I like this idea I always try to talk my way out or just ignore people , but sadly in the areas I wander I sometimes have to resort to the second option of defending myself which isn't a great feeling
as in everything else its different for everybody. myself i couldve walked through the hood of houston or memphis, phoenix or LA.. sacramento, bakersfield.. richmond.. any other night or even just a few minutes earlier and it mightve been bad news. ive been incredibly lucky. just barely slipping by it all in the knick of time in some cases. alcohol helps a lot.
was chased by a local gang all over south austin one night. nothing on me but a pocket knife. i picked up on it as soon as they were moving my way though and had the tarp and bedroll rolled up and packed in moments. dove over the nearest fence and the next and circled back. they had been attacking other riders id met along the tracks there the previous nights. gunshots.. was on the first northbound for Denison the next morning.
i was homeless for some years prior to travel though. youth shelters and day centers in seattle were intense. you learn to act. play crazy or play smart, friendly or sketch, case by case. some people want to smell your fear, others dont and you dont want them to either. you have to identify whatever it is that is going to set them off first, and then facilitate something else entirely that will lead them as far from it as possible.
yeah ive been very lucky. i try not to push it.