What's your "armor"?

[SurrealisticSlumbers]

Everyone has a metaphorical suit of armor. Our "armor" shields us from a real or perceived threat. It can be literally anything that makes us feel safe, whether external or internal (behavioral). For example, fashion, makeup, hairstyles, accessories (like carrying a cigarette, cup of coffee, or an instrument everywhere as a security object), and even forms of nonverbal communication such as facial expressions/gestures would be categorized as external. There are also behavioral tactics we employ, on an often subconscious level, that make us feel safe and secure. This, too, is armor - which you can't see until interacting. The aloof coworker everyone calls a bitch. The neighbor across the hall who can't do more than small talk.

So, what's your armor?

 

[Obfuscate]

analysis, apathy, silence, empathy, and hair trigger shutdown of emotion...

 

[k9a4b]

I just get angry and people get scared

 

[Population: 1]

Man I need to go to bed but I saw this.

What isn’t? There’s the shield of cellphone and earphones which are pretty effective though not always employable so my patented scowl comes into play. If that doesn’t work I throw in the narrow eyed gaze. On a deeper level I just become blunt if pressed. I don’t care to discuss this. The final wall is a full display of anger. I’ve tried everything else by this point now you’ve pissed me off. Yelling ensues. Rarely has anyone tested me beyond that. Males are getting punched at that point but again that is if you’re blatantly pushing me and I’ve only struck out at a person in anger a handful of times.

Off to bed with me.

 

[ugghh]

Humor and music.

 

[Mole]

Mu armour is reflective thinking.

Literacy has taught me how to be disengaged so I am able to step back and reflect, and in that way come upon epiphanies.

 

[Abcdenfp]

Silence, and also pretending like you dont exist . im a really engaging person and have found that when i shut off most people cant handle it. they continue to push for a response, but if your on the other side of my wall , it takes alot for me to let you back in

 

[Sacrophagus]

Cold, genuine, unbothered indifference. In the sense that there is no hate, nor any other feeling or reaction regarding the situation or the person when mentioned. I remain with zero prejudice.

 

[Madboot]

Sarcasm and reserve.

 

[Coriolis]

Cold, genuine, unbothered indifference.

This.

Sarcasm and reserve.

And this.

Also formality does wonders to keep people at a distance in a socially acceptable way.

 

[Dreamer]

I’m not entirely sure I even know what my armor is tbh, I feel I use a sleuth of defenses, but I must have an armor of some kind since other people’s words or actions tend not to have great affect over me, unless words come from select people I’ve allowed in my walls, I can be very easy to penetrate at that point. But ya, getting there, isn’t so easy...

 

[Quick]

IDK what my armor is...

Probably has something to do with being "right" I would imagine. Pointing out things to people that they wouldn't otherwise know and just generally being "knowledgeable" even if I don't actually know much about anything.

The hard part about this is in coming to grips with your shortcomings and actually being honest with yourself... It's hard to observe the self - what are the primordial motivations for doing what I do? Very hard question to answer. And the thing is, if you don't know what motivates yourself, you sure as hell are not going to know what motivates others.

Good topic.

 

[Lexicon]

Being able to detach/compartmentalize, I guess.
Making fun of myself, sometimes? Humor in general can be armor/a coping mechanism, but depending on the manner in which it’s utilized, I don’t think it’s necessarily an unhealthy one. Sometimes, all you can do is laugh.

If I’m worried about something imminent/serious (not social nonsense, but a health issue, or something happening to a loved one - anything significant along those lines), I occasionally info-hoard to soothe myself and feel like I’m actually able to do something about it. Or that I may be able to do something at some point, at least. Or it offers me reassurance that I am doing or have done all I can. Takes some of the edge off that blind fear and sense of helplessness, perhaps.




Sunglasses are also pretty nice armor.

 

[á´…eparted]

Also formality does wonders to keep people at a distance in a socially acceptable way.

This is my go-to.

 

[Stigmata]

Sarcasm and detachment. Often times people think of me as this cold, apathetic robot, yet don't realize that even though I may not show my cards, I feel things quite deeply. Throw in a little self-deprecating humor as well, as my self-esteem issues often cause me to greatly doubt my own abilities and capacity.

I don't handle accepting compliments very well, as I typically dismiss them as people either telling me what they think I want as opposed to expressing a genuine sentiment -- There is a big difference.

 

[Forever_Jung]

I use "charmour" to navigate difficult people. If I am threatened/intimidated by someone I win them over, make them laugh, disarm them.

If they are more of a long-term threat (someone I am "stuck" with who makes my life difficult), I go a bit further with disarming them. I befriend them, play to their ego, get to know them intimately, and prove myself to be a very caring and thoughtful confidante. All the while I am working behind the scenes to have them removed, while being careful not to leave any "fingerprints" (no one should think any of it was my idea).
A.) Sometimes you get rid of people by working the group around them (Ill often naively share damaging info about my target that I know will upset the person I'm sharing with in particular and then I intentionally offer a feeble defense of my targets crimes, feigning that: aw shucks, I always look for the good in people but I guess sometimes I wear these gosh darned rose coloured glasses! I guess Target X really is a jerk, and needs to go. You've convinced me!).

B.) Sometimes you get rid of people by convincing them they aren't happy here by pouncing on any sign of discontent and regularly getting them to dwell on it, by asking after their troubles sympathetically (Long distance relationships are really hard, it might makr more sense to move out there. I mean it all just depends on whether you prioritize money or your relationship higher. Whichever you choose, I'll understand. sad as it would be to lose ya, I just want you to be happy).

 

[Magnus]

Also formality does wonders to keep people at a distance in a socially acceptable way.

This. Just talking to people can be a little tiring so strict formality and adherence to office protocol are usually enough to fend off my co-workers when they want to chit-chat about something stupid. Work itself is often a pretty good excuse. When a group of people invite me to lunch with them, I can use my workload to get out of it. It can be used as a copout but at the same time it is true.

 

[ceecee]

I just get angry and people get scared

Cool, jail's a great career goal.

 

[Cellmold]

I never feel safe or calm.

So, there is no armour. I don't throw stones in a glass house; only got the frame.

 

[Galena]

Transparency, paradoxically.

Also, fuck me, but I think this is one part of where my interest in dress and appearance came from. I felt much more vulnerable as a kid while my parents still picked my clothes.

In awkward situations, friendly politeness goes a long way, and displayed willingness to do something specific to improve the situation. It usually won't be necessary.

Lack of humor. Kids' bullying is often a shitty attempt at a laugh. Granted, taking onself seriously can invite more teasing to begin with, but if the attitude then can't be broken down, it gets boring and they move on. This defense has come up in a very interesting and impactful way recently, when I took a class in comedic acting with the intention to target and break the defense down but ended up learning that just owning it as funny can actually be more effective at this point, even a legitimate style for me in performance that I could be good at.

Lack of comprehension, when it comes to unwanted attention from strangers in public. They get nowhere if I can't hear them or have no idea what they're getting on about. Too dumb to fuck with.