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One of the things I try to keep in mind when I'm out and about, is to stay situationally aware. In this day of portable electronics, it seems like way too many people have their complete attention focused on their cell phones as they go about their business. We've all seen people step off the curb and walk across the street without ever looking up to see if traffic is going to stop for them. Guess there's a magic force field that protects them while in a crosswalk.
So today I was with a friend who needed to pick up a couple of items at a grocery store in a small strip mall. I dropped her off at the front door and found a parking spot where I had a view of the front doors so I could pick her back up when she came back out. I had some time to burn so I pulled out my cell phone (of course). Now even though I'm messing with my phone, I'm trying to keep an eye on what's going on around me. A quick glance in the mirrors, a quick visual sweep in front of me, and then a bit of attention on my phone.
It wasn't long before I noticed a man stopping in front of the grocery store and looking in the trash can. Not unexpected given the homeless in the area. But something wasn't right. His movements were erratic and overly animated. When he was done with the trash can he turned toward the parking lot and appeared to be having an argument with someone, but there wasn't anyone on the other side of the argument. No cell phone either so he wasn't having an an argument over the phone. Most of the customers leaving the store and those walking towards the store didn't seem to notice him. A few did notice, then ignored him as they passed by. He almost reminded me of the space alien from Men In Black that wore the "Edgar Suit". More arguing with no one. More flinging of arms. As we were leaving he was standing in a planter flashing the "loser" sign with his hand to his forehead at everyone driving by.
For the last 15 years of my career, my office was located in a downtown redevelopment area with a huge homeless population all around us. I've seen this behavior pretty regularly through the years so it really didn't come as a surprise to me. Yet while I was at the shopping center, I kept an eye on him in case he started to get involved with an innocent bystander. I wouldn't have physically intervened, but I would have immediately called the police. I'm not sure anyone else was keeping an eye on him. Obviously this guy needed mental help and was probably harmless, but what if he wasn't? How long would it take for someone to notice if he attacked a shopper as they were loading their groceries into their car?
So where I'm going with this is; Do you try to keep situational awareness when you are out living your "normal" life? Sure, we all do when we are out exploring an abandonment. Or even when we are just in a bad neighborhood. But what about the rest of the time? Do you look for the unusual or out-of-place?
Abby Normal
"Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem." Ronald Reagan | |
Street smarts. A skill that will soon be lost on the "text me" generation. Hell they cant even talk to each other in person now without their cell phone.
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Yeah, I try to keep situational awareness - maybe it's from growing up where I did.
Always know your exits.
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Ummm, it's daylight... got cigar, breathing and cursing.
What more is there?
On Friday a F-250 in front of me drifted off 191 as he was starting across an overpass. Hit the rumble strip and like a complete moron turned much harder than needed to correct.
Stupid fucktard came close to rolling it.
Nothing says stupid and unattractive more than a phone/headset glued to your head as you zombie around in a public place.
The smart phone stays in my pocket when walking, always.
Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
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I make it a point to notice everything and keep escape routes open. One of my friends is oblivious to everything.
observation and interpretation are key survival skills. unfortunately, Blackhawk is right... too many people have their faces in their phones or tablets and will pay for that error should something occur around them.
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There was a lady in a 4runner behind me today tailgating my Suburban and swerving all over the road while on her phone. People need to learn to just put down the technology for once when your occupied while walking or driving. It's crazy how society has become where everyone seems to be glued to their phone every. Single. Second. I just don't get it.
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Electronics are a big part of the problem, especially vehicle drivers looking at their devices. But there also seems to be an overall lack of concern about what's going on in the environment around people. A tiny bit of paranoia probably isn't a bad thing.
Oh well, their lives to do as they wish.
Abby Normal
"Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem." Ronald Reagan | |
Posted by Decayed Insanity
There was a lady in a 4runner behind me today tailgating my Suburban and swerving all over the road while on her phone. People need to learn to just put down the technology for once when your occupied while walking or driving. It's crazy how society has become where everyone seems to be glued to their phone every. Single. Second. I just don't get it.
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One second is an eternity.
My measured, repeatable eye/hand reaction time is as low as 62 ms, average 68, while 80 ms is normal for many people.
If your distracted by anything you're reaction time becomes that of a drunk 120-500+ ms.
You can't text and drive or even safely walk.
Hands free is risky as well; it distracts you from your primary task. I find conversation with passengers also distracting while driving; time has proven this to me.
Keep your priorities in order, always.
Results are final.
Posted by Abby Normal
Electronics are a big part of the problem, especially vehicle drivers looking at their devices. But there also seems to be an overall lack of concern about what's going on in the environment around people. A tiny bit of paranoia probably isn't a bad thing.
Oh well, their lives to do as they wish.
Abby Normal
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I watch people and look for suspicious patterns of movement.
Always guarded about being followed on foot or in a vehicle. Even then, some have slipped though.
Dealt with a few would be muggers over the decades, the first time was a freebie over 40 years ago.
Was walking down a street in front of a Catholic church when two males crossed the street and headed straight for me. Should have just broke into a jog but I choked and failed.
An older priest appeared on the steps of the church and said to the men "Shouldn't you boys be getting home?". That stopped them dead in their tracks. Many times it doesn't take much but it takes something.
I'm indebted to that priest for saving my assets and teaching me several lessons with just a few well placed words. He was sublime.
Trouble can come at anytime, anywhere.
If you're head is up your ass screwing around and distracted, you loose any edge you had.
You need to form a plan in a fluid fashion.
The longer it takes you to recognize the danger, the less time you have and the worse your odds are.
[last edit 3/18/2019 4:25 PM by blackhawk - edited 1 times]
Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
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Depends where I am, when walking around on campus i generally don't pay much attention because besides the occasional charity or outreach event set up the only thing interesting is people who bring their dog to the main lawn. When walking around in cities though I usually won't have music in or anything and tend to focus looking down ally's as I walk by
[last edit 3/18/2019 4:41 PM by 22 - edited 1 times]
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Posted by Decayed Insanity
There was a lady in a 4runner behind me today tailgating my Suburban and swerving all over the road while on her phone. People need to learn to just put down the technology for once when your occupied while walking or driving. It's crazy how society has become where everyone seems to be glued to their phone every. Single. Second. I just don't get it.
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I know you guys are going to roll your eyes and say 'yeah sure', but when I am in my car, the phone is connected to the car for calls, but stays in my pocket. I am not really enthralled by human contact, so texts are a backburner thing. As for phone calls, the beauty of caller ID shines. I don't see the need to be hyperconnected... I could give a fuck who said what, or blah blah blah… leave me the fuck alone, especially when I am driving. Too bad most other people don't share this sentiment.
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Posted by Samurai
I know you guys are going to roll your eyes and say 'yeah sure', but when I am in my car, the phone is connected to the car for calls, but stays in my pocket. I am not really enthralled by human contact, so texts are a backburner thing. As for phone calls, the beauty of caller ID shines. I don't see the need to be hyperconnected... I could give a fuck who said what, or blah blah blah… leave me the fuck alone, especially when I am driving. Too bad most other people don't share this sentiment.
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Most times I don't even have the stereo on when driving. I prefer the sound of the road.
Keep my window down too.
Being able to hear shit coming has saved me more than once.
It always amazes how long it takes most people to pull over for emergency vehicles.
Not listening or checking their mirrors...
Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
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In order to use your head, you have to go out of your mind. | |
I work in behavioral health and most of my clients are aggressive. It naturally follows that I'm on high alert almost all the time. But you are right, most of the people I've been around are pretty unaware of their surroundings. In general, it's my experience that it's mostly people who believe they are safe and comfortable in their little life bubbles.
Why look up from the phone? Nothing bad has ever happened before. They've been conditioned to think that nothing bad will happen going forward. It will be quite an awakening, if the day ever comes that they learn otherwise.
IG: fleet.in.being
Steam: kidchaos23 | |
Posted by blackhawk
Most times I don't even have the stereo on when driving. I prefer the sound of the road.
Keep my window down too.
Being able to hear shit coming has saved me more than once.
It always amazes how long it takes most people to pull over for emergency vehicles.
Not listening or checking their mirrors...
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music is a must in the car, but every so often on a road trip of any length, I shut the radio off and listen into the car, just trying to hear if something is off, or about to fail... you get this behaviors from years of having used cars. As for the window, I have to have the window open a bit... -35F, window down. I drove my friends nuts... my friend Ray used to call me Nanook because he assumed I was part eskimo due to my ease with chilly temps.
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Yes but too much - Overstimulated always looking and having to see.
Flickr Pitchrs | |
I'm pretty aware of my surroundings, especially since I live in a city and I use public transportation everyday.
I do usually listen to music while walking, but I am not staring down at my phone. At night, I don't have music on and I don't keep my phone visible. Now that's it's getting warmer out, you gotta be more aware because that's when more crimes happen.
When I do drive, which I typically don't, I keep my phone away from me and I usually keep the radio at a low volume. I freak out a lot when I'm in the car with my friends and they are looking at their phone while driving. It really bothers me.
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Posted by TacoJosh
I do usually listen to music while walking, but I am not staring down at my phone. At night, I don't have music on and I don't keep my phone visible.
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Headphones on while walking/running is being audio impaired to your surroundings.
A real bad habit.
Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
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Posted by blackhawk
Headphones on while walking/running is being audio impaired to your surroundings.
A real bad habit.
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well, I'd rather not be an ass and have music playing off my phone or through a speaker.
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I think I do well for the most part at being situationally aware; though my overanalytical nature can sometimes cause me to over think (or sometimes under think 😛) in the day to day.
When driving I ignore my phone, and keep my radio at mid volume. I'm constantly checking my mirrors, and try to keep aware of what other drivers are doing, or will do.
Once while driving to an explore, an 18 wheeler up ahead blew out a tire...fortunately I was far enough back (but not too far to hear the blast) that I was well out of the way of him, and was able to safely navigate around the tire shrapnel.
On another trip I wasn't so lucky; I was closer to the guy ahead of me than I should've been, and when he swerved a bit, I had left myself no time to react, and hit a large chunk of rock in the road...not panicking, I was able to pull over and change the tire. I not only learned my lesson, but was able to get a used rim and salvage a day of great exploring. I can't imagine what would've happened if I'd been playing on my phone or something...
One day while going to work, I sat at a red light, ready to make a left turn. I hear sirens, and see a fire truck coming towards me from behind...he has nowhere to go. I quickly scanned the traffic around me; nobody's moving, intersection clear; so I lay on the horn and make the turn, pulling into a short merge lane and stopping, so the truck can have the whole road (2 lanes, and that stub of the 3rd I was in) and be able to pass safely.
Exploring, and the experiences of others on this site, has massively improved my awareness (though I'm still decent at pulling off some dopey moves). In general, I think I've always been realistic and analytical, I try to read the situation, have a contingency (or three), and ALWAYS listen to my gut.
Technology is wonderful and convenient...until it's not. I love my digital camera, my satellite locator on the phone, my GPS; but I don't rely on them. I hope they will do what I need them to do; even rather expect it, but at the end of the day, having the knowledge, wisdom, and instincts to get by (or GTFO) is what's gonna save me, should all else fail. At least, it's worked so far...
I like that Einstein quote Radio2600 posted; another one credited to him is, "There are two things that are infinite...the universe, and human stupidity, but I'm not so sure about the former."
Like Blackhawk tends to say, people are trouble...
The devices made by them only enhance the troubles. It's frightening how complacent and illogical people have become, but even scarier is the way being self aware/reliant, logical, and wise have become negative qualities. Well, that's my .02¢, *steps off soapbox.
"When you've truly done something right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all." | |
Posted by TacoJosh
well, I'd rather not be an ass and have music playing off my phone or through a speaker.
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Either way it comes back to not being fully situationally aware via diminished hearing and being distracted.
The brain can only process a limited amount of information at once and as information overload occurs your senses tunnel.
High speed driving is a classic example.
Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
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