The walk, the awareness

Even this girl in the clip made an error, to my mind. She got most of it right imho but when she started the ego talk … I’m going to own this space, be me me me me … that’s feminism 201.

All right, what would I say instead?

a. Ditch the ego straight away, this ‘I’ve got this covered’ mentality … no you haven’t, not with enough of them or even one street fighter or even being surprised/ambushed. Adjust to your circumstances … choose routes less likely, time of day less likely.

b. Walk quietly and fairly swiftly, with some sort of purpose, looking all about you with eyes, not head, in a confident but still cautious way, no head movement beyond 90 degrees but eye observant. If you stop, choose somewhere you have behind you covered, where there’s a possible escape route. Posture upright, feet not together afap.

c. Depends on your nature but slight grin occasionally works. There was one time, on a Liverpool train, lads get on, occupying my half carriage. Someone jokes, it’s funny, slight grin me, one of them says, “He knows, he knows.” Thank the Lord for that. They got off the train before I did. Just don’t rely on that though.

d. Space … when I go down for a delivery, there’s a good vantage spot, escape route behind, quickly rehearse it in my mind. Watch everyone with an expressionless stare, see who comes by or crosses the road, walks on by over there. Be in ready mode, watch the pedestrian like a hawk. If he comes past you, be pleasant, nod good morning.

e. None of that above is necessarily going to work if your posture and body are too soft but if a woman … neither be too supergirl … if you don’t have a lifetime of fending for yourself … Russia helped me here … no amount of advice will help.

f. First reaction. Mine is to attack, not defend … just the result of decades doing it … knee in the groin, plus straight for the eyes … but that’s not so useful in Starmer plod land where even saying boo sees you at the plod station … so I’d neither recommend or not.

g. Know yourself, your limitations … if you’re at a disadvantage most times, then don’t go there in the first place, esp. little guys and/or women.

h. Be aware that these are not now normal times. Apart from obvious enemy types out there, anyone can, even a girl, sneakily.

i. Show no fear at any time, which comes from years of planning and instinct. Do your praying as a rule, not as a last cry for mercy.

j. Apart from that, as the girl says in the clip.

k. You’re either par for the course normal or a bit of a nutter anyway … but a slight nutterness helps … wild eyes. Not nuttiness … that’s entirely different. I mean just a bit unknowable, a bit unpredictable. Sudden position changes then calm again. Watchful like a hawk. Sharp.

That’s about all I can think of.