Why Do Weird Things Like This Happen To Me?

[Terry G]

May have been a wannabe trying to impress his Girlfriend on what a bad dude he was. I hike a lot but rarely meet anyone. Most hiking spots are walking only, no motors, Horses, or bikes so few venture out. I did have somewhat of a start just a week ago hiking with my Labrador. Two older Women were approaching me fairly quickly and both were carrying short barreled revolvers on their hips. Now THAT'S something you don't ever see! I was carrying my CZ P-09 out of sight covered by a Safari vest but I just couldn't believe these Women were a threat. They wanted to pet my Dog. Some threat.

 

[The Night Rider]

FWIW this is where it happened. Just before the bridge. They were parked in that parking lot on the left hand side of the picture as was I but they were gone by the time I got there.

 

[Bcwitt]

If his woman smiled & said hi, that explains it. Extreme jealousy. He is likely very insecure un his masculenity. Nothing to get concerned about. It happens to me all the time.

 

[fastbolt]

I'm not sure how to categorize this, so I'm just going to tell you what happened.

At the end my hike today I passed through a (man-made?) wetlands. I stopped to take a photo. A couple (30sish) passed me on the trail. Both were clean and well dressed (for hiking). The woman said "hi" as they passed.

I took my picture and turned around and the guy was slipping some kind of "Tactical" knife into his pocket. I got the distinct impression he'd pulled out as they were passing me in case I attacked them?

The guy had a very military bearing. PTSD maybe?

Any way my point is you never know what people are thinking.

In closing, I considered asking the guy why he had the knife out but it didn't think that was going to end well I just kept my mouth shut and let them go on by.

Well, you know how weird people can be. You're lucky they weren't a criminal couple cruising the hiking areas for victims.

It's just my "I wasn't there" opinion, of course, but don't mistake a posture as necessarily meaning a military background. An experienced military (or LE) background can just as easily be a mindset that deceptively rests under an easy-going outward appearance, residing beneath the surface until needed.

I'd just as easily have wondered if the man taking a 'tactical knife' from his pocket had been because he was inexperienced in assessing, recognizing and determining a potential threat (older man, hiking and taking pictures, etc), and his fear made him seek the security blanket of holding his knife. Wouldn't rule out him trying to impress his female companion with his 'preparedness' to protect her, either. If he'd been really skilled (and experienced) you'd probably not have seen him holding the knife, including him returning it to his pocket.

People can be weird.

 

[fastbolt]

I think he just paid $250 for a knife and likes to play with it.

Not out of the realm of possibility.

Also, how new did his hiking shoes look?

 

[shafter]

How I react would depend on the other person's demeanor and body language. Could I perceive his demeanor as defensive towards a possible threat (me) or hostile? A drawn weapon will ping on my radar as something to keep an eye on but I need more before I shoot.

 

[The Night Rider]

Not out of the realm of possibility.

Also, how new did his hiking shoes look?

Most of his clothing look pretty new and they got into a Audi when they left.

 

[Jimfern]

I think he just paid $250 for a knife and likes to play with it.

I might resemble that remark at home, but not when I'm out and about.

 

[fastbolt]

Most of his clothing look pretty new and they got into a Audi when they left.

My point.

 

[drobs]

Maybe you give off that serial killer vibe.

 

[chicharrones]

I look pretty normal on my mountain hikes...
View attachment 1168058

To be fair, there are some weird folks hiking up in the Olympics.

Two pairs of sunglasses would definitely be a tell something was up…

Yep. Might be a pilot or something really nefarious like an actor portraying a pilot.

Airplane! (1980) - Rex Kramer Double Sunglasses Scene

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080339/

youtu.be

 

[HKGuns]

Its called situational awareness OP and if you were in the boonies it would have been less likely to happen.

In the middle of a town there is significantly increased, not reduced risk. That should be plainly obvious to everyone at this point.

I don't consider this wierd in the least. You must be young.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

I personally believe that it was more to do with his military background then how I was presenting myself.

From https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...o-think-about-actually-happened.923038/page-2

but most of the people around me say I look like the kind of person that eats puppies for fun.

 

[CapnMac]

Something in this thread has caught my attention.
A number of people have used a version of the phrase "clean cut" and/or "nicely dressed" in a sense of "less likely to be up to no good."
Ok, that may just be in context of sussing out the implications in OP.

But, it's also a point possibly worth some self-reflection, too.

I am not "less dangerous" in a suit and tie any more than in cargo shorts and a t-shirt (other than the suit offering far more places to conceal).

If I intend to use a pen as a kubotan, it really does not matter if I'm wearing a polo shirt or a plate carrier (although the latter will restrict my agility in certain arcs).

Now, I'm not saying there's no merit to juding books by their cover--many of us have seen some urban campers who just look like the downwind aroma probably constitutes a near-deadly assault. But, I think we all have to be careful of only assessing risk by appearance. That sounds like a recipe for "strange things" being perceived.

 

[scaatylobo]

I'm not sure how to categorize this, so I'm just going to tell you what happened.

At the end my hike today I passed through a (man-made?) wetlands. I stopped to take a photo. A couple (30sish) passed me on the trail. Both were clean and well dressed (for hiking). The woman said "hi" as they passed.

I took my picture and turned around and the guy was slipping some kind of "Tactical" knife into his pocket. I got the distinct impression he'd pulled out as they were passing me in case I attacked them?

The guy had a very military bearing. PTSD maybe?

Any way my point is you never know what people are thinking.

In closing, I considered asking the guy why he had the knife out but it didn't think that was going to end well I just kept my mouth shut and let them go on by.

My question to you is " what do you look like".

You might look like a threat !.

In which case he was spot on prepared,if all he had was that blade.

Look HARD at yourself in the mirror.

 

[The Night Rider]

My question to you is " what do you look like".

You might look like a threat !.

In which case he was spot on prepared,if all he had was that blade.

Look HARD at yourself in the mirror.

I'm 60 year old overweight white male. Who uses a walking stick to get around.

He was at least 25 years younger than I am. He was obviously fitter than I am.

If he had randomly attacked me based on his appearance alone I could not have held him off with my bare hands I would have needed a weapon to stop him.

Unless you count the walking stick, I was not visibly armed.

His woman initiated contact with me. I did not do anything to try to get into their space.

 

[luzyfuerza]

Something in this thread has caught my attention.
A number of people have used a version of the phrase "clean cut" and/or "nicely dressed" in a sense of "less likely to be up to no good."
Ok, that may just be in context of sussing out the implications in OP...

Now, I'm not saying there's no merit to juding books by their cover--many of us have seen some urban campers who just look like the downwind aroma probably constitutes a near-deadly assault. But, I think we all have to be careful of only assessing risk by appearance. That sounds like a recipe for "strange things" being perceived.

I agree that making the long leap from "safe" to "high risk of personal injury" solely on the basis of dress or appearance isn't appropriate.

How about if we describe the process in terms of the color code? An example: I'm more likely to shift from yellow to orange when an "urban camper" approaches me on a sidewalk than I am when a well-dressed couple walks by me on a woodlands trail. Strictly on the basis of appearances.

But it takes more concrete signs of real danger to justify transition from orange to red.

And when the urban camper walks off into the distance, shifting back to yellow happens effortlessly.

After all, the genius of Cooper's color code is NOT the definition of the mental states. It is his lesson that shifting between the different mental states happens quickly and easily, potentially many times a day. And that the habit of making these SHIFTS is what prevents us from being surprised (caught asleep?) when real evil rolls into our lives.

 

[wayneinFL]

I'm not so concerned as to whether someone is dressed more or less formally, but whether it's out of place, or purposely concealing someone's identity.

Wearing two t-shirts on a hot day.

Wearing a rain coat on a dry, hot day.

Wearing a mask where it would be out of place.

Wearing a hooded sweatshirt on a hot day, especially if they pull the hood up or tie it like Kenny before approaching.

 

[crstrode]

Any way my point is you never know what people are thinking.

Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life, it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
Step out of line, the man come and take you away

Oh, and by the way - it wasn't a knife, it was a vape. And he was stoned out of his mind.

 

[cc-hangfire]

Don’t take it personally, I wouldn’t. The fellow didn’t threaten or brandish, only had his hand on a weapon in the presence of a stranger in a semi-isolated area. Regardless of the neighborhood, my hand is frequently in my pocket over my handgun grip in similar circumstances around strangers (I mostly pocket carry for EDC). It’s just an “always-be-prepared” response.

 

[Kleanbore]

It does not appear that there is much left to squeeze out of this one.