Aren Jay
12-29-2007, 09:49 PM
Or maybe it is just fear.
When I was younger, about 20 years ago I had long hair. Really long hair. I would walk through malls and people would jump out of my way. I never thought anything about it and it never became appearant why this was happening until I got a hair cut, completely short haircut. I was still 6'5" in running shoes but suddenly I was being jostled and bumped and nobody would get out of the way. It was like I was 5 feet tall suddenly. I was amazed how long hair and then short hair could make such a difference.
I've had short hair for 20 years now. I found on Boxing day a great sale and bought my long awaited full length leather coat. Black, down to my ankles. I was just walking through the mall and guess what. People are jumping out of my way. Men mostly but some women too. They see me coming towards them and go all wide eyed then edge to the side out of my way. Some stop dead in front of me and then leap back. I smile and say softly and politely excuse me. Then carry on. One older lady in Ikea had her back turned to me and was standing in the way. I said excuse me again softly and politely and she mumbled something then looked over her shoulder at the sheet of black leather and froze, She then backed up several steps and apologized profusely.
Now I mastered the walking through crowds in England with short hair, that is done by looking up at the street signs, in england street signs are about 15 feet above the road on the building sides. When you do this people will not want to bump into you and will move slowly out of your way. You need to walk slowly like this or you risk tripping stepping in a hole or off a curb etc... If you look down or straight ahead people will not move for you. Most poeple walk around either looking blankly forward or at their feet. This looking up technique does not work on mothers with strollers. They will just run right into you.
With my new Leather coat, I look straight ahead. People move, they fidget, they jump and start. It is hard not to burst out laughing. I can move fast they jump faster farther. Even bigger people get out of the way. 500 pound guy leans over the railing so you can walk past untouched. 7 foot guy stops steps to the side waits for me to pass then continues walking.
When I was at College, in England, the vice president of my College - Daryl had and wore his full length leather coat on a trip to Moscow. My College in England, was the only college to have a twice annual trip to Russia during the height of the cold war. Loads of cloaks...
Anyway Daryl was walking down the street in Moscow, this was in 94 or 95 and people would see him coming, stop cross the road, then wait for him to go past, then they would cross back and continue on walking down the sidewalk. I just thought it was paranoia from the KGB and communism for those people back then.
I found out lately that it is not. Everyone fears the black full length leather coat wearing guy. Everyone.
But getting into my Marauder just completes the uniform.
I only wish I could take it off without dragging the bottom in the mud.
When I was younger, about 20 years ago I had long hair. Really long hair. I would walk through malls and people would jump out of my way. I never thought anything about it and it never became appearant why this was happening until I got a hair cut, completely short haircut. I was still 6'5" in running shoes but suddenly I was being jostled and bumped and nobody would get out of the way. It was like I was 5 feet tall suddenly. I was amazed how long hair and then short hair could make such a difference.
I've had short hair for 20 years now. I found on Boxing day a great sale and bought my long awaited full length leather coat. Black, down to my ankles. I was just walking through the mall and guess what. People are jumping out of my way. Men mostly but some women too. They see me coming towards them and go all wide eyed then edge to the side out of my way. Some stop dead in front of me and then leap back. I smile and say softly and politely excuse me. Then carry on. One older lady in Ikea had her back turned to me and was standing in the way. I said excuse me again softly and politely and she mumbled something then looked over her shoulder at the sheet of black leather and froze, She then backed up several steps and apologized profusely.
Now I mastered the walking through crowds in England with short hair, that is done by looking up at the street signs, in england street signs are about 15 feet above the road on the building sides. When you do this people will not want to bump into you and will move slowly out of your way. You need to walk slowly like this or you risk tripping stepping in a hole or off a curb etc... If you look down or straight ahead people will not move for you. Most poeple walk around either looking blankly forward or at their feet. This looking up technique does not work on mothers with strollers. They will just run right into you.
With my new Leather coat, I look straight ahead. People move, they fidget, they jump and start. It is hard not to burst out laughing. I can move fast they jump faster farther. Even bigger people get out of the way. 500 pound guy leans over the railing so you can walk past untouched. 7 foot guy stops steps to the side waits for me to pass then continues walking.
When I was at College, in England, the vice president of my College - Daryl had and wore his full length leather coat on a trip to Moscow. My College in England, was the only college to have a twice annual trip to Russia during the height of the cold war. Loads of cloaks...
Anyway Daryl was walking down the street in Moscow, this was in 94 or 95 and people would see him coming, stop cross the road, then wait for him to go past, then they would cross back and continue on walking down the sidewalk. I just thought it was paranoia from the KGB and communism for those people back then.
I found out lately that it is not. Everyone fears the black full length leather coat wearing guy. Everyone.
But getting into my Marauder just completes the uniform.
I only wish I could take it off without dragging the bottom in the mud.