This week I was given a very clear reminder of why you have to be careful about what actions you take. Let me relate this story to you.

The intro

So there I was, waiting for a train so I could go watch a movie with my friends in the city.

As usual around train stations these days, there are a wide variety of people hanging around. From the suits to the people who are drug/alcohol abusers.

Suspicions rising

Across the tracks on the other platform two uniformed police officers arrive looking around appearing casual. It’s reassuring to see police around, probably doing a routine check of the area. But then two more police officers arrive on our platform.

Now whenever there are more cops in an area than would usually be in a single police vehicle (>2) you start to wonder.

Action

One of the policeman enters the toilets,

“Good afternoon, how are we?”

Crash! Bang? Shouting!?! and any other classic Batman sound effects you know of.

I turn around and see the policeman pinning someone up against the wall with their arm behind their back.

What actually happened

When the cop entered, the floor had needles all over it. The man closest to him (in the woman’s toilets may I add) upon seeing him reached into his jacket. This is what caused the police officer to go after him. As it turned out I don’t think the guy was reaching for anything, probably just nervous. What struck me most after the policeman established that the guy didn’t have anything dangerous on him was what he said:

“When you see a police officer you freeze, don’t reach for anything”

Lesson learned

In every situation there are appropriate and inappropriate things you can do, each of which effects how others will react to you. Now not often will a mistake lead you to being tackled by someone but in the social world, impressions count. So pay attention and evaluate how you act in different situations, especially take note of the things you do almost unconsciously.

Have you ever done something that would normally not attract any attention but in this circumstance created uproar?