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So, I keep seeing all these posts about wally walks, ect. Each of them talk about BG scans. Im always aware of my surroundings, but are there any techniques that work better or not as well for these scans?

I've always taken that to mean just looking around. Until recently, though, I was mostly just looking around for pizza, so maybe there's something different you do when there are bad guys/gals involved.

• Usually with potential violent assailants or robbers we are looking for younger men. Women lag in this area (fortunately).
• People trying to disguise themselves: sunglasses indoors or at night, hoodies, especially when inappropriate for the weather, bogus wigs or beards. Some male robbers now dress in very bad drag, which presumably they discard immediately while getting away.
• Bandanas or masks call for going to condition red without delay.
• Obvious attempts to conceal or carry a weapon, including heavy clothing inappropriate for the weather, holding up the pants waist, or walking oddly (indicative of a long gun, machete, or club under clothing).
• Skulking behavior, sticking to walls, looking around nervously, entering and leaving an establishment without conducting business.
• Multiple actors as above, whispering to one other, talking behind their hands, etc.
• Apparent drunk, otherwise intoxicated, or mentally deranged behavior. (This may be genuine or an intended distraction.)
• Overly quick or friendly approaches, asking for a light, cigarette, spare change, directions, etc.
• Gang colors or insignia (hard to keep track of if you don't make it a full-time occupation, which I don't).
• Blatant prison or gang tattoos, such as the teardrop under the eye.
• Looking into vehicles and/or trying doors.

I'm sure I missed a few.

- Jim

P.S.: While relatively rare in most of our daily lives, scam artists and pickpockets are out there. They tend to operate more in big cities and at outdoor events where there is a lot of pedestrian traffic.

Typically one partner who seems harmless and possibly not playing with a full deck—sometimes a woman or child—distracts you while another actor picks your pocket or snatches your purse or bag.

Sometimes these scams involve spilling a drink or food on you or claiming to find money that you supposedly dropped (a pigeon drop).

Though they are as old as time, they still work every day. The practiced operators are so good that you won't know what happened until you reach for your wallet.

- Jim

When carrying you are naturaly more aware. Don't become parnoid about it, just stay safe and be aware of your surroundings.

A book that was recommended to me is Gavin de Becker's "A Gift of Fear". The message from the book is that if something doesn't "feel" right, you should not ignore it. We are given the ability to detect problem situations where we may not be able verbalize why that situation is a problem at the moment that it is happening. Something, like the heavy clothing that is not appropriate for the weather in Jim's examples, triggers our senses.

de Becker provides a ton of examples where people dismissed the warning signs and got into trouble as a result. Someone else said that there are only two types of people who ARE paying attention to their surroundings - those that are looking for victims and those who are actively trying to prevent being one. Most people are pre-occupied and not paying attention, as though no possibility of a BG being in the same place with them exists.

This isn't paranoia. It is just like walking across a cow pasture and watching where you put your feet. You can get an unpleasant surprise if you aren't paying attention.

Just to update this topic for the early 2000's (oh yeah, that happened) ...

I've always had a peripheral vision that seems to analyze, process, and identify potential threats. This is my lizard brain processing more relevant and recent input.

I see that one guy looking at me for no reason, more than one time. Maybe following my actions. Didnt I see him before on the block over? I perceive this as a threat and watch him closely.

This instinct comes from parts of your pre-Cambrian brain, its very impulsive and you tend to listen to it a lot. It tells you when a deal isn't as good as advertised on TV, and it lets you know that girl or guy really just wants free drinks.

The BG scan goes back millennia- its tied to your fight or flee impulse, the most primitive driver of them all.

So pay attention- you are highly attended to these threats- it's when you ignore them at the real trouble begins.

One can also turn being aware into a game or exercise.

That man who just walked past you: describe him?

Those teenagers in a small group over there: how many are there?

What color was his shirt?

Etc.

I quiz myself periodically just to make sure I am actually looking at people and my surroundings instead of walking along daydreaming and oblivious.

Lots of good info at this site: http://www.nononsenseselfdefense.com/index.html

Jumping Frog wrote:One can also turn being aware into a game or exercise.

That man who just walked past you: describe him?

Those teenagers in a small group over there: how many are there?

What color was his shirt?

Etc.

I quiz myself periodically just to make sure I am actually looking at people and my surroundings instead of walking along daydreaming and oblivious.

I do the same thing. I practice at being observer,especially when someone looks suspicous. Also getting old now and the memory is not what it used to be.

Jumping Frog wrote:One can also turn being aware into a game or exercise.

That man who just walked past you: describe him?

Those teenagers in a small group over there: how many are there?

What color was his shirt?

Etc.

I quiz myself periodically just to make sure I am actually looking at people and my surroundings instead of walking along daydreaming and oblivious.

I should be doing that... I briefly was, but didn't stick with it long enough to form the habit.

Im old too!!! Everybody looks suspicous to me!

I'll second the reading of de Becker's Gift of Fear as it has many practical tools to improve awareness and sharpen instinct. de Becker is not a gun guy according to his books but certainly seems like he favors being fully prepared. They say the pen is mightier than the sword (gun) ... so I carry both.

seamusTX wrote:.. claiming to find money that you supposedly dropped (a pigeon drop)....


- Jim

Right there, I automatically know they're up to something.

or is it

Sport Coach wrote:I'll second the reading of de Becker's Gift of Fear as it has many practical tools to improve awareness and sharpen instinct. de Becker is not a gun guy according to his books but certainly seems like he favors being fully prepared. They say the pen is mightier than the sword (gun) ... so I carry both.

It's an inexpensive investment. About $6.50 if you buy the Kindle edition from Amazon.