Whenever you read about random knife attacks in public places, does it make you more attentive to what people around you are doing when you are walking along the street, waiting on train platforms or shopping?

Aly RustomFeb. 8 08:31 am JST

You never know if some xenophobic nut behind might wanna push you off in front of the train. I have sometimes been deliberately barged into at stations by some guy with a loose screw and something against aliens.

> Same. it was almost a daily occurrence for me. Luckily, after buying a house that is a bit far from the station, I drive to work, and pretty much everywhere now. I drive to go to the market as well, and besides that, we don't really go anywhere, so we don't use trains anymore. But even at the market I am aware of my surroundings.

> I personally feel that the pandemic has messed up what was already a messed up society even worse and increased racism and xenophobia by leaps and bounds, and that makes me nervous.

> So yes, I am more cautious out in public and I am more aware of my surroundings as a foreigner.

Ditto to everything you both wrote. I probably get more unwanted attention in one day than the average Japanese person gets in several months.

as someone who comes from a rough neighborhood from a third world country, my situational awareness is always high and I've developed a habit of looking at people's hands when commuting as well as occasional peeks behind my shoulder.

Feb. 8  08:29 pm JST “ No. Life's too short to spend it looking over my shoulder for a one-in-a-million risk. Just the usual situational awareness is fine. “

Looking over your shoulder is a completely different thing.

No. Life's too short to spend it looking over my shoulder for a one-in-a-million risk. Just the usual situational awareness is fine.

Today  08:22 am JST “ I have always been attentive on station platforms when the train is coming in, especially when I am first in line. You never know if some xenophobic nut behind might wanna push you off in front of the train. “

That’s exactly what I was gonna say (and people should keep this in mind: yes, there’s cameras, but a crazy/disturbed person doesn’t care if he or she goes to jail or dies); I always check the people behind me and what they’re doing…; inside the train, I just take a look around and see if there’s someone “suspicious” (yes, it’s impossible to know for sure, but you know what I mean), also, I used to stand at the door facing the glass because hey, a little privacy, right(?)… but now I’m not turning my back anymore. In the street, etcetera, I just take a look around; I mean, it only takes a fraction of a second, and this fraction of a second can make a huge difference. Stay safe, everyone.

You never know if some xenophobic nut behind might wanna push you off in front of the train. I have sometimes been deliberately barged into at stations by some guy with a loose screw and something against aliens.

Same. it was almost a daily occurrence for me. Luckily, after buying a house that is a bit far from the station, I drive to work, and pretty much everywhere now. I drive to go to the market as well, and besides that, we don't really go anywhere, so we don't use trains anymore. But even at the market I am aware of my surroundings.

I personally feel that the pandemic has messed up what was already a messed up society even worse and increased racism and xenophobia by leaps and bounds, and that makes me nervous.

So yes, I am more cautious out in public and I am more aware of my surroundings as a foreigner.

I have always been attentive on station platforms when the train is coming in, especially when I am first in line. You never know if some xenophobic nut behind might wanna push you off in front of the train. I have sometimes been deliberately barged into at stations by some guy with a loose screw and something against aliens.