Being Honest.....Are "YOU" seen as Predator or Prey...How do you present yourself..??

[Sourdough]

How do you walk......it says something. How do you dress......it says something. How is you use of words.......it says something. How do you stand.....? Everything you say or do communicates.

If a class of 100 students observed you walk down the street, what would they conclude that you are communicating........?

[Rick]

In the animal world there are only two choices; predator or prey. In the people world I think there is a third choice; neutral. And I think it depends a great deal on the setting. If a predator were to see me they would probably look for an easier target unless I was the only target. I try to avoid that at all times. If a prey were to see me they would not view me as a predator and be afraid of me.

[BENESSE]

Confidence, purpose, energy (not nervousness), awareness at all times. Blending in 95% of the time.
In some ways, this city is just as challenging as any wilderness.

[crashdive123]

Confidence, purpose, energy (not nervousness), awareness at all times. Blending in 95% of the time.
In some ways, this city is just as challenging as any wilderness.

Yeah, but what about those boots?

[preachtheWORD]

When I was in middle school and high school, I was a target - the prey. I was chubby, quiet, and lacked confidence. I got picked on a lot by the "predators."

But towards the end of high school that began to change. It probably didn't hurt that I grew much bigger and taller (6'4" 225). The biggest change was confidence. I am far more confident than I was then - I give the Lord the credit for this.

Now I do not feel threatened, although I find myself around threatening people sometimes. Projecting confidence has a lot to do with the way you walk. Stand tall, stick out your chest, don't be in a hurry, have serious, decisive look on your face. You do those things and people will rarely mess with you, no matter how big or small you are.

It also doesn't hurt knowing that you are probably far more capable of surviving a bad situation than the people around you. That can give you confidence.

I am no longer the prey, but I am not a predator, either. I choose to use my power (knowing I could be a predator) to help those who are being preyed upon. It infuriates me to see someone take advantage of another person, especially one who cannot defend himself or herself. All the Bible's teaching about protecting "widows and orphans" (i.e., vulnerable persons) is ingrained very deeply in me. I hope I can pass that on to my children.

[roar-k]

I would like to say that the group would not really pay much attention to me or give me a second glance. I do not dress like I am poor, nor do I dress ostentatiously. I walk with a purpose and just go about my business. But this doesn't mean I am dead to the world.

[nell67]

I am 5'1 and female,regardless of how I walk,talk or dress,creeps will always view me as prey.

[Sourdough]

I would like to say that the group would not really pay much attention to me or give me a second glance. I do not dress like I am poor, nor do I dress ostentatiously. I walk with a purpose and just go about my business. But this doesn't mean I am dead to the world.

I know nothing about you, But I'll bet you communicate way more than you think, way more.

[Winnie]

I am 5'1 and female,regardless of how I walk,talk or dress,creeps will always view me as prey.

Ditto Nell(But I'm 2" taller!)
However..... and I'm sure you'll agree with me Nell, someone messes with my boy, even though he's a grown man... Watch out! mother Bear is still there and ready to do what's necessary.

[nell67]

Ditto Nell(But I'm 2" taller!)
However..... and I'm sure you'll agree with me Nell, someone messes with my boy, even though he's a grown man... Watch out! mother Bear is still there and ready to do what's necessary.

Absolutely Winnie!you know that whole dynamite in small packages thing!

[BENESSE]

Yeah, but what about those boots?

I don't wear them often, but when I do, I hope they communicate a certain quirkiness and unpredictability (all true) and a willingness to go off.
I often think of Joe Pesci's character in Good Fellows and am happy to emulate it on demand.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_ff46b58Hk
(Nell & Winnie, it's worth studying him--short, slight man, but totally nuts--just not worth f-ing with)

[nell67]

I don't wear them often, but when I do, I hope they communicate a certain quirkiness and unpredictability (all true) and a willingness to go off.
I often think of Joe Pesci's character in Good Fellows and am happy to emulate it on demand.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_ff46b58Hk
(Nell & Winnie, it's worth studying him--short, slight man, but totally nuts--just not worth f-ing with)

BEE,I saied they VIEW me as prey,didn't say I was prey,LOL,I have a temper,and depending on the situation,a very short fuse to go with it! oh,and I fight dirty if I have too!

[Winnie]

BEE,I saied they VIEW me as prey,didn't say I was prey,LOL,I have a temper,and depending on the situation,a very short fuse to go with it! oh,and I fight dirty if I have too!


Ditto again!

[Sourdough]

I am 5'1 and female,regardless of how I walk,talk or dress,creeps will always view me as prey.


It has NOT escaped my observation that I am more and more viewed as an OLD MAN. Not much I can do about that, it is just there. I think I am seen as more Easy Prey today than 30 years ago. It is just something to be aware of.

[BENESSE]

The beauty of being perceived one way but quite capable of acting another is an added benefit IMO.

[Sourdough]

The beauty of being perceived one way but quite capable of acting another is an added benefit IMO.

Yes, I am going to start thinking of myself as: Bait......Bait that Bites:)

[Alaskan Survivalist]

Niether. I aspire to be a sheep dog.

[nell67]

It has NOT escaped my observation that I am more and more viewed as an OLD MAN. Not much I can do about that, it is just there. I think I am seen as more Easy Prey today than 30 years ago. It is just something to be aware of.


My goal is to keep myself from becoming a victim,I am prey only so long as I keep them from achieving their goal,once their goal is achieved,then I am a victim,but I won't be a victim without a fight,and making sure they are easily identifiable.

[Pal334]

In years gone by, I think I may have been mistakenly taken for being a predator. I walked with an arrogant confidence that could have been misinterpreted. Seldom was confused as being prey. As Sourdough mentioned, as the years move along, maybe I am seen more as prey but the misinformed. Perhaps due to the grey hairs, the “not in a hurry” walk. However as I have had happen not so long ago (my thread on an attempted mugging in a casino), this old guy still has a bit of life left in him 
In general, the way you are seen is a matter of your own self confidence, and personal bearing. I never make the mistake of discounting a smaller framed woman, I have seen a lot of “behinds” kicked when that mistake was made.
AS said it well, if I was to “pigeon hole” myself, I think I would be more of the sheepdog type.

[roar-k]

I know nothing about you, But I'll bet you communicate way more than you think, way more.

I concur, but you asked so I answered. Each person has their own perceptions and could come to a different conclusion. Alas, I do not observe myself so I cannot comment on how you or others would perceive me, but I would like to think people do not cause me trouble for a reason.

That's not to say that I haven't ran into trouble once or twice or seen it coming and avoided it. I am one of those that walks around corners, not cut them. I try to stay in the light or in a group, if it can be helped. I have my keys in my hand before I get to my car so I do not have to become distracted looking for them. I check my back seat before I get into my car, even if I know the doors are/were locked.

So if someone was watching me they would notice this.

[Old GI]

It has NOT escaped my observation that I am more and more viewed as an OLD MAN. Not much I can do about that, it is just there. I think I am seen as more Easy Prey today than 30 years ago. It is just something to be aware of.

ME TOO, ME TOO! Also, I am very aware of surroundings for years (dark alley in bad part of town at 0200). OK, I may have gone there during my misspent youth looking for trouble.

[Sourdough]

An example of what I am getting at: In Alaska anyone can carry concealed, no permit required. However I choose the open carry.......with the thought that it would discourage an assault.

[Pal334]

Are both open and concealed carry equally "OK" from a legal stand point? How do "normal" people react to open carry?

I agree with your statement about open carry, should dissuade all but the most determined miscreants

[DOGMAN]

Perception is a funny thing isn't it. In my mind, I'll always look like my parents kid. I have this misconception that I still look like I did in High school- long, lean, and clean cut...an all american boy. A person nobody would view as a threat, and that teenage girls might find cute.

But, I've been finding out over the past couple of years, that is not how I am perceived. I have a big beard, a loud voice, big arms and chest, dirty clothes, and big boots. So, now not only do I scare collge age girls, I scare adults of all ages. So I guess I am viewed as a predator. A friend of mine told me, "I am more like the killer in scary movies than the victims"....so, even though I am not a threat...I come across as a predator

you decide...do I look like predator or prey....enjoy this before and after...lol

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs261.snc1/8834_1166081923739_1578645092_411784_3846417_n.jpg

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs058.snc3/14568_184898731189_679136189_3611414_2871403_n.jpg

[Justin Case]

Perception is a funny thing isn't it. In my mind, I'll always look like my parents kid. I have this misconception that I still look like I did in High school- long, lean, and clean cut...an all american boy. A person nobody would view as a threat, and that teenage girls might find cute.

But, I've been finding out over the past couple of years, that is not how I am perceived. I have a big beard, a loud voice, big arms and chest, dirty clothes, and big boots. So, now not only do I scare collge age girls, I scare adults of all ages. So I guess I am viewed as a predator. A friend of mine told me, "I am more like the killer in scary movies than the victims"....so, even though I am not a threat...I come across as a predator

you decide...do I look like predator or prey....enjoy this before and after...lol

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs261.snc1/8834_1166081923739_1578645092_411784_3846417_n.jpg

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs058.snc3/14568_184898731189_679136189_3611414_2871403_n.jpg

I think you look Friendly,, not someone I would want to scrap with, but you look like a Nice guy,

[Rick]

Whoa. We're going to rename you Mad Dog now. (joke)

[hunter63]

LOL, I guess I have to agree w/sourdough about the old man part, but I do also agree that a degree of confidence, in walk, dress, attitude play a big part .

As a "worker bee" for most of my life, I generally spend my time in worker type clothes, boots, jackets, and move around with the "I'm busy, don't mess with me attitude", all the while assessing the surroundings for anything "hinky".

As a service man in bad neighborhoods at all hours, you have to have the attitude, to just get through the day.

As a young man I shot up fast, then stopped as far a size goes.
Funny thing though, as friends got bigger, taller, I stayed pretty much the same size, they still had the impression/perception as being smaller?

I believe that a large size makes you more of a "target". Small guy walks into a bar with an attitude, looking for a fight, who is the first guy he goes after?

As far a CC goes,(or here in WI OC) there sometimes seems to be a attitude that goes with it, that might be considered as "aggressive" to some.

[Swamprat1958]

It has NOT escaped my observation that I am more and more viewed as an OLD MAN. Not much I can do about that, it is just there. I think I am seen as more Easy Prey today than 30 years ago. It is just something to be aware of.

I am probably viewed in the same light. But I always remember what I heard an old man tell a punk one day, "Son I know I can't win a fight with you so just get ready. That means that I will either have to hurt you real bad or kill you. Now are you sure you want to mess with this old man!"

[RangerXanatos]

I think a lot of it just depends how I dress. Sometimes I might look like the preppy tall skinny guy that could be the prey. Othertimes, I could be considered the somewhat muscular normal guy that could be either prey or predator. Though a lot of people used to think I was in the military when I was keeping my hair shorter.

[preachtheWORD]

RX - I imagine that wearing the cape (in your profile pic) surely intimidates anybody that would mess with you ...:boxer:

[Swamprat1958]

It has NOT escaped my observation that I am more and more viewed as an OLD MAN. Not much I can do about that, it is just there. I think I am seen as more Easy Prey today than 30 years ago. It is just something to be aware of.


I just couldn't resist this!!!


The IRS decides to audit Grandpa, and summons him to the IRS office.

The IRS auditor was not surprised when Grandpa showed up with his attorney.

The auditor said, 'Well, sir, you have an extravagant lifestyle and no full-time employment, which you explain by saying that you win money gambling. I'm not sure the IRS finds that believable.'

I'm a great gambler, and I can prove it,' says Grandpa. 'How about a demonstration?'

The auditor thinks for a moment and said, 'Okay. Go ahead.'

Grandpa says, 'I'll bet you a thousand dollars that I can bite my own eye.'

The auditor thinks a moment and says, 'It's a bet.'

Grandpa removes his glass eye and bites it. The auditor's jaw drops.

Grandpa says, 'Now, I'll bet you two thousand dollars that I can bite my other eye.'

Now the auditor can tell Grandpa isn't blind, so he takes the bet.

Grandpa removes his dentures and bites his good eye.

The stunned auditor now realizes he has wagered and lost three grand, with Grandpa's attorney as a witness. He starts to get nervous.

'Want to go double or nothing?' Grandpa asks 'I'll bet you six thousand dollars that I can stand on one side of your desk, and pee into that wastebasket on the other side, and never get a drop anywhere in between.'

The auditor, twice burned, is cautious now, but he looks carefully and decides there's no way this old guy could possibly manage that stunt, so he agrees again.

Grandpa stands beside the desk and unzips his pants, but although he strains mightily, he can't make the stream reach the wastebasket on the other side, so he pretty much urinates all over the auditor's desk.

The auditor leaps with joy, realizing that he has just turned a major loss into a huge win.

But Grandpa's own attorney moans and puts his head in his hands.

'Are you okay?' the auditor asks.

'Not really,' says the attorney. 'This morning, when Grandpa told me he'd been summoned for an audit, he bet me twenty-five thousand dollars that he could come in here and piss all over your desk and that you'd be happy about it!'

I keep telling you! Don't Mess with Old People!!

[Pict]

Just to play a bit with the illustration. I hope people don't view me as a predator, there's nothing predatory about my nature. In my way of thinking I see rapists, criminals and low life's as those that prey upon others. I like to think I'm more viewed like a bull elk. He's not going to eat you but you don't want to mess with him either.

Mac

[trax]

I'm honestly not going to spend as much time thinking about it as I just did reading about it.

[your_comforting_company]

... oh,and I fight dirty if I have too!

It occurred to a fellow one day who wanted to fight me (after my explaining of course) that there is no such thing as fighting clean or dirty. There is only fighting. If you want rules, go to a boxing ring. I'm the kind of guy who also will fight dirty if backed into a corner. I carry myself with a certain amount of courage and never back down, but don't be surprised when you get a surprise...
Predator? definately not. I would never hurt another soul unless provoked and in self defense. I prefer to help others.
Prey? heh... just try it.. did you read what I said about fighting dirty?

I think you've all gotten to know me well enough that without a ton of explaining, you can imagine how folks in town see me, (and those are folks who know who I am) so you can also imagine how folks out of town see me. Not threatening in any way, but something about my appearance speaks volumes. Nothing about me says "hey, come attack me and take what I have!", Either because I don't look like I have much, or because I look like I eat babies on hoagie bread. I'm that strange blend of heavy metal and neanderthal that says "I'll eat you.. and wear what's left".

[Ken]

If a class of 100 students observed you walk down the street, what would they conclude that you are communicating........?

See my avatar? :)

[randyt]

i never really thought too much about this, i just pay attention to what's going on around me. i think to any of us are in the wrong place at the wrong time we will be prey.

[Ken]

Anyone here familiar with the deep sea angler fish? :innocent:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Humpback_anglerfish.png/240px-Humpback_anglerfish.png

[preachtheWORD]

I'm that strange blend of heavy metal and neanderthal that says "I'll eat you.. and wear what's left".

This is the funniest thing I have heard all week! You made my day, brother.

[your_comforting_company]

:tongue_smilie:

[Justin Case]

I'm that strange blend of heavy metal and neanderthal that says "I'll eat you.. and wear what's left".

Ha ha ha ha ,, LOL,, You should add this line to your signature ! :) too funny !

[doug1980]

A few years ago I would walk very fast with my head down not really concerned with anyoneor anything else. But now I walk proudly, that would be a great description I guess. Now how those 100 students would percieve me I have no idea and frankly I don't care. I am proud of who I am and what I have done whether others see it is not my concern. I've been icked on and bullied my whole life for many reasons and have never been phased by it.

[rwc1969]

I think folks percieve me as a crazy paranoid hillbilly, hippy, headbangin redneck, bear of sorts. In reality I'm just a normal person trying to get by. In reality most folks don't even notice me walking down the street.

Based on appearance alone I'd say folks view me as a predator. Based on everyday actions I'd say they think I'm prey if they're predatory in nature. My online persona don't reflect who I am. People generally think I'm much friendleir, quieter and easier to get along with in person.

I don't worry too much how folks percieve me, but am prepared incase they think I'm prey.

[crashdive123]

I am neither predator nor prey. I think to others it may depend on the influence of how they see themselves, as to how they may see me. I am usually aware of the persona that I project and am prepared to alter it if needed, simply from the way I carry myself, the way that I dress, or personal hygiene (shaving, hair neat or disheveled, etc).

[justin_baker]

Mabeye i am an owl. I observe anything and while i am not at the top of the food chain, nothing is really trying to eat me either.

[Ole WV Coot]

I guess to those who don't know me I am an old man that may just be an easy target. They look close, I am very observant and just maybe not worth the effort. I could be paranoid because I always have a couple of weapons on me plus a walking stick, that I don't need but is probably the best weapon I ever learned to use. Won't see a knife until you bleed and if I have my back to the wall you probably won't hear my 45 either. I think I earned my scars and in this part of the country an old man can still defend himself and get a pat on the back by the system.

[Rick]

Paranoid is good when it comes to self defense. About the best you can do is make yourself, your family and your home look unappealing enough that the bad guys look someplace else.

[roar-k]

Paranoid is good when it comes to self defense. About the best you can do is make yourself, your family and your home look unappealing enough that the bad guys look someplace else.

Can you use signs like this:

http://www.eatliver.com/img/2009/4936.jpg

[Rick]

'Zactly......

[FVR]

Don't know rightly what I am. Can tell you that I've been walking down the road and have had people come up to me and say "you must be a Marine."

I'm not a big man weighing in at 210 (yes, I put on a few) at 5'10". I usually don't have problems as I treat others with respect, from a CEO to the urban outdoorman. A guy at work who is just a monster has more problems than me with others. He has not realized that it's not about size or how loud your voice is.

Now I've been in close calls, but because I keep alert and have an angel or two on my shoulders I've been lucky.

Predator or Prey...your call. Just an aging Jarhead.

[Batch]

Its funny how this type of question could be loaded. I used to fight for money on the levies East of the Glades. That is limestone rock and if you fell you bled. Fair was not much talked about.

I am a 6' 3" middle aged nice guy. I haven't scrapped in along time. I count myself as a nice guy and a predator on my chosen prey only. Such as deer, hog, gator and what not.

But, when it comes to humans. I give folks more room then they deserve to avoid conflict...