Guidelines for citizen behavior in the event of an “extraordinary guest”.

In case of meeting an unexpected guest in public places and the latter’s unbalanced behavior, citizens should be informed about what to do.

Yesterday’s subway incident wasn’t the first, and I’m worried it won’t be the last. Therefore, a guideline for citizen behavior should be developed.

Situation:

Imagine, you are traveling by transport, and someone approaches you, waving a map in his hand, and tries to convince you of something. You retort him and suggest to stay away from you. He does not understand. persistently, with hysterical movements, waving a finger, waving the map, shouting, insisting on something, continues to invade your personal space.

It is necessary to:

1. Keep your cool. Although it is difficult, it is almost impossible. Especially when you are traveling with your minor child. When your child sees a man screaming and attacking his mother. He sees how people silently watch, take pictures, and the man continues his inappropriate aggression.

He sees the man’s entourage standing quietly, not stirring. And when you say “stop it, I’m with the baby” and the man continues to scream obliviously and insist that he needs to continue his “parallel reality” thesis, it’s difficult, but you have to keep your cool.

2. Do not be provoked. Yesterday, probably everyone thought, and many discussed in a narrow circle the question “how would I act?” After many options, the answer is one: don’t give in to the provocation. Because the person screaming with the map in his hand will very quickly turn from an intruder into your personal space, from a nuisance, to a victim of the situation. Numerous criminal cases will prove my words.

3. Call the police. After all, in a legal state, the body that protects against harassment, whether physical or mental, is the police. Their responsibility is twofold when it comes to causing mental distress to the child and the best interests of the child. Call the police, explain that a person, probably in an inadequate condition, is bothering you, has invaded your personal space, and you need their help.

4. Do NOT enter the dialogue under any circumstances until the police arrive (or fail to arrive). Not to say hello, not to look at him, not to communicate. Show with your behavior that there is a wall between you.

5. Do not show signs of anxiety, do not panic, show that you are the master of the situation, you are the citizen, then the aggression is mitigated.

6. Never hope that those who accompany him will try to scold or restrain aggressive behavior.

7. Do not hope that unknown citizens will intervene and rebuke him. This is Armenia.

8. In the following hours, his ministers and his teammates will hurry to announce that they share what he said, all the charm of his behavior. Don’t be upset. the vast majority of the public is on your side.

Elinar Vardanyan
Deputy of RA NA
Alternative projects group

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