Welp... I've had it.

**rebel** · 05-31-2008, 11:23 PM

It's O.K. to look them in the eye when they are farther than a leg or arm distance. Any closer and you should be watching for their feet and hands. Their body language.

Learn a couple of blocks with follow through strikes. Don't hold back, you have to go for the vital areas. Then, get your distance.

**Alpine_Sapper** · 06-01-2008, 12:29 AM

Originally Posted by rebel

It's O.K. to look them in the eye when they are farther than a leg or arm distance. Any closer and you should be watching for their feet and hands. Their body language.

Learn a couple of blocks with follow through strikes. Don't hold back, you have to go for the vital areas. Then, get your distance.

Center mass. All movement stems from the waist, even if it's a punch. If you can watch the guys waist you'll see his movements quicker than you will otherwise. And you can watch his hands and feet in your peripheral vision.

But if you're closer than arms distance, about the only way you're gonna watch his feet is if he's kicking you in the head.

**Sam** · 06-01-2008, 01:36 AM

Originally Posted by rebel

It's O.K. to look them in the eye when they are farther than a leg or arm distance. Any closer and you should be watching for their feet and hands. Their body language.

Learn a couple of blocks with follow through strikes. Don't hold back, you have to go for the vital areas. Then, get your distance.

I'm an old Jarhead, and 6' 260ish so I do Ok. I just don't try to treat strangers worse than I would expect to be treated, on average.

**rebel** · 06-01-2008, 07:57 AM

Originally Posted by Alpine_Sapper

Center mass. All movement stems from the waist, even if it's a punch. If you can watch the guys waist you'll see his movements quicker than you will otherwise. And you can watch his hands and feet in your peripheral vision.

But if you're closer than arms distance, about the only way you're gonna watch his feet is if he's kicking you in the head.

"Center Mass" ! That was the terminology that alluded me at the moment. Thanks!

**DOGMAN** · 06-02-2008, 06:06 PM

I always look people in the eyes, and smile. If they look back at me- I say "HI". Then I keep walking. Most Homeless people aren't truly homeless. They are "architecturally challenged" I say this because most of them sleep in the same place every night- be it under a bridge, in an abandoned building, or in a green van down by the river. They often sleep in the same spot, and have a place that they store items. So, really it just depends on your definition of home. I think of homeless people as survivalist in the truest sense. While we sit here typing and debating about survival strategies they are out there testing them out- doing field research. I bet a long term homeless person holds a wealth of knowledge on survival tactics, and could probably add considerable info. to our little forum. Last thing.....so many homeless people are veterans. Vietnam vets to be specific. They deserve eye contact and at least a smile.

**Rick** · 06-02-2008, 06:12 PM

Indy has done something a little goofy. I haven't made up my mind yet what I think about it. Like every urban area, we have pan handlers that stand around with their sign asking for money. To deter them from doing that, Indy has placed collection boxes around town so people can put their money in the boxes and then it will be spent where it does the most good. One guy was quoted in the paper as saying he had been making $50 a day but his donations had dropped off considerably since the boxes went up.

I saw a great twist last week at one of our busier intersections. A man (late 20's) had a sign that said something like "Vet needs help. Homeless. Glad to get anything." On the other side of the intersection was a gal with a sign that said, "Husband a vet. Homeless. Glad to get anything."

I don't know how many of these folks are the real deal or just looking for a handout but that was a twist I'd never seen before.

**crashdive123** · 06-02-2008, 06:19 PM

I know that there are alot of people in need, including veterans. This post is not meant to diminish that fact. There was a recent story in the local fish wrap about all of the "homeless" on the street corners with their signs. They found that most (not all) of the street corner guys and gals were not homeless. They quit their jobs, still lived in houses, bring in from 40k - 60k a year tax free doing this. That's why I only give $ to local organizations that I have checked out. Now on ocassion I will offer to buy a "homeless" person lunch. Most of the time they refuse and say they just want money. The ones that accept often have a very interesting story to tell.

**Ken** · 06-02-2008, 06:49 PM

Back in my Bawston school years, there was an old couple that used to sit on the bench in the middle of the wide grass median just down and across from the Union Oyster House. Even in the winter. She would sit there all bundled up knitting something or other. He would play an old accordian, with the accordian case open on the ground to collect all the dollars the passersby dropped in. One day, the Boston Herald did a story on them. Seems that they owned a slew of brownstone apartment buildings in the Back Bay section and were, even back then, multi-multi millionaires.

**crashdive123** · 06-02-2008, 07:08 PM

When I lived in Hawaii there was this guy outside my favorite watering hole every night. Big guy - about 6'5", in shape, looked like the stereotypical California surfer. Made his own instruments and sang. We enjoyed listening. We always added to his coffers by throwing in some change or bills into his bucket. One slow night we struck up a conversation with him. Turns out he had a PHD in astro-physics, owned several condo's in downtown Waikiki. He just really enjoyed making instruments and singing.

**Ken** · 06-02-2008, 07:15 PM

Originally Posted by crashdive123

When I lived in Hawaii there was this guy outside my favorite watering hole every night. Big guy - about 6'5", in shape, looked like the stereotypical California surfer. Made his own instruments and sang. We enjoyed listening. We always added to his coffers by throwing in some change or bills into his bucket. One slow night we struck up a conversation with him. Turns out he had a PHD in astro-physics, owned several condo's in downtown Waikiki. He just really enjoyed making instruments and singing.

Knew a guy with a PhD in Astrophysics from Harvard. Also had an MBA and a degree in metallurgy. I hired him on a couple of consulting contracts I ran back in the early 80's. Guy taught in the business department of a local state university. (WHY???) He worked for NASA at one time as a project manager developing rocket guidance systems based on star maps. He was a true rocket scientist, although I came to think of him as more of a space shot.

**RBB** · 06-02-2008, 07:28 PM

Originally Posted by FVR

Wow, moral of that story, don't get drunk. You where volnerable, he picked up on it, and used it to his advantage.

.

Good advice.

I won't say I never drink, but I once bought a bottle of 12 year old scotch that is now pretty near 20 year old scotch.

What drinking will do for you:

I was out on a call about 0400 Saturday morning - shots fired. Found a campfire in back of a house. Figured "fire-crackers." Talked to the guy there - he was about .20 blood alcohol content. Started questioning him - he came up with a 9MM AP-9 (ghetto blaster - similar to a Tech-9).

I'm glad he was drunk, as he telegraphed his moves and my Glock was planted between his eyes and my left hand was on the AP-9 before he had a chance to fill me with holes.

I'm not wild about dealing with drunks, but in situations like this - give me a drunk every time.