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Forgive the misleading header. This post is not to talk about the latest Netflix sensation where some photogenic young teens save the fictional town of Hawkins from an encroaching supernatural menace hailing from an alternate dimension. (Enough of my toilet habits.)
No, instead I would like to discuss our attitude to strangers. As in, people we have not yet met and not long-limbed monsters from the upside-down.
Today, I was returning from my lunch break when I was stopped by a wild-eyed fellow on the street clutching some manner of map.
My first thought was that he was out of luck if he was looking for Black Beard's hidden treasure as it was most surely not buried in the City Centre of Glasgow, Scotland.
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My second thought was to be on high alert. Scotland is known for many things, one of which the Scottish tourist board always tries to play down is the savage predatory nature of the urban Scots upon their fellow man.
I bounced around on my toes, readying myself for things to get a bit leery.
The chap gestured at me with his map and pleaded,
Excuse me, would you happen to know where this building is located?
Despite the fact that he had an accent as civilized as my own and was wearing a suit so sharp it was in danger of slicing a hole into another dimension, I was not so readily fooled.
I beg your pardon?
Was my wicked riposte whilst I watched his hands for weapons or movements that suggested an innate knowledge of Krav Maga.
This building old fellow, I can't seem to place it. I have an urgent appointment at two o'clock.
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He seemed genuine enough but this wasn't my first invite to a sexy party. I leant in a little so I could see the map more clearly but far enough back that a swung sock full of coins couldn't catch me on the chin.
Ah yes. I know that one. It's down the bottom of the street there and to the right... Oops, sorry, I mean left.
I waved a brawny arm in the general direction of the place in an ape-like display of masculinity. Just to emphasise I was not to be trifled with.
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You mean the left then don't you?
Oho! Well, well, well my little pirate treasure hunter. If you bloody well know where it is then why are you asking? I stepped back, readying myself to unleash a bag of testosterone-fueled punchy-kicky-fight mayhem.
He stared at me. Eyes wide.
I stared back like a fox would at a casually discarded kebab.
Thanks then.
He muttered before skirting around me nervously.
I watched him go. My eyes like demented gerbils.
Soon he was out of sight. I continued my walk back to the office. On the way, I had time to reflect.
Should I be more trusting of strangers? Should I have been nicer, perhaps invited him to tea? Maybe I should have shared a joke about the time I got lost in Venezuela and ended up trapped in a bin for many hours?
Whilst I thought of these questions, I was reminded of one of my colleagues who always had time for strangers and general deeds of goodness.
Right enough he has been robbed more times than I can count.
What is your attitude to approaches from strangers? Do you think we should all attempt to be more friendly and make the world a better place? Or is the Scottish way of open hostility the only sensible response in this age of modernity?
All pictures sourced from pixabay and in some cases subjected to various manipulations.
Authored by: @meesterboom
Wow, what a wonderful feat of writing balancing humour and seriousness on such an equal balance as to make a level feel betrayed!
Excellent, thank you! This is a touchy topic, one that could become dicy fairly quickly. So, I'll tip toe my way into it like most Canadians would... ;)
My experience and understanding of history showed me that astringency would do well, on the short terms, with aggressive or misbehaving parties. Though efficient in such cases, it obviously is not sustainable a manner if one is to build community on the long run as long term interactions demands a behaviour of integrity as well but also a level of openness that will allow for the feeling of safety, on both part, to take place. Without it, there is no open space for learning as it is showed in neurological studies. Both physical and emotional safety must take place to create the precedent of open communication for relationships to grow. Using this technique would stifle and thus render the relationship unviable on the long run.
The philosophy by which this "communication" approach comes from is a close descendent of warrior cultures which entice each other in warring each other by the very fact of their philosophy and perspective on relationships. Some cultures, luckily, have learned from it and have moved toward more sustainable and healing ways allowing the potential to live peacefully and thriving within their culture as well as abroad, radiating of a warmth and openness, not to be confused with naivety, toward demeanours of all genres permitting and welcoming open communication, cultural expansion and free expression of true feelings.
To come back to the situation you lived by, you had a gut feeling that the individual wasn't right maybe and used a show of strength and austerity. This seems to have served you well in the past and, possibly in this situation too... Did it help you two build a stronger human relationship or build community in spite of the fear of being robbed? I understand that safety comes first, at what price in this case? Was the occasion robbed by the same token of a potential new powerful friendship, connection or of a stronger human bond that would one way or another on the long run benefit all humans???
As for your friend, maybe he has enough to let the robbers survive another day given them another chance to learn and grow out of the unhealthy ways by which thieves survive. When the occasions, social and/or physical and/or emotional environment become more placid, may they too grow out of their ways and be included in a community that will allow them to rightfully be a thriving person too.
Again, I want to thank you for this beautiful opportunity to share in laughter, learning and humanity.
All for one and one for all! Namaste :)
@natord | Nov. 30, 2017, 12:34 a.m. | Votes: 0 | [
VOTE ]
Well, it all depends on the time of day, sex of the stranger, age, appearance, district (where we met), my mood, and what was written in my horoscope this morning...
Honestly, I have a strange habit. When a stranger approaching with some question, I immediately say no and go away, even if he has not started talking. Later, my brain can have time to process the request, which flew in my back.
My high-speed biological neural processors assess the level of threat and if everything is OK, I'm going back to help, straining cheekbones to look more masculine (cuz I don't have a brawny arm like you).
When it's all over and we disperse, I start to think who was more terrified, and whose teeth were stronger during the straining cheekbones. Therefore, I prefer to look back for the next 10 minutes, what if this stranger decide to take rematch.
Conclusion: Help people with a smile on your paralyzed face. So you can save more teeth and will not bite your tongue, when the stranger decide to do the upper-cut to your innocent face.
