Specifically because I live in a hot climate, I’m always fighting the feeling of being suspicious of anybody I pass in the streets with a hoodie pulled up. I feel guilty because of racial profiling associated with hoodies, but gotta protect myself and my family, especially because in many cases the perpetrators of assault and murder seen in media are somebody with a hood and/or mask on.
I have cancer and I still wear a face mask everywhere due to a compromised immune system.
I also get very cold with my disease/medications. My blood circulation isn’t as good now. I can be chilled when its 77 in a room without a sweatshirt. My hoodies aren’t black but they are dark blues and greens.
Further, I have serious skin issues and always have that lead me to keep my hair always cropped very, very short. Meaning when I am chilled like that, I often have the hood up.
I am not here to make judgment on your position but rather just a reminder of valid reasons things like this might happen that don’t involve others meaning you bodily harm.
I am a big guy, and sometimes it feels a little tiring to have the default be everyone is scared of me despite my inability to defend myself before I had cancer. I don’t own guns or knives and my backpack is either full of groceries or PC maintenance equipment.
sorry about your health. i wish the best for you.
not nearly the same at all, but sometimes if i think i’m making somebody nervous (e.g. it’s late at night and i’m walking behind them) i’ll do this sort of public theatre where i’ll start humming and walking with a bounce in my step or something like that so they know where i’m at and to kind of give off a friendly vibe. that or i cross the street if i can.
I can imagine it’s exhausting if people are suspicious of you all the time. the people wearing the clothes to the commit crimes mess it up for people on both sides. ski masks for example haha. if you’re wearing a ski mask in public and it’s not freezing outside, or even if it is, that’s so sus.