be messed with (Body language, awareness, etc), you are left pretty much alone.
ReplyDeletePredators do not like to confront other predators.
Word of warning: Eventually you may find somebody who is an idiot and did not get the memo or wants to play "Who is Alpha Male."
Agreed, and also agree with Miguel. I spent a lot of time in NOLA back in the late 60s, early 70s and there are always a few idjits...
ReplyDeleteAnd if you ever have to draw your gun you will at least get the satisfaction of watching a bad guy's face go all funny as his mistake registers.
ReplyDeleteBravo.
ReplyDeleteCeding the ground means they win.
Absolutely! Life is for living, not hiding.
ReplyDeleteNever cede the ground. Move boldly, with assurance. There have been predators in port cities since the dawn of history. These knuckleheads are only the latest iteration.
ReplyDeleteThe downside of our era is that we're not able to properly dissuade what I call "lesser mortals". In other periods, you'd leave him gut-shot on the side of the road as an example to the other miscreants. Or, leave him hanging from a tree with a note nailed to his chest.
Nowadays, we've gotta call the cops, render medical aid, yada, yada, yada. And then we read in the papers about how he was a misunderstood youth, an aspiring rap artiste, and practicing to join the NBA.
Being Louisiana you CANNOT carry a gun in a bar with a CCW. In fact any place that sells booze. Hence predators KNOW anyone leaving a bar is UNARMED unless they are a cop.
ReplyDeleteHere in Texas, unless it has red '51' sign, you can carry in place that severs booze.
Plan accordingly.
You might consider wearing an article of clothing that infers that you are experienced in the art of conflict resolution (hmm, Cooper termed it "crisis management in short-range interpersonal confrontation"). This may tend to weed out the majority of mooks that would initially tag you as prey.
ReplyDeleteNot guaranteed, though, as one of Ayoob's students discovered. While wearing an LFI shirt, he was forced to shoot an attacker.
It used to be that certain areas of the FQ were generally pretty safe. The borders were Canal, Bourbon, Esplanade and the River. Now, not so much.
ReplyDeleteNever give the thugs one inch.
ReplyDeleteI had a serious problem with four "bruddas from de hood" in Chattanooga awhile back. Couldn't shoot them because I didn't want to be the next George Zimmerman and they came right up to the line but didn't cross it.
ReplyDeleteI used to go to Chattanooga often. Don't go there anymore.
Yes. The way I look at is that criminals should fear non criminals, not the other way around. I'm going to live my life, and if I'm doing nothing wrong, no one should be bothering me and it shouldn't be tolerated.
ReplyDelete