When I am traveling I am always a bit more on edge. More aware of my surroundings, the people near me, my personal space and my property. It’s a self-defense mechanism I think.
Currently in Bangalore, India, I frequently find myself in crowds, and I noticed a strange (and undesirable) tendency in myself.
Unfortunately there are a huge number of people living in poverty here and beggars are present everywhere. When in crowds, beggars tend to tap my arm or pull on my shirt to get my attention and ask for money or food.
The unfortunate issue is that when I am in a crowd, I am even more on edge, especially about personal space. So when any person tries to attract my attention by touching me, my first instinct is to defend myself. Rather than extending an open hand to help them, my initial twitch it to push them away.
It’s quite regrettable I think.
Just dress more disreputably than the beggars. It works for me.
Regrettable you have a (reasonable) personal space issue or regrettable that there is such poverty?
Either way you are no more at fault for how you feel than they are for being poor.
You could try to improve your “don’t mess with me” look. When we went to Rome, I kept wanting the gypsies to try to pickpocket me. No one would try.
@forkboy1965
I actually think both are regrettable, and though I don’t really feel “at fault” I do wish it was not the case. And since I wish it wasn’t the case, I feel like I need to do something about it.
@Tim
Any suggestions for how I could improve my “don’t mess with me” look? Do I need to be more muscular?