Thread: Philosophical Survey

Please describe an immediate reaction (before any change in behavior) you might have to the following scenario;


You are on foot and in transit through a public setting. It is a place that you have been to before. There are people you do not know in your general vicinity, and some of them pass close by you, but they do not readily provoke your attention.

As you pass through this place, you notice that there is at least one person who is paying close attention to you, and it is possible that they are moving towards you with intent.

They do approach you and display aggressiveness. They assert themselves as authorities and ask you to remove yourself from the local premises. You ask for a reason, and their only reaction is to move in your direction displaying hostility.

I imagined myself on my way to class. If the area was blocked off, and he/she was telling others to leave as well, then I'd probably go to class some other way. If it was only directed at me, I'd duck around them and get to class by my usual path anyway.

But, basically flight.

Faced with aggression or distress, I get very calm and focus intently on the person, project a "let's work this out together" attitude, and gradually bring them to a calmer, more reasonable state. Basically, Jedi mind tricks It's never failed me, either with authorities or assailants, in my adult life.

While I won't vouch for the point-by-point accuracy, Scientology's Tone Scale sums up this approach pretty well:

Spoiler for big pic:

The idea is that if you're faced with hostility, you can't respond with enthusiasm--you might as well be speaking another language. You need to bring your tone down to within a couple levels of the other person in order to connect, and then you can gradually bring them up.

Originally Posted by Xaqaria

Please describe an immediate reaction (before any change in behavior) you might have to the following scenario;


You are on foot and in transit through a public setting. It is a place that you have been to before. There are people you do not know in your general vicinity, and some of them pass close by you, but they do not readily provoke your attention.

As you pass through this place, you notice that there is at least one person who is paying close attention to you, and it is possible that they are moving towards you with intent.

They do approach you and display aggressiveness. They assert themselves as authorities and ask you to remove yourself from the local premises. You ask for a reason, and their only reaction is to move in your direction displaying hostility.

Firs, I ask him why. Then I ask again if necessary. If he does not answer, I ask, "Who are you?" If he does not answer, I ask to see his badge. If he still does not answer and keeps acting hostile, I pull out a gun. If he continues, I point the gun at him. If he continues and gets too close, I shoot the ground. If that doesn't stop him, I shoot him in the leg. If he pulls out a gun, I shoot him in the head.

Originally Posted by Universal Mind

Firs, I ask him why. Then I ask again if necessary. If he does not answer, I ask, "Who are you?" If he does not answer, I ask to see his badge. If he still does not answer and keeps acting hostile, I pull out a gun. If he continues, I point the gun at him. If he continues and gets too close, I shoot the ground. If that doesn't stop him, I shoot him in the leg. If he pulls out a gun, I shoot him in the head.

If they declined to show proof of their position as an authority, I'd assume they
were a fraud and make a scene out of it. It's a public place, I'd use that as an
advantage. That would also give me the clear for defending myself; many
witnesses around. Being armed even with a knife can be enough to get a
would-be assailant to back off, unless they're armed as well and are willing to
fight.

The other, probably more preferred option would be to smile and do as they
say, and come back with a few police officers.

all depends what they look like. If it's a nine year old i'll have a different reaction to a 90 year old.

If he touches me in any way, I'll remove his hands off of me and ask him "what's going on". If he has a legitimate answer, I'll walk in the direction as instructed. If he doesn't, I'll look around and see whats going on. If he continues to act in an aggressive manner, it'll get physical.

I'd feel injustise and would ask again for a reason. If one was not given, and he failed to identify himself as a police officer, I would feel like putting my back up. I would avoid an actual fight, but I wouldn't comply without serious threads of one.

I would persist to question what I'd done.

If I was just passing through, and leaving anyway. I would just continue on my way and pass through.

Originally Posted by Alric

If I was just passing through, and leaving anyway. I would just continue on my way and pass through.

Where di it ever say that?? It specifically said you were ging soimewhere on the transport. system.

No it doesn't. It says you are walking through an area, when stopped and asked to leave. Since I was just passing through, I simply continue on my way.

Transit in a public setting, not public transport.

It really depends on the place; how familiar I am with it. If I was at school or just walking down the street my reaction would be paranoia followed by anger. I would move away from them slowly. If they put their hands on me I would yell loudly for them to remove them, drawing attention to myself. If it became apparant that they wished me harm I would leave the premises making it clear that I am doing what they want and that I want to be left alone.

I like where your going with this, but it seems a little too vague.

I'm really happy with the responses I've gotten so far. There are a couple more questions that I want to ask if this rolls over to the second page (so that people won't see them until they answer the OP) and then I'll try to explain my motivation, if anyone is interested.

Probably, I'd cooperate as much as possible at first. If the dude tried something freaky, though, I'd have to break a few bones...you know, pulling a knife, telling me to get in a van without showing ID, physical threats, etc. If he was heavily armed, make a scene and cause mass hysteria. If he was just asking me to leave, then yeah, I'd probably go. I would try to avoid raising my voice as much as possible, and would only go ape on the dude if I felt my survival was seriously at stake.

Well...

Right off the bat I'd be dumbfounded...
Then, respectfully, I'd ask what the problem is...
If the person just kept of showing hostility I'd ignore them and keep going. If the person decided to get physical I'd just defend myself... then get help. Or assuming the person hurt me pretty bad, like cut me or something, I might freak and just go overkill on him... but probably not. Just enough force to keep myself safe, and then get away or get police or something.

I was walking through my old highschool, where there is a lot of people in the place where all people would chill. I walked pass some random people I didn't know. My enemy was staring at me, he walks towards me aggressively because we do not like eachother and will most likely result in a fight. I most likely leave.

pffff...Im short. Im tiny. And I have no muscles. If I really feel threatened, I'm going to run, or make a huge scene hoping someone bigger and stronger will intervene! And I don't have any reason to believe they are who they say they are.

I imagined being in a doctor's office I frequently wait in. I imagine myself calmly asking them to explain themselves, trying to keep things down, and not really leaving until I get a satisfactory response. I would need to know exactly what sort of authorities they are and their purpose. If they continue to display hostility I'd try to find somewhere else to go, since creating ruckus in a doctor's office is undesirable. I wouldn't actually leave since I'd be waiting on someone, despite how threatening they may be, but I would find another place to wait.

Originally Posted by Xaqaria

Please describe an immediate reaction (before any change in behavior) you might have to the following scenario;


You are on foot and in transit through a public setting. It is a place that you have been to before. There are people you do not know in your general vicinity, and some of them pass close by you, but they do not readily provoke your attention.

As you pass through this place, you notice that there is at least one person who is paying close attention to you, and it is possible that they are moving towards you with intent.

They do approach you and display aggressiveness. They assert themselves as authorities and ask you to remove yourself from the local premises. You ask for a reason, and their only reaction is to move in your direction displaying hostility.

Say "It's cool man there must be some reason i can't come over here." And walk away.

Who owns the property?

Originally Posted by Laughing Man

Who owns the property?

A faceless bureaucracy. Named Tim.

Originally Posted by Taosaur

A faceless bureaucracy. Named Tim.

Well then Tim is the only one who could tell you to get off. If this individual isn't the individual in the example or an agent of this individual then they can't say jack.

They have proof they are a police officer or other official- I continue to press why, making sure I intend to get some sort of reason, although I am still cooperating.

They seem like they are just a crazy person- I get out of their way, stay near enough to see them and call the police.