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Are people intimidated by you?
- Thread starter MIKERAZ
- Start date
SofaGeorge
New member
"Intimidation" is an interesting concept - because really what it is talking about is "imprinted" on the limbic brain. The limbic brain is also called the "reptile brain" kind of the basic root of a lot of perceptions and interpretations on our most primitive level.
Size and power imprints on the limbic brain that you are a big dangerous dinosaur and people need to leave you alone.
Eight years ago, eight full years, I was at the chess park at the beach in Santa Monica. A dirt bag came through who had a reputation for violence. He used his size to intimidate people. He started shit with me and I ripped him off his bicycle and threw him trough a picnic table. It was a bone breaking moment. About a year after that another douche bag said he was going to stab my dog so I clocked through him at about 200 mph. (I couldn't even get him to stand up after that so I could punch him again... and I didn't feel like kicking him on the ground.)
Other than this, I have led an extremely violence free existence - yet when I go to the chess park... all these years later... the old people that play there have a kind of giggly feeling of safety... like they've got their own person Tyranasaurus Rex there to protect them. It's still the subject of a lot of jokes.
I've had times when I was hobbled with injuries... barely able to limp to the chess tables... an 8 year old with a stick could kick my ass... but the effect was still there... all these years later. Violence and intimidation imprints on the limbic brain for life. It's the same thing with size. It communicates a message to a primitive part of the human brain that you are a big dangerous dinosaur and need to be left alone.
Size and power imprints on the limbic brain that you are a big dangerous dinosaur and people need to leave you alone.
Eight years ago, eight full years, I was at the chess park at the beach in Santa Monica. A dirt bag came through who had a reputation for violence. He used his size to intimidate people. He started shit with me and I ripped him off his bicycle and threw him trough a picnic table. It was a bone breaking moment. About a year after that another douche bag said he was going to stab my dog so I clocked through him at about 200 mph. (I couldn't even get him to stand up after that so I could punch him again... and I didn't feel like kicking him on the ground.)
Other than this, I have led an extremely violence free existence - yet when I go to the chess park... all these years later... the old people that play there have a kind of giggly feeling of safety... like they've got their own person Tyranasaurus Rex there to protect them. It's still the subject of a lot of jokes.
I've had times when I was hobbled with injuries... barely able to limp to the chess tables... an 8 year old with a stick could kick my ass... but the effect was still there... all these years later. Violence and intimidation imprints on the limbic brain for life. It's the same thing with size. It communicates a message to a primitive part of the human brain that you are a big dangerous dinosaur and need to be left alone.
Sassy69
New member
"Intimidation" is an interesting concept....
I think the question "Are people intimidated by you" is both a perception people have of you and that you have of how you think they perceive you. This is an interesting concept because some people rely on their size to get their way or to "displace" other people. But as soon they come across one person who doesn't fall into the expected behavior (cringing, stepping aside), the "intimidation" factor gets all screwed up. This may screw with the guy trying to initimidate because people have discovered that he is trying to rely on that to deal with his own insecurities. Or other people will realize that the intimidator is not so much truly to be feared as is just an asshole.
This is not to say that this is the case w/ everyone big. Interestingly my perception of myself when I went after my first competition is that "DAYUM I'm finally lost that extra weight!" I felt like I shrank. Everyone around me seemed to all of a sudden be "intimidated" by my "size". Or was it just the fact that a female could actually have reasonably big biceps? Dunno. I still hear from a few guys that they are intimidated by my legs. Hmmmm. They ain't that big. This is just the way I am built. This then drives me nuts in a way that makes me feel like I'm HYUGE compared to all the cute little blonde chicks running around. Jeezus I'm not Amazon Woman.
So trying to get back to the "intimidation" factor & perception ... Some people are initimidated and as a result won't talk to me like a normal person. Then I feel like they think I'm weird (I have this remnant nerd complex from my teen years), so then I shy away from them and that makes them think that I'm "stuck up". Its like this evil circle, all because I was trying to go after an other than stick figure model look and because I personally really enjoy training.
Then I was thinking, maybe some people find that they get this "intimidation" response, and then start to thrive on it to perpetuate it. They go for the shock value response.
Anyway.. just some random thoughts. One thing I did notice - I was in my gym w/ some friends who are fairly built and these guys got the stares, but they also had a lot of other guys walk up and start talking to them because they were impressed. I expect there were some people in the gym who were intimidated as well and just stared.
Interesting... limbic brain huh? I gotta go look that up.
I think the question "Are people intimidated by you" is both a perception people have of you and that you have of how you think they perceive you. This is an interesting concept because some people rely on their size to get their way or to "displace" other people. But as soon they come across one person who doesn't fall into the expected behavior (cringing, stepping aside), the "intimidation" factor gets all screwed up. This may screw with the guy trying to initimidate because people have discovered that he is trying to rely on that to deal with his own insecurities. Or other people will realize that the intimidator is not so much truly to be feared as is just an asshole.
This is not to say that this is the case w/ everyone big. Interestingly my perception of myself when I went after my first competition is that "DAYUM I'm finally lost that extra weight!" I felt like I shrank. Everyone around me seemed to all of a sudden be "intimidated" by my "size". Or was it just the fact that a female could actually have reasonably big biceps? Dunno. I still hear from a few guys that they are intimidated by my legs. Hmmmm. They ain't that big. This is just the way I am built. This then drives me nuts in a way that makes me feel like I'm HYUGE compared to all the cute little blonde chicks running around. Jeezus I'm not Amazon Woman.
So trying to get back to the "intimidation" factor & perception ... Some people are initimidated and as a result won't talk to me like a normal person. Then I feel like they think I'm weird (I have this remnant nerd complex from my teen years), so then I shy away from them and that makes them think that I'm "stuck up". Its like this evil circle, all because I was trying to go after an other than stick figure model look and because I personally really enjoy training.
Then I was thinking, maybe some people find that they get this "intimidation" response, and then start to thrive on it to perpetuate it. They go for the shock value response.
Anyway.. just some random thoughts. One thing I did notice - I was in my gym w/ some friends who are fairly built and these guys got the stares, but they also had a lot of other guys walk up and start talking to them because they were impressed. I expect there were some people in the gym who were intimidated as well and just stared.
Interesting... limbic brain huh? I gotta go look that up.
SofaGeorge
New member
This thread brings to mind a very interesting saying, one I don't ever hear anymore:
"A small man will kill you."
The concept - a big guy will lunk around thinking he can intimidate you, but a small tough guy with courage will just go straight for your throat. He doesn't have the dellusion of being able to intimidate people - so he goes right for the kill.
"A small man will kill you."
The concept - a big guy will lunk around thinking he can intimidate you, but a small tough guy with courage will just go straight for your throat. He doesn't have the dellusion of being able to intimidate people - so he goes right for the kill.
hard as rocks
New member
its funny this comes up because just the other day 6 of the ladies from my gym were talking about me.
they said i look like a mass murderer but they said they have never met a nicer guy.
they all know that im very friendly and always polite too people but i guess because my size and my look if you didnt know me i can be intimidating.
im 5-6 around 190-195 about 12% bodyfat.
when i was younger i would be scared of me too.i was not only trained too fight but also liked it lol.
now that im older it takes a lot too get me angry, and being nice too people gets you more respect than anything.
they said i look like a mass murderer but they said they have never met a nicer guy.
they all know that im very friendly and always polite too people but i guess because my size and my look if you didnt know me i can be intimidating.
im 5-6 around 190-195 about 12% bodyfat.
when i was younger i would be scared of me too.i was not only trained too fight but also liked it lol.
now that im older it takes a lot too get me angry, and being nice too people gets you more respect than anything.
C
Citruscide
Guest
They are intimidated by the fact I carry a big stick... they call me asshole... does that count? 
C-ditty
C-ditty
