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What does it mean to be a street smart?
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What is the difference between street smartness and book smartness?
Are You a street smart?
Being street smart means you’ve learned lessons from life outside the classroom, that you can adapt and survive in situations that aren’t written in textbooks. According to psychology, there are certain traits that highlight your street smartness.
- You Stay Aware of Your Surroundings
- You Have A Self-Assured Walk
- You Know How to Blend in
- You Don't Get Easily Intimidated
- You Aren't Afraid to Tell People to Back Off
- You Don't Show Signs of Weakness
- You Know How to Minimize Your Risk
- You Don't Confront People Unnecessarily
- You Don't Get Easily Distracted
- You Don't Over-Share on Social Media
Nothing screams "I have zero street smarts" quite like walking to your car at night whilst wearing headphones or checking your phone. That's why having your eyes (and ears) open is so important. "By keeping your head up and aware of your surroundings, you can take away the element of surprise; a common tactic of attackers," says Jill Turner, from S...
Sometimes, all it takes to stay safe is a don't-f*ck-with-me walk. "Self-assured posture and movementtells a lot about you," Turner says. "Multiple studies have shown the way you walk has an effect on how likely you are to get mugged." So put those shoulders back and stride forth with confidence.
If you've ever toured a new city — or gotten stuck behind people touring yours — then you know how travelers stick out like a sore thumb. And that's why you should always make it a point to blend in. "You don't have to look and speak like the locals," says self-defense teacher David Blackmer, via email. "Being flexible, easy-going, and genuinely po...
Of course you know not to pick fights or get mixed up with bad company. But that doesn't mean you let people push you around, either. If someone starts causing trouble, you put on your bravest face. Blackmer tells me one way to do this is by smiling and offering a quick greeting. "You don't have to stop and have a whole conversation, but a sincere ...
If someone is acting so bold as to bother you on the streets, you don't think twice before telling them to hit the bricks. "Strongly and assertively saying a simple command such as 'back off' is often enough to put a potential attacker to flight," Turner says. (The louder, the better.)
Sure, you might feel scared. And yes, you might be totally lost. But you'd never give off those vibes. "Those with malicious intent are looking for weak victims, not individuals willing to face them," Blackmer says. So keep your cool and stay alertuntil you get back to safety.
You wouldn't dream of counting your money on the subway, or walking down the street with an open purse. People with a healthy dose of street smartsnever turn themselves into an easy target.
Yes, that person behind you is driving aggressively. And now he's parking right next to you. Do you get out and flip him the bird, or calmly go on with your day? (The correct answer is the latter, of course.) "Being street smart is not about your ego or your pride," Blackmer says. "If someone bumps into you, insults you, or even looks at you in a w...
There are so many instances where distraction can get you into trouble. Maybe you're fumbling for your keys, or burying your face in a map, or staring into your phone. It may not feel like a big deal, but these are all great ways to turn yourself into a target for nefarious types, Turner tells me. Street smart people have their keys handy, always s...
Going on vacation? Awesome. Just make sure you don't give out all the details on your public Facebook page. "Social media gives everyone, including strangers, a clear view into your world, leaving you vulnerable and exposed," says SafeWise safety expertSage Singleton, in an email to Bustle. "Wait until after a vacation to post pictures and don't 'c...
- Knowledge source. As mentioned above, the knowledge source for street smart people is the pool of their own experiences. Book smart people learn from the experience of others.
- Knowledge type. Street smart people are focused on learning how to do things. They have practical knowledge. They’re good at getting things done. Execution is of utmost importance because that’s how they learn.
- Skills. Street smart people tend to be generalists. They tend to know a little bit about everything. They know enough to get the job done. They tend to have good survival, emotional and social skills.
- Decision-making. Street smart people can make quick decisions because they know they don’t have to know everything to get started. They have a bias for action.
The meaning of STREET SMARTS is the quality of being streetwise.
- Embrace experiential learning and making mistakes. Train yourself to learn from experience because there are many things that you can only know this way.
- Be comfortable with uncertainty and discomfort. You’ll have to be aggressively confrontational with reality because you’ll need to verify your suspicions.
- Entertain different points of view. It’s important to expose yourself to new ideas. If you get stuck thinking from one perspective, it will be difficult to understand how other people think.
- Don’t be afraid to admit that you’re wrong. Only by admitting that you’re wrong can you figure out what the error is and get right. Most people would rather double down on incorrect information than swallow their ego, admit they were wrong, and try to correct themselves.
STREET SMARTS meaning: 1. the ability to manage or succeed in difficult or dangerous situations, especially in big towns…. Learn more.
Street smarts definition: shrewd awareness of how to survive or succeed in any situation, especially as a result of living or working in a difficult environment, as a city ghetto neighborhood.. See examples of STREET SMARTS used in a sentence.
