Is it just me, am I paranoid?

[Tony k]

I don't like big cities either, BigShep. I lived in Denver for two years and I always felt hemmed in and disconnected from nature (the seasons, plants, animals--makes me sound like a hippy but it's true). Everybody was annoymous and pretended like other people didn't exist. I got to the point where I'd say I was depressed.

HOWEVER, I never looked around at other people and felt like I needed more ammo. Sine you asked, I'd say you were being paranoid and probably having some kind of anxiety response to the setting. I'm no mental health expert, but based on your description it sounds like a little bit of mental health counseling might be a good idea. Mental health issues are no diferent than physical health issues; some of them you can deal with on your own, but others require some help. Responsible people seek help. There's no shame in that, Bigshep.

 

[Mike J]

You just aren't used to the city. I live in the Metro Atlanta area & depending on where I am working & what hours we set up on (It is construction so hours & location change from one site to the next) sometimes I have to deal with traffic like you described on a daily basis. On the interstate I would not really be too concerned. It is when you get off the interstate in the wrong neighborhood that you need to be more aware but even then if you stay in your vehicle & don't pull off the road you will probably be fine. I have worked in some of the worst areas in Atlanta & for the most part as long as you are aware of your surroundings enough to take evasive action if necessary you will be fine.

If you do for whatever reason park your vehicle in downtown Atlanta just make a point not to leave anything valuable or anything someone might want where it can be seen.

I agree with the earlier comment about city people feeling uncomfortable in the woods. There were a lot more of them than there were of you & you were in a strange environment. It is perfectly understandable that you were uncomfortable.

 

[Lantern]

I say just a tad. But, that you noticed your thought process might be excessive is a pretty good thing. Being surrounded in a strange place can cause interesting feelings to pop up.



Also......some of the responses here are borderline high road. Keep it nice guys.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

Place two EXTRA boxes of ammo in your trunk, and go back to being as oblivious as everyone else.

 

[DammitBoy]

Just be thankful it's Atlanta and not New Orleans.

 

[BigShep85]

Sounds like some left wings chimed in!

I didn't say I was going to shoot everybody, nor did I say seeing crowds made me think of how many rounds I would need to kill them all. I simply stated that seeing SO many people made me feel that IF something were to happen, anything extreme, such as the levees in New Orleans did. I bet some of those wishe they had more rounds when the ***** hit the fan. Although unlikely earthquakes, and other extremes happen and people do go nuts when in survival mode. Hate to have been the unarmed guy in New York who was run down by a motorcycle gang.

 

[Ignition Override]

Maybe you are from lack of familiarity. Here is the opposite situation, and it was Not imagination.

This happened to a guy who worked for an affiliate company. He grew up on a farm in northwest TN.
Maybe five years ago he was lost in a remote area of rural Marshall or Desoto County in n.w. MS. It was daytime. He said nothing about having a gun, but it would need to be next to you to be helpful.

He passed several guys by the side of the gravel road then about 50 yards past them saw the dead end and turned around.
Those guys were now straddling the road as a barricade, in the middle of nowhere.

The guy decided that either he could stop in front of them and be robbed, maybe worse...so he decided to risk hitting one if necessary and he hit the gas pedal, as they had plenty of time to scatter.
Rural areas might seem safer, but you are much more isolated from possible help than in most urban settings.

 

[USAF_Vet]

The nearest 'big cities' by me are Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, Michigan. Not exactly a gargantuan metropolis by any stretch, but there are still areas I try to avoid. But I'm not exactly gearing up for war because I might get stuck in traffic. Nope, the 7+1 in my pistol and the 7 spares on my hip is probably 15 rounds more than I will ever need in any situation. The one city I might be inclined to visit and want to be well armed is one city who does not honor my CPL, Chicago.

 

[JohnKSa]

I simply stated that seeing SO many people made me feel that IF something were to happen, anything extreme, such as the levees in New Orleans did. I bet some of those wishe they had more rounds when the ***** hit the fan. Although unlikely earthquakes, and other extremes happen and people do go nuts when in survival mode.

No, you didn't state that at all. Here's what you stated.

Maybe so but I am ok with that. Better safe than sorry.

Ok so I am from backwoods USA, and while on vacation I found myself in traffic in downtown Atlanta with thousands of people. I could reach out and touch the person in the vehicle next to me. Walk for miles on cars and never touch the ground. Anyway, I always pack my m&p in the console my car gun of course but I began feeling overwhelmed. As I looked around I began to feel like my 10, 12, or even 15 rounds would not be enough if anything were to happen at that moment.

Anybody else ever felt this? I am sure those city dwellers have come to live with this feeling but not me.

I can guarentee that I will add numerous magazines to my car for just such a time like I just experienced

It says nothing whatsoever about "earthquakes", "levees breaking", or "anything extreme". It doesn't even hint at any major catastrophe.

If you had posted your second post first, I would have responded very differently because it at least posits a reason for why you felt uncomfortable that makes some sense.

Your first post makes it sound like being in crowded traffic was enough to make you feel overwhelmed and caused you to worry that you didn't have enough ammo.

Sounds like some left wings chimed in!

Next time you want someone to pat you on the head and make you feel good about whatever aspect of your sanity that is troubling you at the moment, I suggest you pay someone and provide them with a script.

So, I'm curious. Did you post this thread with the premeditated intent to insult anyone whose opinion differed from yours? Or was it that you never even considered the possiblity that opinions different from yours might exist?

 

[JTHunter]

BigShep - just remember an old poster from the early 70's. It had a "Kilroy-like" face and nose at the bottom, eyes looking to one side, with text above that read:

Just because you are paranoid, DOESN'T mean they AREN'T out to "get you"!

 

[BigShep85]

Never meant as an insult BUT....

If you feel insulted then it must be a reason on your end
I stated that "if anything were to happen" to me earthquakes or levees fell under the anything category but I guess some things have to be layed out step by step for some or they will jump to extremes.
I dunno like maybe ones that left wings use about gun ownership? Owning guns makes everybody a killer?
Nothin wrong with different opinions thats what we are here for, some just like to jump to the most extreme assumptions first.

I used to know an old saying about assumptions but it somehow escapes me now

 

[AlexanderA]

I'm sure the reverse is also true: some people who have grown up in big cities may feel threatened and uncomfortable when venturing out into rural areas. They might think that they're entering into the scenario of the movie "Deliverance." This, of course, is as far-fetched as the idea that the city crowds are out to get you.

Nothing is ever as dire as your worst preconceptions would lead you to expect. We all need to keep tabs on our paranoid tendencies.

(Actually, the presence of crowds acts as a deterrent to crimes of violence. Muggers like to isolate their victims in locations where the crime can't be seen, and help can't be called.)

 

[DSAPT9]

I do not feel you’re paranoid. I also live in the country away from the big city lights. I personally think many of us feel uncomfortable when we are out of our comfort zone and in surroundings we are not familiar with.

I have lived in large cities like Memphis, Tn, San Diego, Ca and Seattle, Wa while in and out of the service and I still do not feel comfortable in them.

Like many city folks that could not survive in the country during a shtf I would be equally out of place in a city setting and if this is paranoid then I am with ya.

I currently carry all the time both in the city and country with 2 extra mags carrying a total of 49 rounds so does this make me paranoid or just prepared.

Just my thoughts

 

[PabloJ]

Maybe so but I am ok with that. Better safe than sorry.

Ok so I am from backwoods USA, and while on vacation I found myself in traffic in downtown Atlanta with thousands of people. I could reach out and touch the person in the vehicle next to me. Walk for miles on cars and never touch the ground. Anyway, I always pack my m&p in the console my car gun of course but I began feeling overwhelmed. As I looked around I began to feel like my 10, 12, or even 15 rounds would not be enough if anything were to happen at that moment.

Anybody else ever felt this? I am sure those city dwellers have come to live with this feeling but not me.

I can guarentee that I will add numerous magazines to my car for just such a time like I just experienced

You are not alone. People from small towns, hamlets, villages often get overwhelmed when they enter large metropolitan area. I do not think it's paranoia but the "fish" does not like to be out of water so to speak.

 

[tarosean]

SO many people made me feel that IF something were to happen, anything extreme, such as the levees in New Orleans did. I bet some of those wishe they had more rounds when the ***** hit the fan. Although unlikely earthquakes, and other extremes happen and people do go nuts when in survival mode.

Your going to have to survive the disaster first.

Living through a number of natural disasters, Hurricanes & Tropical storms, in Houston and the surrounding area. People are more apt to help you than harm you.

 

[Ingsoc75]

The media doesn't help either (culture of fear). Watching the sensational nightly news and shows like COPS all the time is enough to make anybody paranoid.

 

[scythefwd]

Actually, what you were carrying was probably more than enough.. shots ring out, and even hardened thugs will duck and run if they're not shooting.. Hell, they do that if a car backfires loud enough next to em (I've hit the ground flat once because of a backfiring car.. laughed very hard bout it a few minutes later, as I 'm sure the driver was doing)

Think of how the big, dark scary woods or mountains scare those city folk, should they get stranded there. Oh, and don't forget "Deliverance".

Actually, a lot of us go playing in parks and walks in the woods.. but I'm from a small city.. only 300k. Atlanta is a lot to take in. There is a LOT more to split your attention to, and if you aren't used to it can overload you. Its just like a toddler introduced into a new situation.. Watch it sometimes, it happens frequently enough. They run out of ways to cope, they cry, or get clingy, or panic. They shut down.

If your coping mechanisms are used up.. and more keeps coming at you.. you do the same thing (look at the videos of people who have survived a horror like the F-4 tornado in IL, they walk around.. awake but not alert.. shutdown). The only disadvantage is we have the imaginiations and experience to think of some truely horrible things to project our fear or apprehension to, where a toddler only has generic notions of fear or apprehension.. only emotion.

 

[Bubbles]

Ok so I am from backwoods USA, and while on vacation I found myself in traffic in downtown Atlanta with thousands of people. I could reach out and touch the person in the vehicle next to me. Walk for miles on cars and never touch the ground. Anyway, I always pack my m&p in the console my car gun of course but I began feeling overwhelmed. As I looked around I began to feel like my 10, 12, or even 15 rounds would not be enough if anything were to happen at that moment.

I'm honestly not sure what you were expecting to happen. As was pointed out, a mugging was unlikely, and in a riot/civil unrest scenario that vehicle you're driving is a better tool than the firearm in the console.

People think I'm crazy for driving the Suburban into DC on the rare occasions I need to go there, especially since I can't legally carry a gun there so it stays home in the safe. Truth to tell, if things go sideways (think Rodney King type rioting and unrest) and I need to get out, I'm throwing it into 4WD and stomping the accelerator.

 

[Mike1234567]

It's highly unlikely that more than one person is going to go bonkers in a bad situation and start shooting at anyone... maybe two in a very rare situation but they'll be aiming at one another, not you... provided you're not the antagonizer. I never feel undergunned with an 18rd 9mm and I expect that I'll never have need for even one shot... I hope.

So were/are you paranoid... yeah, just a bit.

 

[Potatohead]

Big Shep,
I like your signature lines. PH

 

[Potatohead]

Were those commuters or were they Orcs and Goblins?

LOL

 

[Potatohead]

A situation even Reginald Denny could have avoided by staying in the vehicle and moving slowly forward until he was clear. 30 years ago I volunteered to drive a school bus for a local church. This was a full-sized bus, and we went to the highest crime area of town to pick up kids. One Wednesday night I drove down a street with the locals playing football in the road. I interrupted their game, and they were pissed. They blocked the bus, and demanded that I get out. With 40 kids on that bus, there was no way I was opening that door. They started punching and kicking the bus, screaming obscenities, and as I was laying on the horn and inching forward, more folks were joining in. Soon I had 30-35 folks trying to stop that bus. I leaned out the window and told them, while continuing to inch forward, there was no way that bus was coming to a stop. I kept going, gently bumping folks until they moved. Eventually enough of them moved from in front of me that I could get some speed and get off that street. I never felt my life was in danger, because The Lord, and 40,000lbs of bus were on my side.

Wow. Good move Ak.

 

[SC Shooter]

For about 3 years, I traveled through Atlanta on a weekly basis to get to my home in SC from my work on the road. Yes, on a Friday afternoon, inside the Atlanta beltway, which is about 30 miles in diameter, is one big parking lot. However, I never experienced the thoughts and fears that you did. I think that most people in all the other cars were just like me. They just wanted to get home and off the road.

On the other hand, just because you are paranoid, doesn't mean somebody is not out to get you. If you want to feel better about Atlanta, spend some time driving around Houston

 

[DammitBoy]

Your going to have to survive the disaster first.

Living through a number of natural disasters, Hurricanes & Tropical storms, in Houston and the surrounding area. People are more apt to help you than harm you.

I'll have to politely disagree with you on how people behave after a hurricane. It might be better out your way, but my area got flooded with refugees from New Orleans after Katrina and our crime rate skyrocketed in the days following the storm.

People stabbed each other over bags of ice. My neighbor had his generator stolen while it was running outside his house on his carport.

I was open carrying my Para P14 with a spare mag. I did not have anyone bother me or mine.

 

[cfullgraf]

I'm sure the reverse is also true: some people who have grown up in big cities may feel threatened and uncomfortable when venturing out into rural areas. They might think that they're entering into the scenario of the movie "Deliverance." This, of course, is as far-fetched as the idea that the city crowds are out to get you.

Yes, we lived for a while in New Orleans and always hoped the car would not break down in the bayous on the way to Baton Rouge.

We lived in the Atlanta area for 4 years and you can count the number of times on less than one hand that went into down town, not counting breezing through on the interstate.

For me, one gun and one magazine is enough. Retreat is the the order of the day and unlike television, I do not see a protracted gun battle to get out of Dodge. Hopefully, I will never need to find out.