Paranoid?

[takurpic]

Yesterday afternoon, I was walking into WalMart from the back 40 because the parking lot was rather full. A woman pushing two carts was coming toward me. One cart held a baby in a child safety seat and the other cart was full of groceries.

As we were almost side by side, the woman asked if I had the time. My first thought was 'I can't believe you'd actually try to rob me, given the circumstances'. I've read several stories and news reports of muggings starting with a simple question- "Do you have the time?" or "Do you have a light?", etc.

I stepped past her a few feet to create distance before looking at my watch, at the same time watching for any indication of a robbery about to take place. Nothing happened, but I realized I was in the mindset to recognize a simple question as a potential threat.

So what do you think, folks? Never underestimate a lady, or too many stories have caused me to be paranoid.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Redneck Repairs]

Ill just suggest decaf LOL

[BAC]

To be honest, it sounds like you're a little strung out, or are getting there.

It's one thing to be alert, but if you begin to suspect you're doubting the intentions of everyone (including those in the circumstance you described), I'd say you need a vacation from people to ease your mind a bit.


-B

[friesepferd]

of course its a good idea to watch and be aware with anyone.
for your first thought to be that she was going to rob you...
yea take a deep breath there buddy its ok

[Bob The Great]

I choose option C: consider the full situation around you. Not everyone asking for the time or a light is hiding a shiv behind their leg, just like not everyone who knocks on your door after dark is planning to make your family headline news the next day. In my opinion, each of us should weigh the full content of the situations we find ourselves in, rather than automatically assuming "stranger + question = mugging." You can still be on your guard and alert without being paranoid.

I think your thought process was fine, and you weren't rude or unfreindly (at least by my reading). You considered the possibility of a robbery and decided that the circumstances didn't support it.

[BlackJack]

Sorry, I didn’t vote because I don’t really go with either one of your two choices.

Basically I think you are giving too much weight to the question and not enough to the totality of the situation. If she was alone, had her hands full with two carts AND a baby then I would not have thought her a danger. If, however, there were others who were close by or who seemed to be watching then I would be a bit more concerned.

I have seen women using children as a front for anything from drugs to violence and personally find it to be despicable and unpardonable. On the other hand, somebody who is alone with hands full of child and groceries, coming out of a grocery store, seems pretty normal to me and would not ***** up the hairs on the back of my neck unless there was more to go along with it.

Now if the child was covered with a heavy blanket in warm weather or if the child was in short sleeves in sub-freezing weather, that in and of itself gets my attention because she would appear to be using the child to hide something or she just plain doesn’t care about the child. Either case is bad for the child, and maybe for others.

[Bonesnofoa]

Isn't that how porn starts too? But seriously i ask people for the time alot. I don't like wearing a watch. *shrug* Generally i'd be wary more of the "Do you have a light?" or "Got an extra smoke?"

[f8lranger4x4]

Women can be more danderous than men because you don't expect them to hurt you in this world of stereo. a gun can level the playing field between men and women.

[Miggy]

I go with option 3. It was OK to be aware that women can be as deadly as men but it also enters in consideration the overall picture at that moment. Woman w/ a child and a cart full of groceries = Low Probability only after a quick 360 scan with you should have been doing in the first place.
Did you get the decaf?

[Cody]

Yes, just a tad paranoid. When you mention broad daylight probably a busy parking lot given that it is Walmart, holiday shoppers a lot of potential witnesses I personally would not give it a second thought had it happen to me. Now, if it was dark out early evening hours and I was in the back 40 with little traffic around I might be a wee wee again wee suspicious but not enough that I would freak out or anything to that nature.

Just my thoughts...

Dave

[xmenspidey]

She could have been hiding a baby Desert Eagle in the carrier instead of just a baby.

[rachilders]

To be honest, it sounds like you're a little strung out, or are getting there.

It's one thing to be alert, but if you begin to suspect you're doubting the intentions of everyone (including those in the circumstance you described), I'd say you need a vacation from people to ease your mind a bit.


-B

+1


Sounds like it's time to relax with some eggnog (the real stuff, with 90 proof additive of your choice), put on some Christmas music and make your Santa wish list. Let's see, I'd start with a new SIG 229, Ruger SR9, S&W M&P...

[KevinInstructor]

One statement by itself should not put up red flags. I sometimes ask for the time beings I do not wear a watch and more times then not to lazy to put on my reading glasses to get the time from my phone.

Living in condition yellow doesn't mean paranoia

[dagor2k]

I think there is a certain amount of common sense profiling I apply in everyday situations - and I must admit that if I guess wrong about somebody I would be putting myself at risk. Nevertheless I think we can make reasonable distinctions based on the context and on our sixth sense.
I was at a Dunn Brothers yesterday and observed an unshaven, unshowered, unkempt thirtysomething-year-old man who was furtively playing with a bag of tobacco (kid you not) and staring (obviously and continually) at the college girl who was using her laptop. It was very uncomfortable and I was beginning to get concerned but he eventually left. no one else seemed to notice. Some might say I am unfairly profiling the poor man but so be it.. I have a daughter of my own. now with a mom in the parking lot-I guess she wouldn't fit into my profile the same way. but I would still keep my personal space intact just as a matter of habit :-)

[glock27mark]

Women can be more danderous than men because you don't expect them to hurt you in this world of stereo. a gun can level the playing field between men and women.

male or female,they can still get ya.