This post is about giving you options for when you are on the street and you do not wish to speak with a creeper who is trying to close distance to talk with you:
Creeper: /krēpər/ : a person who makes you uncomfortable whether by a “gut feeling” you get by seeing this person, their appearance, or other factors that make you feel uncomfortable. Ladies, this could be the unwanted male attention as well.
Many criminals use a ruse or distraction to get what they want; they ask you a question “do you have the time,” “Have any change?” then follow with an attack when you are distracted. Part of this process is referred to as the interview stage in the self-defense world.
So, how can I avoid talking to this person yet not come off in a rude, abrasive manner that might set-off that person that has bad intentions or that gives me that creeper vibe?
Keep in mind there a few things that you generally do not immediately know about someone that approaches you on the street: You don’t know this person’s intentions, if this person is legitimately crazy, or if he/she is just panhandling and asking for money.
A solution:
The 3- E’s of Being Elusive
Empathy
Excuse
Exit
Empathy- Show empathy. I say, “Sorry man.” Shoulders shrug, my hand’s go up in a non-threatening, open manner to show this gesture with body language. Note that in this situation I am not being aggressive by saying; “back off,” or “get lost ya creep” unless I feel it is necessary and appropriate for the situation.
Excuse- Make an excuse. Some good, generic words that happen to work for me are, “I don't have any" or "I can't." For me it does not matter what the question is, when I'm on the street in an area where I feel the need to be more alert I am not allowing myself to be approachable to engage in small talk, most importantly with people that make me uneasy. “Sorry man, I don’t have any” and "Sorry man, I can't" seem to work for most situations because I'm not open to taking the conversation any further.
Exit- this is self-explanatory. Leave the area.
I recall one time I had this happen to me in DC right after finishing teaching a seminar when I was putting my equipment back in my car. A guy that I identified as a Creeper was closing distance and attempted to approach me when my car door was open and I was not yet in the driver seat:
He said: “Yo man you …” (I couldn’t understand the rest… it was incoherently mumbled) as he tried to walk closer to my car to draw me in.
My response was, “Sorry man, it’s gettin’ late, I gotta go.”
When saying this I gestured to my non-existent watch with my index finger, and then looked and pointed up emphatically to a parking sign behind the man, as if it were important. It wasn't late, it was about 2:00pm, but the gesture was important enough to get him to turn around and look at the sign, which was enough time for me to close the car door, start the engine, and get moving.
I do not know his intent, but I knew that I had nothing to gain from letting him get closer and draw me into a conversation. Remember, you’re not going to meet your next significant other or best friend in a parking lot or on the streets. The good ones don’t hang out in parking lots, it’s just creepy. So if you get that bad vibe from someone you don’t have to talk to them! It’s ok to be rude and this is an easy way to shut down an undesired communication attempt before it begins.
Train smart & stay safe,
Evan D.
Owner/Lead Coach
NOVA Self Defense
www.novaselfdefense.com
Creeper: /krēpər/ : a person who makes you uncomfortable whether by a “gut feeling” you get by seeing this person, their appearance, or other factors that make you feel uncomfortable. Ladies, this could be the unwanted male attention as well.
Many criminals use a ruse or distraction to get what they want; they ask you a question “do you have the time,” “Have any change?” then follow with an attack when you are distracted. Part of this process is referred to as the interview stage in the self-defense world.
So, how can I avoid talking to this person yet not come off in a rude, abrasive manner that might set-off that person that has bad intentions or that gives me that creeper vibe?
Keep in mind there a few things that you generally do not immediately know about someone that approaches you on the street: You don’t know this person’s intentions, if this person is legitimately crazy, or if he/she is just panhandling and asking for money.
A solution:
The 3- E’s of Being Elusive
Empathy
Excuse
Exit
Empathy- Show empathy. I say, “Sorry man.” Shoulders shrug, my hand’s go up in a non-threatening, open manner to show this gesture with body language. Note that in this situation I am not being aggressive by saying; “back off,” or “get lost ya creep” unless I feel it is necessary and appropriate for the situation.
Excuse- Make an excuse. Some good, generic words that happen to work for me are, “I don't have any" or "I can't." For me it does not matter what the question is, when I'm on the street in an area where I feel the need to be more alert I am not allowing myself to be approachable to engage in small talk, most importantly with people that make me uneasy. “Sorry man, I don’t have any” and "Sorry man, I can't" seem to work for most situations because I'm not open to taking the conversation any further.
Exit- this is self-explanatory. Leave the area.
I recall one time I had this happen to me in DC right after finishing teaching a seminar when I was putting my equipment back in my car. A guy that I identified as a Creeper was closing distance and attempted to approach me when my car door was open and I was not yet in the driver seat:
He said: “Yo man you …” (I couldn’t understand the rest… it was incoherently mumbled) as he tried to walk closer to my car to draw me in.
My response was, “Sorry man, it’s gettin’ late, I gotta go.”
When saying this I gestured to my non-existent watch with my index finger, and then looked and pointed up emphatically to a parking sign behind the man, as if it were important. It wasn't late, it was about 2:00pm, but the gesture was important enough to get him to turn around and look at the sign, which was enough time for me to close the car door, start the engine, and get moving.
I do not know his intent, but I knew that I had nothing to gain from letting him get closer and draw me into a conversation. Remember, you’re not going to meet your next significant other or best friend in a parking lot or on the streets. The good ones don’t hang out in parking lots, it’s just creepy. So if you get that bad vibe from someone you don’t have to talk to them! It’s ok to be rude and this is an easy way to shut down an undesired communication attempt before it begins.
Train smart & stay safe,
Evan D.
Owner/Lead Coach
NOVA Self Defense
www.novaselfdefense.com
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