bacpacker
11-01-2013, 12:56 AM
I know there is lots of discussion on various forums on using the Grey man approach during times of strife. I found this site which has a good discussion on lots of different things that would give you away either as a easy target or possible targets for certain things.
http://www.examiner.com/article/the-grey-man-approach-to-personal-protection
Here is a couple of excerts.
Richard Masoner
Donald AlleyDetroit Martial Arts Examiner
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September 6, 2012
I was driving home from work last week, and the car in front of me stood out. It was a nondescript Subaru Outback, but the plethora of stickers and information on it was remarkable. This person publicized a tremendous amount of her personal details for all to see. Anyone in traffic, whether average Joe or person with malevolent intent, knew a tremendous amount of details about the woman.
The sticker descriptions are written from the point of view of “the bad guy”.
The stick figure family
This is the latest fad for the rear window, and I love it. A slew of stick figures representing the family, kids, and pets. In the case of this woman driving her Outback, I learned that she was a single mom, had two daughters, and a cat. She obviously took the time to represent her family right down to the pet. I now know that there is unlikely to be a “man of the house”, or he’d be represented here. I also know that there is no dog that will bark or guard the house while I break in. I know there are two daughters. I can break in, secure the entire structure, and know who to account for.
Local High School Ashley #44 Cheerleading
Nice. The name of the local high school tells me you live in the area. It tells me your daughter, Ashley, is a cheerleader. That means she’s good looking. I’ll keep that in mind. A quick google or Facebook search and I WILL have your last name, and that means I’ll have your address.
My daughter is an honor roll student at Local Junior High
I now have info on your younger daughter, and what school she goes to. It’s a relatively new Outback, so it’s likely this sticker does represent the young one and not the cheerleader. With data on your two daughters, I’m pretty sure I can physically dominate the sum physical threat your family brings.
Pro-gun stickers
NRA stickers, “Gun control means using both hands” stickers, and other expressions are strong indicators the occupant is a CPL licensee. A criminal trying to obtain a firearm illegally simply has to wait until the vehicle goes into a pistol free zone. Is it worth following someone around and hoping for it? Probably not. But the parking garage at Joe Lewis Arena is a great place to start. Suburbanite is going into “The D”, takes his pistol for safety, but knows he cannot bring it into the arena. It gets stashed in the car. A quick break in, and that pistol is now in the wrong hands.
Enter the grey man
The grey man is an expression synonymous with anonymity. It is a conscious effort not to stand out, but to blend and be nondescript. It does not necessarily mean blandness and boringness, but is not meant to be flaunting and attracting negative attention.
From now on you'll have no identifying marks of any kind. You'll not stand out in any way. Your entire image is crafted to leave no lasting memory with anyone you encounter. You're a rumor, recognizable only as deja vu and dismissed just as quickly. You don't exist; you were never even born. Anonymity is your name. Silence your native tongue. You're no longer part of the System. You're above the System. Over it. Beyond it. We're "them." We're "they." We are the Men in Black. Zed, Men In Black, 1997.
From a personal protection standpoint, it means not publicly giving away important details about your business, situations, or affiliations that may attract malevolence from wrong-doers. The grey man wants no attention, and wishes interaction with only those of his choosing. His political affiliations are not the world’s business, and he does not want to be singled out for them.
Likewise, those that are prepared and protection experts will also take the grey man approach. The tacti-cool gear, bling, stickers, and attire will be dismissed in favor of less overt clothing and accessories. He is aware, but not outwardly so. He is an expert in personal protection, but does not show off his skills or become a known ‘karate guy’ or ‘gun guy’ in a public setting. The grey man does not want to be seen as a ‘challenge’, or singled out for his preparedness and potential gear.
This does not mean he is not an expert in his field or known as a competent professional. It simply means that if you saw him on the street you wouldn’t know it.
Imagine our Subaru Outback driver at a red light next to a grey Chevy Malibu with no markings. A violent sex offender pulls up behind. Who will be his next target?
I also found another site that goes into detail about how to be "Grey" by dividing it up into 4 phases. However it is another prepping site and I don't want to put it up here without approval from the Mods.
http://www.examiner.com/article/the-grey-man-approach-to-personal-protection
Here is a couple of excerts.
Richard Masoner
Donald AlleyDetroit Martial Arts Examiner
Subscribe
Follow:
Advertisement
September 6, 2012
I was driving home from work last week, and the car in front of me stood out. It was a nondescript Subaru Outback, but the plethora of stickers and information on it was remarkable. This person publicized a tremendous amount of her personal details for all to see. Anyone in traffic, whether average Joe or person with malevolent intent, knew a tremendous amount of details about the woman.
The sticker descriptions are written from the point of view of “the bad guy”.
The stick figure family
This is the latest fad for the rear window, and I love it. A slew of stick figures representing the family, kids, and pets. In the case of this woman driving her Outback, I learned that she was a single mom, had two daughters, and a cat. She obviously took the time to represent her family right down to the pet. I now know that there is unlikely to be a “man of the house”, or he’d be represented here. I also know that there is no dog that will bark or guard the house while I break in. I know there are two daughters. I can break in, secure the entire structure, and know who to account for.
Local High School Ashley #44 Cheerleading
Nice. The name of the local high school tells me you live in the area. It tells me your daughter, Ashley, is a cheerleader. That means she’s good looking. I’ll keep that in mind. A quick google or Facebook search and I WILL have your last name, and that means I’ll have your address.
My daughter is an honor roll student at Local Junior High
I now have info on your younger daughter, and what school she goes to. It’s a relatively new Outback, so it’s likely this sticker does represent the young one and not the cheerleader. With data on your two daughters, I’m pretty sure I can physically dominate the sum physical threat your family brings.
Pro-gun stickers
NRA stickers, “Gun control means using both hands” stickers, and other expressions are strong indicators the occupant is a CPL licensee. A criminal trying to obtain a firearm illegally simply has to wait until the vehicle goes into a pistol free zone. Is it worth following someone around and hoping for it? Probably not. But the parking garage at Joe Lewis Arena is a great place to start. Suburbanite is going into “The D”, takes his pistol for safety, but knows he cannot bring it into the arena. It gets stashed in the car. A quick break in, and that pistol is now in the wrong hands.
Enter the grey man
The grey man is an expression synonymous with anonymity. It is a conscious effort not to stand out, but to blend and be nondescript. It does not necessarily mean blandness and boringness, but is not meant to be flaunting and attracting negative attention.
From now on you'll have no identifying marks of any kind. You'll not stand out in any way. Your entire image is crafted to leave no lasting memory with anyone you encounter. You're a rumor, recognizable only as deja vu and dismissed just as quickly. You don't exist; you were never even born. Anonymity is your name. Silence your native tongue. You're no longer part of the System. You're above the System. Over it. Beyond it. We're "them." We're "they." We are the Men in Black. Zed, Men In Black, 1997.
From a personal protection standpoint, it means not publicly giving away important details about your business, situations, or affiliations that may attract malevolence from wrong-doers. The grey man wants no attention, and wishes interaction with only those of his choosing. His political affiliations are not the world’s business, and he does not want to be singled out for them.
Likewise, those that are prepared and protection experts will also take the grey man approach. The tacti-cool gear, bling, stickers, and attire will be dismissed in favor of less overt clothing and accessories. He is aware, but not outwardly so. He is an expert in personal protection, but does not show off his skills or become a known ‘karate guy’ or ‘gun guy’ in a public setting. The grey man does not want to be seen as a ‘challenge’, or singled out for his preparedness and potential gear.
This does not mean he is not an expert in his field or known as a competent professional. It simply means that if you saw him on the street you wouldn’t know it.
Imagine our Subaru Outback driver at a red light next to a grey Chevy Malibu with no markings. A violent sex offender pulls up behind. Who will be his next target?
I also found another site that goes into detail about how to be "Grey" by dividing it up into 4 phases. However it is another prepping site and I don't want to put it up here without approval from the Mods.