Anya ,'Same Time, Same Place'
Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.
I wouldn't say I have a routine, no, though of course I have the "pay attention to the world around you just in case someone's lurking and wants to kill you" switch flipped when I'm walking alone at night, and I'll choose safer routes and so on.
Yep. Though is it a routine to make sure that I have a firm grip on the heavy, hard-sided purse, just in case I need to use it as a weapon? Or is that being prepared?
You are, officially, one of the Really Good Guys. Please understand that.
Yes, you are. Please do understand that.
Thank you, but I'm really not. Like Mal, I'm merely all right.
On the flipside, however, this could translate into the dreaded NGB.
Not Getting...Bananas?
Oh wait, wait. Nice Guy Backlash.
Also, keys out. Held really tightly. But that's more due to the fear that they will maliciously leap from my hands and find their way into a storm drain or gutter. I'm convinced they will. Never have, but someday....
And when parking in a lot at night, I forgo my first spot available, changing it to first nearest spot under a light.
HELL yeah.Please do tell. I suddenly feel unprepared to teach self-defense¹, since I had no idea.
I do walk to my car with my ears extra open, but I wouldn't have anything I can call a routine.
¹ Tonight, since the neck is getting better due to Dr. Greg and his magic.
I have a carefully random routine. One of the things the pros tell you is to not be predictable, because a stalker will count on your routine. Random's easy for me, I can do random. It's random and aware at the same time that's hard.
Because random=absentminded and carefree, right? Not so much.
I would also recommend that women not follow people around and stare. FYI.
A couple of my co-workers were a bit put out that they'd honked at me in traffic and I hadn't looked over.
Oh god, me too. So annoying. When do I know people in cars? Hardly ever is the answer.
Oh, and if I'm creeped out, keys are in a fist with them pointing out between my knuckles. But don't swat at the huge bug flying into your face like that or you end up giving yourself a nasty scrape....
It is weird that sometimes what seems either completely normal OR just confusing to you as a child is just downright weird and creepifying when you think of it as an adult. When I was in sixth grade, my best firend had an inground pool. When I used to go over to swim, her mother was all "Sophia has boobies. J___, why don't YOU have boobies?' Her dad was all" Wow, Sophia looks REALLY good in a bathing suit!" and her older sister (who was a lesbian) used to make me sit there while she brushed and brushed and brushed my hair. And I thought little of it at the time, but... Weird. Also, the best friend J. not only went to Harvard, but spent at least a semester as a call girl.
I was going to say...I thought not having a routine was the safe thing?
Or, you know. PUT OUT AN EYE.