This topic contains 16 replies, has 8 voices, and was last updated by 
Daisy 1 year, 7 months ago.
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We all have been out in public when someone catches our eye. It could be a number of reasons that this particular person stood out and drew our attention – dress, size, personal looks, demeanor, walk…. Regardless, our attention was drawn to them and they found a spot in our memory… at least for a while.
Don’t be that person! Especially after some event or societal change that could draw someone’s attention to you and make you a target.
I have read a lot of Selco’s writings. Can’t remember whether or not he has touched on the ‘Gray Man’ strategy or not. But since becoming both aware and skilled in the ability to disappear in a crowd because you are unremarkable could one day be very important, I thought this article would be interesting for you all. (Hope Daisy doesn’t mind we posting from another site.
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It is a nice idea, but what is gray today?
Now that fall is here I am just as likely to see Mossy Oak boots and jackets as I am to see one of the guys from base in their ACUs. I am just as likely to see some guy in a suit and tie from one of the contractor firms. Or a guy with a beard, torn cargo shorts and paint splattered shirt.
Around the house, when it is raining, like today, I wear a old woodland cammo Gor-tex jacket. In the winter, I wear a old Serbian surplus cotton field jacket with fleece liner. it was a steal at $20. All my neighbors see me in it on a regular basis for years now, to include the Amish. If I wore anything else, that would stand out. -
What is gray? Maybe its simply not exhibiting one’s self in any way that would draw the wrong persons attention to you. What are some things you can think of that would cause you to take notice of another person? Tactical clothing while wearing a “Kill’em all and let God sort them out”? A very attractive person? A very well-dressed person? Open carry is legal in my state, but when I see someone carrying openly they draw my attention, just like one of those people dressed in all black clothing with piercings and pink hair. *laugh*
Maybe you fit in and do not stand out. We should not dress and behave in troubled times in such a way that others may see us as a threat, but not as a potential victim, either.
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AnonymousThe grey man is the person who look around and blend in with whatever the environment is. The one able to change when needed. The one able to pass for what he is not.
Today it might mean not having political stickers on your truck. Or open carry even if it is legal, unless it is common around you. Or walk into a liberal area are with a MAGA hat or in a conservative one with a “I’m with her” shirt.
In a SHTF situation, being the gray man might be joining the FEMA food line even if you have plenty at home. Loose some weight so you don’t look like the fat piggy among the runts. Loot a store even if you don’t need too. Wear run down or not very clean clothes. Wear a normal coat rather than you cammo and hide the AR under it.
I guess what you need to do depends on the situation and your understanding of it.
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Right on target!
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Dark Future,
Those were great points. I suppose it might mean – Don’t speak up, Don’t even try to de-escalate the angry mob around you, just go along with them, chanting their slogans, and quietly slip away when no one is looking.-
Hey, John… off topic, but do you know who the person is that the statue depicts?
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Anonymous@John-Park, yes, you can’t reason with an angry mob. Make them believe you’re with them and get the hell out of there as soon as you can. Live to fight another day.
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For how long would being the gray man matter?
Around here, we get on average 200inches of snow a year. Single digit numbers are not uncommon, without the windchill.
If S where to HTF in late summer or early fall, the fuel diverted to bring in the crops or just gone, snowplows are not running.
I own a no kidding NSN N-3B parka. I cannot wear it if it is above 20 degrees as I would overheat.
And it is NOT gray man, by any extent.
But which is more important, being gray or surviving the elements?Then again, snowplows not running, no one is going anywhere without snowshoes, XC skis, or if you are willing to burn the fuel, a snow machine.
What about mass die off?
I have read several reports if the JIT food system were to end, 90% of the population would die off in anywhere from 6months to a year. I am inclined to agree with that assessment. A few have suggested as high as 95%, perhaps more.Use the Wal-mart example again: Walk around Wal-mart, count off 9 people at random. They are dead. The 10th lives.
In your town, city, would you even encounter those remaining?
Where I live, that is about 60-70 people who survive, spread out over a lot of territory.
Does it matter if you are gray then? -
AnonymousI think the best answer I can give is: for as long that you see a gain from using that strategy. I think of it as using camouflage. You’re not wearing green in the snow, do you?
If is 0 degree outside and you’re wearing you parka, whoever you are going to see around will be either similarly equipped or dead. So you could say that the gray man strategy still works. 🙂
If the food supply chain stops, and similarly important the drug supply chain, I tend to believe those figures are correct just based on what I see around. As you I use Walmart as a location for my “people study” because most of the people around here (including the military) shop there and I am feeling pretty good about it. So, given the four of us are going to survive, the next person would be some 3 miles away. In that case probably the grey man strategy would be to loot the dead’s houses because everyone would do that. I still think that not sticking out too much could be a good idea. While some of the survivors will be people like you, there will be bad guys around for sure who survived robbing others and who will continue to do so. You do not want those to pick you out unless you can overpower them.
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AnonymousHere is Selco’s Gray Man article.
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The low profile, gray man concept is totally valid when you are somewhere you might draw the attention of unfavorable entities. But I have a technique that works much better……..”Don’t Be There.”
Not trying to be frivolous. Sometimes, you have to go or be somewhere. A lot of times though, you really don’t.
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I’m thinking that after a while that just being seen will make you a target. All the easy loot and victims will be gone. The hostiles will go for anything they can find. The ones that can will snipe their victims from a safe distance and wait to see if it’s safe to go for their plunder. Of course there will be every other form of bandits.
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Man, this is kinda a depressing thread.
I get it. Shooting unknown strangers, possibly your neighbors, to stay alive and stuff.I am sure someone will call me naive, dumb or worse, but I think getting together with the neighbors early on and establishing ties is going to go a long way.
I for one do not want to have to worry about getting shot while tending my garden. -
Ask Selco what it was like. Some places will be better then others.Where I at in the little city nearby me, there is a shooting every week currently, so I know it is not going to get better.
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@James Mitchener, please feel free to share any articles that would be useful. Solid information is great, regardless of where it comes from.
Thanks @No Money for sharing Selco’s article. I’m going to link to it again here, for anybody who may have missed it.
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I agree with the person who said that being “gray” is different at different times.
Right now, I generally try to fit in with the other moms who are in their 40s-50s like me. That generally means having my hair and makeup done when at the store and wearing nice jeans and a t-shirt. I don’t want to be super-messy and look like a bag lady because that would draw attention. (Watch her, she’s going to steal something.) Nor do I want to be far more dressed up than the other folks around me, because then I’ll also draw attention. (I bet she’s got money in that big purse.)
I try not to go around looking overly tacti-cool, with Army pants, open carry, and a belt full of goodies, although I do have some of these things. I figure it’s better to look like the sweet little mom and then surprise the heck out of someone when I pull out a gun that was concealed in the small of my back if they decided to target me.
It’s tough to get this through to people because Madison Avenue has programmed us to constantly try and look “better” than everyone else. Everyone wants to call attention to themselves and telling them to downplay their looks or their wardrobe or their wealth is not always well-received.
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