Say When.

[Tom Yum]

I'm riding public transport yesterday and a homeless man enters the bus with two packs (a black back pack and what appears to be a purple fanny pack). Nothing strange - people start loading onto the bus.

An elderly woman sits in front of me, while a younger lady sits in front diagonal. The homeless guy is across from me and in the back is a Marine with his girlfriend.

Approximately 10 minutes after our departure, the homeless man stares off outside and starts talking to himself. At first, its mumbles and then he starts getting louder.

I size the guy up quick: no taller than 6'1" and no heavier than 200-210. He's got long reddish colored hair with a bald spot, moustache and beard of same color. No obvious protruding objects from the pocket closest to me. Both bags are closed.

The young lady in front of him starts to realize what he's doing and kind of shreeks forward. As he gets louder (and he's escalating with himself!) the elderly lady looks shit-scared and is sweating.

The homeless man does not seem confrontational although his tone has gone from neutral to slightly angry as he continues to talk to no one. A couple of scenarios start going through my mind - does he get up and start swinging or accosting one of the two ladies? Does he remain seated and continue on with his conversation? Does he calm down? Does he brandish some kind of weapon and flail it at the ladies or at me?

The Marine in the back takes notice and we nod the situation.

And more importantly - what am I going to do about it?

I slide toward the aisle, just out of arm reach from the guy and watch him very, very carefully. If he makes a move toward one of the ladies, I can take him from the side, secure his closest arm with a lock, stomp behind his knee and put him onto the ground.

If he pulls free and starts flailing face to face, I'd try for limb destruction, elbows, knees, stomps, headbutt to soften him up and hopefully the Marine in the back would be able to take him down.

Times up, the elderly lady is panicking and hobbles into the aisle straight for the door even though we are still in motion but about to stop in a few minutes. Homeless guy gets up, walks behind her standing a few inches away from her still talking to thin air - I moved in without consciously deciding to do so - I get within striking range of the guy from behind. I'm ready to take him. I'm getting tunnel vision and some sweaty palms.

The vehicle stops, she gets out and the homeless guy starts going her direction, but then does a 180 degree turn and starts moving away quickly.

So that was my excitement for the weekend and I'm glad no one got hurt.

[kingoftheforest]

I've gotten sweaty palms in highschool a few times.

Although I'd say I would watch the homeless guy talking to himself if I was on the bus too, I think that was a bit over dramatized description of events.

The sweaty palms and tunnel vision seem to denote maybe you made yourself a little more nervous than was necessary. Thats a sign your about to pass out from increased pulse and blood pressure. Can't say I have ever caused myself to be that stressed in a similar situation.

Try deep breathing next time, it's not a crime to yell at yourself in public I don't knock you for being prepared but I have seen many a homeless person in my time yell at themselves. Usually the dangerous ones beat themselves while doing it before it hits the fan from my expierence or they start to yell directly at people around them.

The bags are what homeless people carry their stuff in when the shopping cart doesn't fit on the bus.

[Tom Yum]

And what did we learn from this experience?

I'd especially like to hear your thoughts on the tunnel vision and sweaty palms part, as that was something I had to train constantly and consciously to overcome in several jobs I've done.

The homeless dude was a little crazy, but probably less of a threat than I imagined.

Tunnel vision and sweaty palms?

In all honesty, I think it was just a reaction to what I perceived as the unknown - a potentially crazy individual. I don't consider myself a bad ass even though I like to train and fight.

My gut instinct told me to be prepared to help although my perception was off.

[Tom Yum]

Try deep breathing next time, it's not a crime to yell at yourself in public I don't knock you for being prepared but I have seen many a homeless person in my time yell at themselves. Usually the dangerous ones beat themselves while doing it before it hits the fan from my expierence or they start to yell directly at people around them.

Thanks. There are a lot of crazies out there I've been told - especially with some stories of guys I know who ended up on the unfortunate side. I know Mike B has alot of experience working with folks from the straight-jacket world (hell he's a moderator on defend.net! )

I was unconsciously ready to act but like you mentioned the situation was less of a threat than I perceived.

The bags are what homeless people carry their stuff in when the shopping cart doesn't fit on the bus.

LOL! I know.

[kingoftheforest]

Don't be over prepared

Yeah it happens sometimes. I was in a stop and rob (gas station) a few weeks back I these two guys were having what sounded like a heated argument, turned out as one put it (they were two African American gentlemen)

"Man we love doing that always makes the white folks nervous".

Sometimes stupidity runs rampant because most people have a false sense of security, while some may have an over defined sense of insecurity, just go to find the middle road is all.

Stay frosty till it's go time and when it is go go go.

[TTEscrima]

I'm riding public transport yesterday and a homeless man enters the bus with two packs (a black back pack and what appears to be a purple fanny pack). Nothing strange - people start loading onto the bus.

An elderly woman sits in front of me, while a younger lady sits in front diagonal. The homeless guy is across from me and in the back is a Marine with his girlfriend.

Approximately 10 minutes after our departure, the homeless man stares off outside and starts talking to himself. At first, its mumbles and then he starts getting louder.

So that was you getting all excited, first of all I ain't homeless, I'm a social engineer and I find a little conversation with myself usually gets me a seat to myself on the bus.

It's people like you who ruin everyones fun on the bus, it's all about the feel of the situation not the clothing or color of peoples skin. While you were eyeballing me you missed the two guys making the deal in the back of the bus didn't you?

[Tant01]

Hehaha

So that was you getting all excited, first of all I ain't homeless, I'm a social engineer and I find a little conversation with myself usually gets me a seat to myself on the bus.

It's people like you who ruin everyones fun on the bus, it's all about the feel of the situation not the clothing or color of peoples skin. While you were eyeballing me you missed the two guys making the deal in the back of the bus didn't you?

That's good...

The guy that was really thinking about shanking you and robbing the girls was behind you the whole time.

"Crazy Bag Man" was only the decoy. LOL

[TTEscrima]

That's good...

The guy that was really thinking about shanking you and robbing the girls was behind you the whole time.

"Crazy Bag Man" was only the decoy. LOL

It's easy to forget he person drawing the most attention in a situation isn't necessarily the most important one.

[Tant01]

The ploy is actually all too common. Every good team needs a distraction....

[DickHardman]

man, all that over some dude talkin to himself? are you serious??? ive sat next to bums smoking crack on the light-rail on the way to SJSU before and i didnt even care enough to move over a single seat.

[TTEscrima]

man, all that over some dude talkin to himself? are you serious??? ive sat next to bums smoking crack on the light-rail on the way to SJSU before and i didnt even care enough to move over a single seat.

ROFLMAO. It's when I get on a bus and there isn't someone talking to their self I get worried. Hanging a string out of your mouth is also a great way to keep people from sitting with or talking to you.

[Garland]

ROFLMAO. Hanging a string out of your mouth is also a great way to keep people from sitting with or talking to you.

A cat's tail works even better.

[kingoftheforest]

man, all that over some dude talkin to himself? are you serious??? ive sat next to bums smoking crack on the light-rail on the way to SJSU before and i didnt even care enough to move over a single seat.

Sitting that close to crack smoke???

Now it's all becoming clear.....

It's true though about the decoy I had a friend who used to always say

"If the prettiest girl in the bar comes up and starts to talk to my ugly a$$ I start looking for the guy who's gonna roll me!"

[DickHardman]

all joking aside, i do admire toms courage for preparing to defend someone he felt could have been in danger.

[Tom Yum]

You guys got me rolling!

Saw another crazy crouched into the seat diaganol mumbling to himself in what sounded like Assemblies of God type speaking in tongues...