Someone Asks “Street-Smart” People To Share Their Tips And Tricks, 33 Deliver

You might think that people are either book smart or street smart. Well, in reality, the conjunction is different, and you have to change the or to an and because you can be both. And should be.

Folks have recently been sharing some of their street smarts in a now-viral Reddit thread that answered the question what is the best “street advice” you can give?

Bored Panda has collected some of the best bits of advice from the thread to craft the lovely curated list below, so go enlighten yourself before the street does that through practice.

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If you’re not familiar with the terms, book smart and street smart describe methods of learning, both in the sense of how and from where something has been learned.

Book smarts are academic intelligence, gained through formal schooling and reading, while street smarts are gained through real-life experience in handling situations.

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Over recent years, education has run into a bit of a problem with these smarts. Namely, since adult education institutions have to adhere to certain industry standards in order to remain relevant, they have noticed how there is a shift to valuing experience over formal education. In other words, that diploma there is great and all, but how about you show us how [insert activity] is done here and now?

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So, higher education had to step up their game. This in turn led to things like the formation of professional advisory boards that are there to help adapt the programs and their curricula to meet the changing standards. That and educational institutions are also gradually introducing competency-based and experiential learning.

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Experiential learning would likely come in the form of internships, practicums, and the like, but might also include things like industry projects that would feature academic programs and would utilize that knowledge. Another approach is assigning real-world business problems to students to solve, in turn getting employer feedback. And hey, if you exceed expectations, you can also try to apply and you’d have a reputation that precedes you.

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And, as it turns out, it’s not just the industries that are demanding such a targeted education. Students themselves are driving demand for more practical education. And the solution is a return to project-based learning, which on top of providing the necessary know-how, would enhance student confidence, communication and collaboration skills, all the while motivating them and forming the right attitudes towards work and employers.

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One of the seemingly bigger components of street smarts is security and safety. This includes knowing how to navigate your whereabouts, knowing what to do in particular life-threatening situations and maximizing your chances of getting out of trouble.

In the case of kids, it’s all about knowing their location and how long they’re planning on being there, making sure they stick with their friends and hang out in safe spots all the while avoiding shady neighborhoods. Oh, and trust your gut. Believe us, that goes a long way.

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And it’s pretty much the same for adults. The majority of the Reddit thread suggested minding your business, always being aware of your surroundings, and trying to not to look lost. All of these indicate that you’re in control and you won’t be drawing any unnecessary attention. There was also a huge emphasis on trusting your instincts—if you see something you wouldn’t want to get closer, then by all means move away. Better safe than sorry.

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Others suggested more situational solutions. For instance, if you’re a woman in trouble, it’s better to ask help from other women as it’s much more likely they’ll help you due to the empathy factor.

Another situation is to not engage with people asking you to look at your shoes as that might give them an opportunity to strike. Also, pickpockets love to distract their victims by asking for the time and the like.

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It’s also strongly recommended never to take anything from anyone you don’t know. It can become an identifying factor for other troublemakers that they can take advantage of you as you have been “marked” by someone.

This also goes for finding things on cars. Things that might look like trash shoved into the car door handle could end up being lethal. Do not touch it with your bare hands and instead either use another object or thick cleaning gloves to remove it. It could be laced with poison.

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So, what are your thoughts on any of this? Do you have street knowledge that everyone would benefit from? Share your advice and stories in the comment section below!

And if you need more scrolling fodder, we have some more street smarts in the form of articles for you to go through.

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If somebody tries to force you into a car *never* get in. Take your chances with whatever you're being threatened with. If you end up in the car your odds of survival are *exponentially* worse.Do not engage with crazy peopleNever trust a water-filled pothole.Try not to look lost. Mind your own business. Keep walking.always trust your instincts and be aware of your surroundings.Be on alert if asked for innocent things, like telling someone the time, there are a hundred tricks you’ve never heard ofKnow your surroundings and don’t be afraid to “make a scene”, if you find yourself in a tough spot.Never get in a knife fight. The looser dies in the street and the winner dies in the ambulance.If you're a woman in trouble another woman is far more likely to help youTake nothing from anyone ever . Food , drinks , sweets. The red apple.1. always rely on your gut feeling, this is the only primal instinct we have left. 2. if a stranger tells you that you have nice shoes. NEVER LOOK DOWN. 3. if someone pulls out a knife, run, run away!When mixing with people in a social settings don’t give out personal details. It’s ok to be kind but very vague. Nobody needs to know what street you live on or where you work. If they don’t respect your boundaries, move along. ( had a stalker, from my Karate club ! Found out my location and would flip my mail slot on the door open, looking inside. Woke up one evening to him standing over me. )If someone were to god forbid pull a gun on you and rob you, just give them what they want. There's no reason to risk your life trying to be a hero all for your wallet and phone.Pay attention to your surroundings. Don't keep your head down on your phone or wear headphones.I see a few people say don’t make eye contact, I disagree. You can walk and keep your head on a swivel. When you’re in a bad neighborhood looking around and either eye contact or making sure people see that YOU see them can be as much a deterrent as anything. Be alertIt's not worth getting into an altercation if you can help it. You might be bringing fists to a knife or gun fight.Be aware of your surroundings. You don't have to be paranoid, but just get a feeling for the general flow of things. If something about that flow changes, you should start looking for the reason behind the changes. That rule goes for basically anything.In a street fight, there’s no such things as rules. There is no fairness in a fight, do what you can to survive.If it’s rush hour, and every subway car is packed like sardines, never enter the one empty subway car. You didn’t suddenly get lucky. Trust me on this.Look both ways before crossing Don't wear your politics on your shirt or headDo not answer questions that no one asked.Never look lostThere is no legitimate reason to stop for a stranger who needs to ask you something. Keep it pushing, you don’t owe anyone your attention. Criminals and con-artists rely on your politeness.Trust must be earned. Never give it blindly.lock your car doors as soon as you've opened your door to get in. immediately. not after you've gotten in, but as soon as your door is open for you. keep your wits about you to gauge people on your path well before you have to pass so you have time to make the safest decision. crossing the street can be conspicuous and draw unwanted attention- i'll pass walking closely on the street side of cars. oftentimes that's enough to keep erratic people from clocking you, and is inoffensive enough for shady people to give you a pass..kinda let's them know you're not scared exactly, but you're giving them space to do their business.Don’t f**k around if you really don’t want to find outNavigate before departure, and look like you know where you're going.While you may not see your kindness as a weakness, prepare for others to take it that way. Be extremely careful who you give your energy to, and don't expect a return on investment. Everyone is looking to turn your loss into their gain, and have no qualms of giving you a little nudge to speed up that process. People who come up to you and pretend to be your friend, want something from you. Be prepared to be tested with just about every new person you meet. Anything you aren't willing to fight for, isn't yours. It's always better to be alone than to be in bad company. Crab mentality is very real. Never tell your plans to anyone, sometimes people will ruin them simply out of jealousy.stand up straight with your shoulders backDon’t entertain ignorance & or match ignorance with more ignorance.You can save money by buying different kinds of nuts and mixing them at home.Be emotionally prepared for trouble....sometimes going out of your way to avoid it will actually perpetuate it.