My spidy sense may be too sensitive

[NC Buckeye]

Yesterday for lunch I went to my local subway and since I was alone I was doing more people watching than I even do normally. About the time I finished eating I saw a black male about 17-19 years, 5'10", 190 lbs, wearing "nice" casual clothes old come in.

He looked nervous, was standing back about 3-4 feet from the tail of the sammich line, kept turning to look out the door. He wasn't amped up, just nervous, when it was his time in line he looked at the owner and said... "Can I have an application please?"

I knew something was right, which I give myself credit for but luckily it was nothing.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[ccw9mm]

Your sensitivity meter was spot-on. You realized the person was not simply layin' there like any other person. Was it being amped, hyper-aware, nervousness, fear of an action being contemplated, or ...

Good on ya, for paying attention and being prepared. His coloring/size/age doesn't much play into it, beyond him being young/strong and apparently "amped." You keyed on the nervousness, though you couldn't initially place it. Gavin de Becker's book talks a bit about this, noting the advance warning signs that can sometimes provide clues to a person's actions before they occur. Often, the tell-tale signs are there, if we simply pay attention.

[retsupt99]

Being aware of 'odd' situations, or nervous actions plays a big part in one's safety.
You noticed something out of the ordinary, that most of the didn't. The fact that is was a job hunt rather than a robbery is good.

Stay armed...stay alert...stay safe!

[shooterX]

good job, my Dad always said to pay attention to your spidey sense!

[BikerRN]

He was nervous about having to apply for a job and Mom was probably in a car in the parking lot making sure he applied or faced a whuppin'.

That's why he kept looking back towards the parking lot. She was there to make sure he really did apply for a job. It could've been Grandma too, as historically it's been an older female as the strong family leader.

Good job picking up on "something not quite right". Just because something is not right doesn't mean it's always death and danger. It's just something that bears watching.

Biker

[pcon]

He was nervous about having to apply for a job and Mom was probably in a car in the parking lot making sure he applied or faced a whuppin'.

That's why he kept looking back towards the parking lot. She was there to make sure he really did apply for a job. It could've been Grandma too, as historically it's been an older female as the strong family leader.

Good job picking up on "something not quite right". Just because something is not right doesn't mean it's always death and danger. It's just something that bears watching.

Biker

I was thinking the same thing - a family member enforcing a job app.

[NC Buckeye]

I was thinking the same thing - a family member enforcing a job app.

Me too... after he asked for the app.

[Bob F.]

Good job; what they said!!^^^^

[stormbringerr]

good sa my friend.

[PastorPack]

Job application!

... so he was gonna rob the place

...at $7 an hour.

[TN_Mike]

I don't think it is too sensitive, I think it's just right. Be happy with it.

[H8SPVMT]

Just watched a show on TV the other day were a job applicant, after filling out the form, robbed the store.

DUH....... He even filled the form out correctly so.... all the PD had to do was go to his home an pick 'em up!

Good awareness, you never know, as we are reactive, not proactive in our safety mose times.

[Phillep Harding]

Yeah, good pick up on the out of the ordinary.

On a side note, I've worked with people who were only there because of family pressure. They were horrible workers, two made false job injury claims and three made up sexual harassment claims. Not a good idea to hire such people.

[PNUT]

Maybe the kid couldn't find a parking spot so he left his car running ? Why assume he's being forced to get a job ?

[Guns and more]

Or........maybe he was going to rob the place, and his spidey sense told him you were armed, so his cover was to ask for an application and scoot.