Post by Ceorlmann on May 19, 2012 15:28:38 GMT -7
Dressing like the natives is always a good way to start, and yeah, wearing cammies in the city is not a good way to go. Acting like the natives works too. Don't act too friendly, but don't act paranoid either. The watchers will pick up on paranoia and your sense of worry if you show it in your body language. Basically, be casual, but confident. Acting focused like you're going to work or something works as well.
In any city (with the exception of Nago and Naha in Oki, as those were the only cities I've ever been in that I'd consider safe on any level), I'm watching my tail and flanks subtly every few paces, as that's all it takes for someone to get on your tail or flank. Window reflections or small mirror reflections (like on a parked vehicle) are among my favorite tools for watching my tail and flanks.
If you're wearing pocketed pants (jeans or dress pants; doesn't matter), then don't leave anything in your back pockets. Back pockets, last I checked anyway, are a favorite spot for pickpockets to try and take something. If you can hide the item(s) in your shoes/boots, then that's even better (think x-amount of money, cards, IDs, etc.).
If a stranger comes up and asks something casual like what the time is, then keeping on walking and giving the guy/girl the cold shoulder is the route to take if possible. If you engage in conversation, don't take your eyes off of the person save for a few quick glances (checking to make sure you're not coincidentally getting surrounded and what not) and keep your hands near your pockets. Assess how close the stranger is to you in person if you're engaging in conversation (the farther away, the better. If someone's close enough to me to punch me or kick me, at least one of my hands curls up a bit in making ready for a potential fight.).
If you never had the opportunity to research the city you're in prior to going to it, then your best bet for navigation is to stay close to the main drags. You don't necessarily have to be on a main drag, but as long as it's in sight you have a reference in case you need to bug. If you need transpo and your legs aren't cutting it: spare change is always good to have because cities tend to have far better public transpo systems than suburbs and rural areas do.
In any city (with the exception of Nago and Naha in Oki, as those were the only cities I've ever been in that I'd consider safe on any level), I'm watching my tail and flanks subtly every few paces, as that's all it takes for someone to get on your tail or flank. Window reflections or small mirror reflections (like on a parked vehicle) are among my favorite tools for watching my tail and flanks.
If you're wearing pocketed pants (jeans or dress pants; doesn't matter), then don't leave anything in your back pockets. Back pockets, last I checked anyway, are a favorite spot for pickpockets to try and take something. If you can hide the item(s) in your shoes/boots, then that's even better (think x-amount of money, cards, IDs, etc.).
If a stranger comes up and asks something casual like what the time is, then keeping on walking and giving the guy/girl the cold shoulder is the route to take if possible. If you engage in conversation, don't take your eyes off of the person save for a few quick glances (checking to make sure you're not coincidentally getting surrounded and what not) and keep your hands near your pockets. Assess how close the stranger is to you in person if you're engaging in conversation (the farther away, the better. If someone's close enough to me to punch me or kick me, at least one of my hands curls up a bit in making ready for a potential fight.).
If you never had the opportunity to research the city you're in prior to going to it, then your best bet for navigation is to stay close to the main drags. You don't necessarily have to be on a main drag, but as long as it's in sight you have a reference in case you need to bug. If you need transpo and your legs aren't cutting it: spare change is always good to have because cities tend to have far better public transpo systems than suburbs and rural areas do.