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Infiltration Forums > Rookie Forum > Bumping into Shady Characters(Viewed 8003 times)
B. Real location:
Muddy swamp town
 
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Bumping into Shady Characters
< on 2/14/2014 4:05 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
Hey, I'm entirely new to this forum and have been thinking about giving urban exploration a try since before I was in high school. Now that I've got my own set of wheels and plenty of time on my hands, I feel like I should give finally go for it. The area I live in is/was relatively industrial and I'm sure there are abandoned locations littered around. I actually know of one that was once a slave house, off of a college's campus. There's not much to see there, though, as the house is really just a foundation, some stairs, and a few statues.

I'm curious about self-defense and running into people while exploring. I plan on snooping through the area I intend to explore, finding a location far from public view, and sneaking into/climbing into it. Aside from the snow that won't be gone for at least another month (footprints are somewhat suspicious), I'm concerned that there will be squatters, taggers, and crackheads inhabiting the buildings I intend to explore. It might seem a dumb question, as I intend to stake out these locations pretty thoroughly to make sure nobody's around, what should I do in the event I do run into some shady characters?

Running is for sure an option, but I'd prefer not to and I'm not really into the idea of having to beat up a bum or something. That being said, what precautions should you take when entering a building? Should you keep self-defense in mind at all times, or should you try and communicate with someone you accidentally bump into? I'd prefer to attempt exploring in the early morning, just after sunrise to make sure that nobody at all would be around.

Also, spin me a tale of a time where you ran into some shadiness? How'd you handle it?

This is my first post, my first thread, and my first hello to you all, so, hello!




vokapolis location:
Cleveland, OH
 
 |  |  | Documenting The Dilapidated
Re: Bumping into Shady Characters
<Reply # 1 on 2/14/2014 4:08 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
One time I ran into a homeless man in an abandoned elementary school in Cleveland. Usually I just try to get out without being seen by them, but this guy introduced himself, and offered to show me around the building. I bought him some food afterwards as a thank you.

Don't expect everybody to be this nice though. Be cautious, but don't just go and hurt somebody that might actually be cool.



Documenting the Dilapidated
https://www.facebo...tingTheDilapidated
johnnycanuck location:
Near Erie, Pennsylvania
 
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Re: Bumping into Shady Characters
<Reply # 2 on 2/14/2014 4:11 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
Welcome to the forum, friendo. There's a lovely thread here about just such altercations!

http://www.uer.ca/...urrpage=1&pp#post0

Also, I'd suggest you check out the UE Tutorials, Lessons, and Useful Info section of the site. Best of luck in your endeavors, and stay cool.



B. Real location:
Muddy swamp town
 
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Re: Bumping into Shady Characters
<Reply # 3 on 2/14/2014 4:13 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
Of course, of course. Violence is the last defensive resort I intend to use.
I know that homeless people in the general area and even some crackheads floating around can be friendly. Then again, though, there's also that one time where a guy tried to get me to smoke 'hash' with him for $5 and got angry when I declined his offer.

I'm certain that that was not hash.



B. Real location:
Muddy swamp town
 
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Re: Bumping into Shady Characters
<Reply # 4 on 2/14/2014 4:14 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
Posted by johnnycanuck
Welcome to the forum, friendo. There's a lovely thread here about just such altercations!

http://www.uer.ca/...urrpage=1&pp#post0

Also, I'd suggest you check out the UE Tutorials, Lessons, and Useful Info section of the site. Best of luck in your endeavors, and stay cool.


Thanks a lot, man. I'll be sure to check those out



Dilapidated location:
Midwest
 
 |  |  | Dilapidated's Flickr
Re: Bumping into Shady Characters
<Reply # 5 on 2/14/2014 4:22 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
In my experience, with most homeless people, if you don't mess with them they wont mess with you. Stay out of their way and out of their space if its obvious. If they start interacting with me I treat it kinda like I would a cop. Just be friendly and treat them with respect. I would rather run into a homeless person than a property owner, but that's because I'm in the south and land owners shoot first ask questions later. Haha

Good luck on all your explorations!



Explorer for life!
sara'mer location:
WNC
 
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Re: Bumping into Shady Characters
<Reply # 6 on 2/14/2014 4:25 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
Hello, and welcome

I used to think like this, but to tell you the truth, you won't often run into other folks. If you're talking about rural areas you know, I wouldn't worry about it too much. Personally, shady has always dispersed for me when I wave and walk away.






they call me the hyacinth girl
NotBatman location:
MSP
 
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Re: Bumping into Shady Characters
<Reply # 7 on 2/14/2014 1:27 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
Posted by B. Real

I'm curious about self-defense and running into people while exploring. I plan on snooping through the area I intend to explore, finding a location far from public view, and sneaking into/climbing into it. Aside from the snow that won't be gone for at least another month (footprints are somewhat suspicious), I'm concerned that there will be squatters, taggers, and crackheads inhabiting the buildings I intend to explore. It might seem a dumb question, as I intend to stake out these locations pretty thoroughly to make sure nobody's around, what should I do in the event I do run into some shady characters?



First, because no one seems to have addressed it, the snow. If there's no footprints when you get there (or nothing recent, or well traveled) then the snow works in your favor as you can be reasonably confident that you will be alone. (Or that there's no way in or nothing worth seeing, but that's a different issue.) Even if yours are the first set of tracks, most times you'll be long gone before anyone sees your prints and immediately decides that it's terrorists and calls their local FBI branch.

As for self defense, you should always be aware of your surroundings, always have a good idea of the best way out of the room/hall/building, and always be aware of what you have on you or nearby that can be used as a weapon or to help get away. I carry a small folding knife (which I would never want to use as a weapon for a variety of reasons, but it's there) and often have a good, solid tripod with me. Loose sections of board/pipes found on site, hell rocks and broken things on the floor. Just be aware of your resources and mostly don't worry about it.

Because all that being said, I've never yet run into anyone immediately violent. (People do, but it's pretty rare.) When I discover someone else with me in a building/tunnel/cave I tend to just walk up and introduce myself and (depending on my supply) offer a beer and get the awkward "everyone dancing around each other trying to figure the other person/group out and trying not to make contact" phase out of the way, because it bores me. Once I'm sure it's not a cop (and it almost never is) I will just literally walk up and say, "Hi, there!"

Posted by B. Real
Also, spin me a tale of a time where you ran into some shadiness? How'd you handle it?


Once in a while, things do get a little shady after that. Alone in the basement of an abandoned building late at night, I saw a light in a room pretty far from the stairs. So I approached to introduce myself and, assuming it was the current resident, assure them that I meant no harm and was just passing through, maybe offer a beer.

Now, I was drunk (as hell) and injured from a pretty mean fall as well, so I don't know for sure what he was REALLY doing, but when I got close what I was CERTAIN was going on was that this shaggy-looking dude in the basement was making a collage out of missing persons posters.

I literally cut off my introduction, mid-stream, with "Oh, and THAT'S what you're doing, so I'm just going to go back this way and make my way back out. Have a great night."

And I got the fuck out.

Welcome to UER. After your first post, we'll all transform into slobbering trolls. It's just a phase, don't even worry about it.



I'm a "Leave only footprints, take only pornography" kind of guy, myself.
Phobia   |  | 
Re: Bumping into Shady Characters
<Reply # 8 on 2/14/2014 9:21 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
I've been chased out of a building by a gang of homeless people once. Not too sure why they were so mad... I literally walked into this abandoned, somewhat open building and I see all these guys looks at me for a second, yell, and then start running towards me.



Radical_Ed location:
Philadelphia, PA, USA
 
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Re: Bumping into Shady Characters
<Reply # 9 on 2/15/2014 12:10 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
I'm usually the shady asshole everyone else avoids.



"Are you happy now with all the choices you've made?" "Are there times in life when you know you should've stayed?"
"Will you compromise and then realize the price is too much to pay?" "Winners and losers... which one will you be today?"
***Social Distortion***
fiftyone_eggs location:
jerzey
 
 |  |  | my flickr
Re: Bumping into Shady Characters
<Reply # 10 on 2/15/2014 12:39 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
Posted by Radical_Ed
I'm usually the shady asshole everyone else avoids.


If I ran into Radical Ed in a dark building I'd run like a fucking Kenyan on Speed.



Radical_Ed location:
Philadelphia, PA, USA
 
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Re: Bumping into Shady Characters
<Reply # 11 on 2/15/2014 12:59 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
But look how friendly and sexy I appear!









"Are you happy now with all the choices you've made?" "Are there times in life when you know you should've stayed?"
"Will you compromise and then realize the price is too much to pay?" "Winners and losers... which one will you be today?"
***Social Distortion***
A Through Z Explorations location:
Area 51A
 
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Re: Bumping into Shady Characters
<Reply # 12 on 2/15/2014 1:00 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
Posted by Radical_Ed
But look how friendly and sexy I appear!

http://imagizer.im...00q90/802/jcvg.jpg






Yeah, I'd hit that.



"It's just a dance, not romance."
fiftyone_eggs location:
jerzey
 
 |  |  | my flickr
Re: Bumping into Shady Characters
<Reply # 13 on 2/15/2014 1:12 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
Posted by Radical_Ed
But look how friendly and sexy I appear!

http://imagizer.im...00q90/802/jcvg.jpg



Maiden Japan!





Radical_Ed location:
Philadelphia, PA, USA
 
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Re: Bumping into Shady Characters
<Reply # 14 on 2/15/2014 1:16 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
Posted by A Through Z Explorations


Yeah, I'd hit that.


Lol, with a baseball bat!



"Are you happy now with all the choices you've made?" "Are there times in life when you know you should've stayed?"
"Will you compromise and then realize the price is too much to pay?" "Winners and losers... which one will you be today?"
***Social Distortion***
Phobia   |  | 
Re: Bumping into Shady Characters
<Reply # 15 on 2/15/2014 1:18 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
Posted by Radical_Ed
But look how friendly and sexy I appear!

http://imagizer.im...00q90/802/jcvg.jpg






#Swelfie



CatAndTie location:
Southeastern PA
 
 |  |  | life in decay
Re: Bumping into Shady Characters
<Reply # 16 on 2/15/2014 1:20 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
Most of the time if you ignore them, they will ignore you. Or just simply say, "hello," and move past them. With homeless most of the time you should be fine if you treat them with respect. If you want to pass through their area, ask... they can be territorial so politely ask if they mind if you cut through their area to explore. I don't smoke but I've heard of people carrying around a pack of cigs to offer as a nice gesture.

Scrappers know they shouldn't be there and when they see you aren't cops they know you aren't supposed to be there either, so they normally mind their own business.

Crackheads? I guess the most dangerous of the bunch because they can be unpredictable... I was in an abandoned jail once where there were some drugs (heroine is my guess) deals going down, and we overheard one of the guys saying, "oh, they're just camera guys" or something and I didn't see them the rest of the time... I just avoided going down that cell block!



"Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore." - Andre Gide
A Through Z Explorations location:
Area 51A
 
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Re: Bumping into Shady Characters
<Reply # 17 on 2/15/2014 1:37 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
Posted by Radical_Ed


Lol, with a baseball bat!


"Hit that" means other things as well, Ed ;)
Seriously, that is just a phrase I use when a friend looks good/decent.



"It's just a dance, not romance."
Radical_Ed location:
Philadelphia, PA, USA
 
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Re: Bumping into Shady Characters
<Reply # 18 on 2/15/2014 1:42 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
Just wait until you see my honey-glazed nipples.



"Are you happy now with all the choices you've made?" "Are there times in life when you know you should've stayed?"
"Will you compromise and then realize the price is too much to pay?" "Winners and losers... which one will you be today?"
***Social Distortion***
A Through Z Explorations location:
Area 51A
 
 |  | 
Re: Bumping into Shady Characters
<Reply # 19 on 2/15/2014 1:48 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
Now we're talking. I cannot wait to meat you someday.



"It's just a dance, not romance."
Infiltration Forums > Rookie Forum > Bumping into Shady Characters(Viewed 8003 times)
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