a verbal pat on the back

[Mobuck]

Possibly brought on by the recent Walmart stabbing incident. I went into the local big box lumber store yesterday and stopped at the customer service counter to pay my monthly credit card bill. The woman working the counter is a familiar face (although I don't even know her name). She was going through a rough time with a bum knee at the same time I was recovering from bum hip replacement. I always exchange pleasantries when she's not busy. Yesterday, I was typically OC (don't know if that triggered the comment) and as we were doing the payment transaction, the lady said "Do you remember the day you came in while the man was having a mad fit about a return?" I replied, "Yes, I most certainly do. That seemed like a very volatile situation". She said "We were really afraid he was going to become violent but then he turned and saw you just standing there like a tiger ready to pounce. I think we were fortunate you walked in that day and that no one had to get hurt".
Well, I don't recall appearing 'like a tiger ready to pounce' but obviously my movement to an advantageous position and body language sent that message clearly. The lady commented that she was always happy to see me in the store and not just as a customer.

 

[thinckley]

The ability to diffuse a situation with not much more than a look is rare. Nicely done.

 

[Mobuck]

All I did was move closer to a bit of 'cover' (a metal kiosk holding sale flyers) and align with the backstop of a solid outer wall in an unobtrusive manner-- or so I thought. Maybe the PO'd dude just realized he was making a fool of himself and settled down.
Regardless, no one was hurt and all turned out for the better. Don't have to be paranoid to pay attention to what's going on--doesn't cost much.

 

[DGW1949]

One can tell quite a bit just from looking at a man's demeanor.

DGW

 

[blume357]

when I first started here on the infernalnet there was often some discussion that many bad guys actually have a six sense ... .and will stay away from a person carrying concealed....

 

[Mobuck]

'many bad guys actually have a six sense ... .and will stay away from a person carrying concealed...'
Could be I guess. Some folks just project 'confidence vibes'.

 

[Joe Reilly]

when I first started here on the infernalnet there was often some discussion that many bad guys actually have a six sense ... .and will stay away from a person carrying concealed....

A sort of “profiling”? It can work both ways.

 

[Jeepnik]

Many years ago my dad told me "before you pick a fight with a man look at his hands". It stuck with me and the first thing I look at are hands.

While the eyes may be the windows to the soul the hands tell the history of a man.

 

[Ride1949]

I'm still trying to picture a (by your own admission) rather small-ish, 70-ish yr. old man, with a bum hip, "standing there looking like a tiger ready to pounce", striking fear into the heart of a pissed off customer.

What was plan B if he hadn't decided to stand down on his own ?

 

[Mobuck]

I guess we'll never know but I didn't intend to let something like the recent Walmart 'mass stabbing' take place. As I said, I was already thinking of what was in the background (solid concrete exterior wall).

 

[Jeepnik]

I'm still trying to picture a (by your own admission) rather small-ish, 70-ish yr. old man, with a bum hip, "standing there looking like a tiger ready to pounce", striking fear into the heart of a pissed off customer.

What was plan B if he hadn't decided to stand down on his own ?

Ahh, but you forgot the old but very true saying. "Never pick a fight with an old guy. He'll just kill you".

 

[blume357]

Many years ago I was at a customer's house... old man... probably a lot younger than I am now... and he told me straight out why he carried a gun... because he was too old and fat to fight. (I'm there now) If I ever get into a heated verbal confrontation with someone and they threaten to do me physical harm I'm going to politely explain to them that I have a serious heart condition and they are basically threatening to kill me and I will not fight them on their terms.... Oh and when I was very young my father.. one of the Chosin Few, told me there is no such thing as a fair fight, only the winner.
Glad you got the pat on the back Mobuck.

 

[Mobuck]

My Dad was one of those 'little guys you don't want to mess with'. He'd learned to control himself in his old age but the potential was still there. A small grizzly bear can be as dangerous as a big one.
Also, keep in mind the comment about the 'tiger ready to pounce' came from someone else--not myself.

 

[Hvymax]

I've always been blessed with size. Usually someone will go to jump in my face and realize that's not my face that they're in. I've surprised myself the last few times I've gone Hands on but definitely don't look forward to it like I used to.

 

[Ride1949]

My Dad was one of those 'little guys you don't want to mess with'. He'd learned to control himself in his old age but the potential was still there. A small grizzly bear can be as dangerous as a big one.
Also, keep in mind the comment about the 'tiger ready to pounce' came from someone else--not myself.

Mobuck, I'm not a big guy myself and I'd guess I'm just a little older than you. I've been trained in several martial arts and am a Vietnam vet. I know you don't have to be big to be bad. You just have to be bad. I guess the amount of time you spend on here patting yourself on the back just wore thin. I apologize. Keep on saving the world. Hell Mobuck, you're just like ......BATMAN!

 

[Don Lovel]

"Would you please hang out in the store a bit until after those two morons leave, if they get more stupid I might need help"
They left no problems but the clerk said "I saw that NRA logo on your tshirt and hoped you were carrying, thank you for shopping here"

 

[WendyZXZ]

Mobuck, I'm not a big guy myself and I'd guess I'm just a little older than you. I've been trained in several martial arts and am a Vietnam vet. I know you don't have to be big to be bad. You just have to be bad. I guess the amount of time you spend on here patting yourself on the back just wore thin. I apologize. Keep on saving the world. Hell Mobuck, you're just like ......BATMAN!

My experience, it is the little guy, typically always quite, polite and courteous, genteel in nature that you need to say: these aren't the droids, you are looking for, this is not the person you tangle with if you have brains at all. Those quiet, little bastards are those one who will mess ya up if you give them reason enough to.

 

[Mobuck]

^^^ That was my Dad. I don't remember ever seeing anyone disrespect him in his presence. After spending some time with his WW2 Army buddies, I realized just why that was.

 

[Jeepnik]

Dad was a medium sized 5'8" slightly built guy. Quiet and if it hadn't been for his red hair you'd never have noticed him. But I watched him back down three bikers who were trying to force a couple out of a camp site, in Los Padres National Forest. When it was over my mom said it would be a bad night. It was, the nightmares came back. The bikers never knew how close they came to never seeing another sunrise.

 

[Mobuck]

Yup sounds a lot like Dad. 5'8" 125-140# but no red hair. Amphibious landings in North Africa, Sicily, and Anzio. Very quick to 'rile up'.

 

[Jeepnik]

Yup sounds a lot like Dad. 5'8" 125-140# but no red hair. Amphibious landings in North Africa, Sicily, and Anzio. Very quick to 'rile up'.

Dad never got riled up, he just got quiet. That was the scary part.

 

[Busterswoodshop]

When it come to survival.
It's not the man in the fight , it's the fight in the man.

Two things about fighting.
If you find yourself in a fair fight , you came unprepared , and never back a coward into a corner.

 

[Mobuck]

As Dad said "Don't fight unless you have to but if you do, don't go half way".
I haven't had a 'fist fight' for almost 60 years but the last time, both the others went to the hospital.

 

[OLDGUY79]

Possibly brought on by the recent Walmart stabbing incident. I went into the local big box lumber store yesterday and stopped at the customer service counter to pay my monthly credit card bill. The woman working the counter is a familiar face (although I don't even know her name). She was going through a rough time with a bum knee at the same time I was recovering from bum hip replacement. I always exchange pleasantries when she's not busy. Yesterday, I was typically OC (don't know if that triggered the comment) and as we were doing the payment transaction, the lady said "Do you remember the day you came in while the man was having a mad fit about a return?" I replied, "Yes, I most certainly do. That seemed like a very volatile situation". She said "We were really afraid he was going to become violent but then he turned and saw you just standing there like a tiger ready to pounce. I think we were fortunate you walked in that day and that no one had to get hurt".
Well, I don't recall appearing 'like a tiger ready to pounce' but obviously my movement to an advantageous position and body language sent that message clearly. The lady commented that she was always happy to see me in the store and not just as a customer.

Great Story! a "thank you for your service" moment!
I've always taught my wife about SITUATIONAL AWARENESS. It is essential for safety and you must have exhibited it and the bad guy was aware of it. Good for you!!