Obnoxious defensive gestures

[bulmabriefs144]

I work as a civilian on a gated military base. How the hell could I possibly get away with snatching a purse? That's why I called them "obnoxious" gestures. I understand taking precautions for your safety, like if we were alone on a poorly-lit street or something, but this is just being mean-spirited.

You're in an area where everyone is on guard, and you wonder why people are defensive? They're scared.

My dad tells me that when it comes to a job, it's not what you know, it's who you know. Of course, I'm pretty socially isolated too, but basically it comes down to this.

Volunteer at places, get people to know you as a decent guy. If they still pull this defensive crap, ignore them. Having done all this personal building, and gotten to know a few more people in the area (who will recommend your name, something the internet won't do), you now know that such people are not worth your time, while the people who you've earned the respect of by working with, are.

 

[jc89]

Military bases are rather safe places to work or even live. Everyone is cleared in some way before they're allowed on an installation. There aren't any "punks on the street" like most regular neighborhoods (except for some military member's bored kids). There are a few things to be fearful of on an military base, but petty crime like purse-snatching isn't one of them. Any offender can get caught easily and forever banned from any base. So anyway, it's ridiculous to expect that from somebody like me, at least while I'm at work.

I truly appreciate the comments and advice, and especially giving me a place to vent most of my problems. But I just can't agree with the suggestion that it's all in my head, or that my body language is 100% to blame.