Pay attention
I was once walking through Costco pushing a loaded buggy that had a large box across the top that put it about head high. Some 20 something kid staring at his phone and walking is walking right toward me. I could have said “hey, moron, pay attention”. I didn’t. I just stopped. And watched the kid walk head first into it. He looked embarrassed, then apologized. I said to him something to the effect of “life is easier if you pay attention”. So, get your head out of your phones:
A man standing on a crowded Muni train pulls out a .45-caliber pistol.
He raises the gun, pointing it across the aisle, before tucking it back against his side. He draws it out several more times, once using the hand holding the gun to wipe his nose. Dozens of passengers stand and sit just feet away – but none reacts.
Their eyes, focused on smartphones and tablets, don’t lift until the gunman fires a bullet into the back of a San Francisco State student getting off the train.
Situational awareness is not just for gun nuts.
October 9th, 2013 at 11:07 pm
I have let people on phones run into me and things I was carrying/pushing on a regular basis.
One reasons is because I’m an ass that way, but it’s really fun to watch them deal with the embarrassment too.
October 9th, 2013 at 11:11 pm
In today’s society, being situationally aware has risks – you have to be looking around, and you may establish eye contact with people – and when you do, they may a) panhandle you, b) start abusing you (‘cuz they’re crazy or a crank) or, worst of all, they may try to engage you in conversation!
The safest way to proceed is clearly to act like you can’t see anyone else around you – and the easiest way to accomplish that is to actually not look at them. /sarc
October 10th, 2013 at 1:30 am
I specifically refuse to move over or out of the way of those jackasses at Costco. I will keep my pace and gait as they wobble my way … and at the last moment I will tighten up my musculature thereby knocking them aside a half step.
Older folks and the infirm have the right of way tho.
October 10th, 2013 at 3:28 am
Hartley: making good use of peripheral vision helps to mitigate that risk. Moving to a pro-self-defense jurisdiction helps more.
Yes, I know that’s not always possible; I’m in California now because it’s where the work is, and I’ll accept if they convert it to full time (need the bennies to help wifey kick cancer’s ass) but I’m always looking for ways to stay in Vegas or elsewhere in remaining America.
October 10th, 2013 at 8:33 am
Someone got shot on the Muni? But, gee, doesn’t SF have laws against that sort of thing?
October 10th, 2013 at 11:35 am
Re: awareness of surroundings. In a previous career I repaired large photo copiers. I had a machine somewhat disassembled and was just standing there talking to a guy who worked in the area when a gal walked in and asked if she could “make a quick copy”. The guy and I just looked at each other and then I said “sure”. She placed her paper on the glass that wasn’t there just to watch the paper fall down onto the mirror 2+ feet below. At this point she finally actually *looked* around — to see a tool kit and various sub-assemblies of the copier spread around. A rather interesting range of expressions played across her face and she quickly made her exit — all while avoiding eye contact.
October 10th, 2013 at 11:37 am
Seerak: You have my most heartfelt sympathy – for you in Californistan and your wife..
I live in Arizona, and I don’t have a problem with eye contact – I find it easier & easier to tell panhandlers and cranks to FO – and if somebody is playing with their gun, I’m outta there.
But tomorrow I have to drive to CA myself – something about a lack of seacoast here in Arizona..:-(
October 10th, 2013 at 3:08 pm
Problem is they drive on the road while doing this. Just talking disconnects their brain from their eyes. Amazing to watch people drive over things while chatting on a cell phone.
Now, with the new laws, they drive with their face pointed at the phone in their laps, which just makes things even worse.
October 10th, 2013 at 6:55 pm
Eh, they live in California, which is kind of like a big gun free zone. Why worry about active shooters when it is unpossible for them to cross the state line? I’m pretty sure the Dept of Ag checkpoints can magically detect Illegal Guns and the Department of Precrime takes care of anyone that “snaps.”
Obviously because murder and guns are generally illegal in Cali you just don’t have to worry about this sort of thing.
:-\
October 10th, 2013 at 10:07 pm
Chris, egg-zackly! In California, everyone has a tablet, iPhone, etc. and NOBODY has a gun. Especially in the Bay Ay-rea where NOBODY has a carry permit. Was just out there last weekend and my son was positively embarrassed by my dumb phone.