First of all, don't get me wrong. I believe in humility and the meek gets to inherit the earth, says the bible. I believe that with all my heart. But there's false humility and it's cunningly deceitful, combined with fake kindness and generosity. Out there in the streets, crooks wear this mask to prey on the ignorant and carefree.
Photo by Sammy Williams on Unsplash.
They really look genuine. They've mastered the looks, voice tone, gestures, eye contact and smile. Sometimes they seem so helpful and offer you anything that would make things easier for you. And I'm not just referring to fixers. Nor do I mean strangers or even street perps or felons. They're a given. I'm going farther than that. I'm also talking about some neighbors, friends, relatives and other folks related to you. Sometimes they wear a veneer of humility to capture your heart and then control you.
"They come to you in sheep's clothing," said Jesus of false teachers and prophets. But I believe this is not limited to them. This applies to anyone who's out there to deceive. And neither is it just the street crooks who want to steal from people. It's anybody who wants control of your life and decisions, or worms himself into your safety zone. To trick you easily, they appear as "humble" folks with kind hearts. Sometimes, this is even deadlier than street crooks.
Click image above for more info on how to be brave in the streets.
Gang Modus
But I'll limit the scope to street perps, the lesser danger. I'll deal with the deadlier danger--those innocent-looking folks you allow around you--in a later blog post. Let's get to the basics first. Sometimes, someone looking so innocent or meek would come to you seeking or offering help. It happens in malls or grocery stores and then later the guy turns out to be a gang member. Or even in planes. A sweet-looking individual would act friendly but is actually targeting you as his or her drug "courier" without you knowing it. Beware.
While assuming a smile, appreciating the kind gesture, I immediately put myself in heightened alert. I ask myself, why? Then I watch closely the guy's eye and hand movements without being obvious (watching them from the corner of my eyes), maintaining a safe distance, not just as a Covid protocol, but to allow myself enough space for action. Not too far for a quick defensive hit, but not too close for his attack. You acquire accurate judgment on this through practice.
Tiger Stare Does It
A tiger-stare from me is all it often takes for a crook to think twice and simply leave. It's happened several times. I have mastered giving a mean but a bit "smiling" tiger-stare while being on red-alert mode. The tiger-stare tells the crook that you're ready for engagement (even a bloody one) and will actually enjoy the process if he wishes to initiate it. You won't hesitate. So a tiger-stare requires combat readiness, just in case, and this means regular training in streetfighting. Because some thugs out there will engage you.
This is not a poker game where you can bluff your way to victory. "Hindi ito duru-an lang." You should know how to end a streetfight within 3 to 5 seconds and then escape.
The Best Thing to Do
However, the best thing to do with "humble" crooks is to stay alert, act smart (because crooks are often discouraged to engage smart people), as you also act a little bit friendly, and go away as soon as possible. Go to a safe place, like a bank or near a mall guard. I myself sometimes do this even if I'm a 5th dan blackbelt in Filipino martial arts and streetfighting. Avoid contact as much as possible but be willing to launch a defensive preempt.
