CoWorker states: You Frighten Me

[Euclidean]

It's official. I'm a dangerous man.

Being a younger man in a workplace populated principally by middle aged women, and I'm just being honest here folks, you can get away with pushing the sheeple envelope a little bit sometimes. For example through careful experimentation I have learned my Leatherman multitool is socially acceptable. I have noticed some raised eyebrows and a general rush of alarm when it comes out, but the fact that I can reassemble the pencil sharpener or screw in the screw that holds the bulletin board up and no one else can (besides the custodian who may not be available) lets me get away with it.

Plus, a number of my coworkers are traditional people who expect me to do certain "duties" like catching mice, killing vermin, stacking textbooks, etc. due to my age/gender. I've even pounded a few nails, and helped replace a ballast. And I don't mind, in all honesty. It's an easy way to be civil, and I see light campus maintainence as part of my job.

Anyway I've been here a while now and I've got a rep now... I'm always the guy with the pliers, the duct tape, the flashlight, or whatever else you need. I have kept the knife under wraps despite using it every day... I could write a pamplet on discrete knife usage, I swear. I don't think they'll ever be ready for the knife.

And this morning, the bombshell dropped. One of my coworkers admitted she was afraid of me. I thought she was kidding so I laughed, but she was serious. When I pressed the matter, the response was something like "Because you're almost always prepared... it's scary."

I asked well what's wrong with that, I did fix that overhead screen in your room one time after all, it's not like it works against you.

And then it came out: "Because that means you think about what you're going to do if something bad happens ahead of time. I think if anyone ever tried to mess with you, you might kill them. That makes me nervous."

Amazing. Keep in mind I do not talk about my interests in defensive shooting and related materials with these people. At all. Ever. I don't know whether to gloat, be dismayed, or consider being lower profile.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[4my son]

It's official. I'm a dangerous man.

And then it came out: "Because that means you think about what you're going to do if something bad happens ahead of time. I think if anyone ever tried to mess with you, you might kill them. That makes me nervous."

Is this womans picture next to the word in the dictionary.

This sounds like someone that has some serious issues with life, not anything to do with the way you carry your self. It sounds like you have things well in hand as far as keeping a low profile.

I wouldn't change anything. Unfortunialty in life, their are always people that sway out to the extremes in beliefs.

EUC man, keep on keeping on.

That's my opinion anyway.

[TonyW]

I'm no expert, and I'm surely not as ready for the bad things as I should be. (Though I'm getting there.) But I can sympathize with you somewhat. There is one lady that I work with, nice woman and all, but I know that I worry her. In fact I brought it up to her in a joking way the other day and she admitted that I "worried her." The reason I mentioned it was because I could tell it was there and wanted to get it out in the open. My advice, for what it's worth, is to continue what you are doing. Be extra nice to this person and try to demonstrate through your actions that being prepared isn't such a negative thing. And that even though you may be willing to use violence it would only be when and if necessary. I believe that you have said that you teach in an inner city school. If someone became very violent and needed to be stopped, I bet this person would not be that upset if you were the one to do it.

[artz]

LOL..... Imagine that ! silly woman...

['75scout]

My own fiance said she was afraid of me when she started to see I had an interest in guns. At first I couldn't figure it out, I had never displayed any violence towards her and our arguements were always fairly tame. Then I realized her family doesn't have any firearms and I don't believe he father has ever fired a gun, she just hadn't been exposed to it. Plus there is only one male in the family and 3 females so there's alot of estrogen there. She's gradually becoming more comfortable, especially where the CHL is concearned. After I explained why I wanted to start carrying when I turn 21 she started to understand. It's not to be macho or cool its so that I am better able to keep anyone in my new family from being harmed.

[grnzbra]

And then it came out: "Because that means you think about what you're going to do if something bad happens ahead of time. I think if anyone ever tried to mess with you, you might kill them. That makes me nervous."

Actually, IT did not come out. If someone was running through the school tossing grenades (Read Terror at Beslan) I seriously doubt that she would have a problem with you dealing with it even if it meant killing the perp. What really scares her about you is that you are a constant reminder that bad things can happen and she, along with just about everyone else, would be powerless to do anything about it.

[BCurry1]

Euc, I would take it as a huge compliment!!

She thinks your a true man's man. Only one thing left to do, cue the banana's.

[Wayne]

Todays "men" are supposed to be weak (I can't spell ecsmascaled) and more "feminan" now days. They aren't supposed to be strong, prepared, and brave.

This is what is being taught, it was taught earlier in the cities and is just now getting a great foothold in the country/Rural areas.

This is what the government wants, people to be un-prepared so that they will run to the government to "save them".

Wayne

[P95Carry]

Euc - you carry right on fella!

Wayne may have a point re the emasculated male these days - the seeming stigma attached to the old ''hunter/gatherer'' image.

Then too yes, appearing to be prepared does for some reason psych some folks out a bit - they see you as (in fact true) in this con' yellow which does not sit well for them in their nice quiet lil' con' white world! I know the Leatherman thing - ''Hey Chris - got that thingie with you?" Haha - off to the rescue!

True enough tho - if ''stuff'' happens it will be you they'll look to for protection, guidance and general leadership!! I am told even at my old age I look ''scary'' - or come over that way - but it ain't any big deal macho thing on my part, just perhaps that I appear alert and hold myself as being a non-victim or something, who knows!

Oh - of course if in S&S mode then folks only see ol' phart!

[Kat]

You should be glad that she noticed.

Last night my seven year daughter, Rose, sat next to me on the couch and said: "I feel so safe when you're around, knowing that if anybody tried to hurt us, you would protect us." (she knows that I'm carrying all the time)

That really makes a dad feel good!

[havegunjoe]

People like her scare me to tell the truth. They are prepared for nothing in life especially if it is bad. I cannot imagine that a leatherman could scare anyone. It boggles the mind.

[cmidkiff]

I've been told several times that I scare people. I'm a mild mannered 40ish fat man, and a major computer geek. Still:

My boss told me that I scare some of the other workers
My daughter tells me that her boyfriends won't come to our house
My neighbor's wife hasn't said 3 words to me in 5 years

I'm of the opinion that the reason I scare people is simply because I don't walk around with my head in the sand. I'm sure that grnzbra has the right idea. My alert attitude reminds people that there are things that they should be alert for.

Oh well, I'm not planning on changing the way that I live, so they're just going to have to deal with it.

[rstickle]

Maybe you should just tell her that you were a Boy Scout, and always like to be prepared!

[David III]

People like her are the future. All sheep, running to the government to save them from all the bad things that they know can't happen.
Sorry.... about to start a rant about sheeple -
Where I work, about 1/3 of the people here carry guns and even they say that I'm scary. Good! I am not a sheep. I still have all my body parts, society hasn't managed to take any.
I'd be happy with what she said. You are you, prepared and thinking. That sure beats being a sheep.

[craig45]

a guy at work says the same thing about me. i've never even raised my voice at him. once he said that, i just couldn't resist telling him there are 2 kinds of people.
predators and prey, and i'm not food,lol.