1. A term often used in SF is "gentlebeing" -- not that this is a huge improvement over "gentleperson"; just another idea to toss into the bag.
2. Generally, position yourself in such a way that if you actually *were* an attacker, your victim would have advance warning that you were heading towards her. Duck into the street just a bit, for example. Focus your attention on other things so your "attention vector" doesn't go through her (a real attacker would be watching her for just the right moment to move), hesitate so you don't seem like you're about to do something (a real attacker would want to keep up momentum), aim yourself away from her so you'd have to turn in order to approach her, etc. Do whatever you can to increase the "warning margin".
I don't know how much any of these things actually help, but I think I've noticed mild "ok, I'm not alarmed now" vibes from individual women I've passed under these circumstances. I think. (This information is all somewhat dated, as the last time I was out walking after dark where there were other isolated people was probably Providence, 1989.)
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ninetydegrees
no subject
on 2010-12-17 02:02 am (UTC)2. Generally, position yourself in such a way that if you actually *were* an attacker, your victim would have advance warning that you were heading towards her. Duck into the street just a bit, for example. Focus your attention on other things so your "attention vector" doesn't go through her (a real attacker would be watching her for just the right moment to move), hesitate so you don't seem like you're about to do something (a real attacker would want to keep up momentum), aim yourself away from her so you'd have to turn in order to approach her, etc. Do whatever you can to increase the "warning margin".
I don't know how much any of these things actually help, but I think I've noticed mild "ok, I'm not alarmed now" vibes from individual women I've passed under these circumstances. I think. (This information is all somewhat dated, as the last time I was out walking after dark where there were other isolated people was probably Providence, 1989.)