Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association
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Thread: The Grey Man

  1. #1
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    Default The Grey Man

    The Grey Man is always invisible in plain sight.

    The Grey Man is totally aware of his environs, his own capabilities or lack thereof, his weaponry and his levels of competence with that weaponry. He constantly strives to improve upon both his capabilities and competence. In public, he is always respectful, even to the point of obsequiousness if the situation calls for it. He always appears to be just a little confused by what is happening around him, while in reality he is alertly doing a tactical assessment.

    The Grey Man NEVER draws attention to himself by word, dress, action, or mannerism. The Young Grey Man is dismissed as a wimp, the Older as a doddering old fool. The Grey Man derives great inner satisfaction from having this portrayal of himself accepted by all he meets, for it means he is succeeding in his disguise of his actual persona.

    The Grey Man is a private man. He practices with his weaponry in private, or only with his fellow Grey Men, always in a secluded location. If he must resort to use of a public facility, he schedules his practice for times when he is likely to be the only one there. At such times he would probably wear bright clothing, to be remembered only as ‘that guy in the red jacket and sunglasses’, a quite different person from his usual persona. If right-handed, he would always occupy the leftmost station on a NRA bullseye pistol range, with his back to an observer, or the rightmost one for riflery or combat pistol practice. He would not have his name emblazoned on clothing or equipment, nor would he have any noteworthy affiliation proclaimed on his cap. “He’s just a guy. Comes every Wednesday morning for his coffeebreak. Always pays cash.”

    The Grey Man does not drive a pink Cadillac with steer horns on the hood, NOR does he drive the biggest mutherin’ 4X4-with-all-the-bells-and-whistles BOV in the lot. The older his vehicle is, the rustier, the less likely it is to draw attention (or to be stolen, for that matter). This vehicle is, under its exterior, scrupulously maintained and in excellent running order. If pulled over by authority on the basis of appearance, it can be shown to meet or exceed all requirements under licensing laws, and an obsequious co-operative manner precludes a search under the seats. The Grey Man does not speed on the highway: cruise control is his friend. So is the Highway Patrol: he waves to any he sees. If he travels the same route constantly, at the same times, The Grey Man becomes a ‘fixture’ and can be dismissed from conscious observation.

    It helps the Survivor to build up this persona of The Grey Man gradually and over time. The anti-gun sheeple neighbors will quickly rat out the ‘Patriot’ who is always loudly declaiming about his ‘Rights’ and ‘what will happen if they try to take my guns’. The Grey Man goes far out of his way never to offend anyone, imitating the duck which appears calm on the surface of his pond whilst paddling like hell under the surface.

    Be seen as conservative in all you do. A Survivor is a Grey Man, and that little old grey man alone over there in the corner is probably a Survivor!

    And that young guy next to him? Just another wimp? Or are they both watching each other’s backs?

    Making the other guy waste precious time in assessing the situation is a big part of staying alive. Practice being grey now, while there's time to build your skills.
    Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy.

  2. #2
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    Default Re: The Grey Man

    while the Green Man gets drunk and yells and screams at all major philadelphia events. I prefer to be the green man's friend.

  3. #3
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    Default Re: The Grey Man

    great post karl.

    imho, being a grey man (combined with maintaining situational awareness as much as possible) is the single most effective method of waking up in your own bed tomorrow morning.

    of course, one does need to be prepared in case being a grey man turns out to not be enough. and there are times when something else moves ahead of "waking up in your own bed tomorrow morning" on the priority list.
    F*S=k

  4. #4
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    Default Re: The Grey Man

    I have to agree with this theory. Sadly, it not as much fun as walking around like a mall ninja with paracord shoe laces and unnecessary mollie webbing.

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    Default Re: The Grey Man

    Quote Originally Posted by LittleRedToyota View Post
    of course, one does need to be prepared in case being a grey man turns out to not be enough. and there are times when something else moves ahead of "waking up in your own bed tomorrow morning" on the priority list.
    While I understand the sentiments in the OP, and some level of this kind of 'invisibility' is called for now, don't jump the gun....

    While surviving is a basic need, LIFE needs to be more than just that.... and this approach sounds alot like self-imposed prison life.... making sure not to stand out, don't offend the guards or the other inmates, etc....

    While admitting our society is going to hell in a handbasket, we should not 'actually' get into survival mode any sooner than necessary....

    In the meantime, enjoy LIFE & FREEDOM while you can... It's only a matter of time before REAL SURVIVAL will be necessary... so make good memories in the time we have left...

    ...
    ID

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    Default Re: The Grey Man

    Great post, I really enjoyed it. I don't feel as though obsiquiousness is used in the proper context here, should probably be 'being obsiquous' instead or better yet 'over compliance'. And the 2nd instance it is definitely out of place.

    Also, you used the word twice...a $5 word like that need to be used infrequently and in a way to give pause to the reader, not trip them. The way the piece was written you could easily have done without the word, as it seems out of place within the rest of the text.

    Other than that nitpick, I really like where you were going with it. A few more edits and I think you've got an interesting idea to expand on, I know I'd like to see more of it

    camper
    Last edited by camper; June 4th, 2010 at 06:40 AM.
    It's the 2nd Amendment that protects all others

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    Default Re: The Grey Man

    Karl/PA, i dont know if you found this somewhere or if you wrote it but its brilliant. thanks.

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    Default Re: The Grey Man

    Nice read.
    The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned.

  9. #9
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    Default Re: The Grey Man

    Have to admit its not mine but wish it were. I stumbled across it somewhere.
    Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy.

  10. #10
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    Default Re: The Grey Man

    Quote Originally Posted by ImminentDanger View Post
    While surviving is a basic need, LIFE needs to be more than just that.... and this approach sounds alot like self-imposed prison life.... making sure not to stand out, don't offend the guards or the other inmates, etc....
    if you have other priorities/desires, that's cool.

    i don't like to stand out/draw attention to myself anyway, so being a grey man is not a prison at all for me.

    In the meantime, enjoy LIFE & FREEDOM while you can... It's only a matter of time before REAL SURVIVAL will be necessary... so make good memories in the time we have left...
    i do enjoy life and freedom. to me, enjoying life and freedom and being a grey man are not at all incompatible. sticking out like a sore thumb is not my idea of fun...though it is for some people, and that's cool--different strokes for different folks.

    blending in and not being noticed while observing others is fun to me. i find people fascinating.

    at any rate, the fact does remain that from a personal security standpoint, the grayer you are the more secure you are. but, yes, everyone has to set their own priorities and make their own choices.
    F*S=k

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