Posted by JenStar on August 27, 2005, at 13:02:02
In reply to I think I saw someone suffering from psychosis, posted by Deneb on August 26, 2005, at 20:43:12
hi Deneb,
I think you need to use your best judement regarding interaction with *any* person, regardless of how they are behaving. If your gut tells you to watch out, then pay attention. Sometimes you may pick up on cues that you only later interpret, cues that tell you someone is dangerous, hostile, erratic, or unlikely to listen to reason.If there is such a person in the vicinity, here's my usual response: Avoid eye contact, but not obviously so. Act busy with myself, but not overly so. Walk slowly and quietly away, acting "normal" so as not to attract their attention. Basically, act like they are just another random person and so are you, walking away on your busy day.
I used to sometimes encounter people like that in the subways of NYC or the el in Chicago, or sometimes downtown. I would neither stare nor scurry away as if terrified...I'd just casually make my way away. It seemed to work.
Now if someone was actually approaching me with intent to harm, I'd obviously do it differently! But with random "crazies" I think the casual avoidance works pretty well.
take care,
J
poster:JenStar
thread:547059
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20050819/msgs/547244.html