I certainly wasn't suggesting that anyone walk around with their eyes cast down. I have walked through far more dangerous neighborhoods than anywhere in Eugene for years. The standard recommendation, which I always follow, is not to look vulnerable, with your eyes cast down. So, glance at people but don't glare - in every species of animal, including human, glaring is a sign of aggression. Read AT's sequence of events - the drunk glared at AT, but after that AT escalated first, at every step of the way. What would have happened if AT had glanced at the man, seen that he was a sitting drunk, and just walked on? Nothing! That's so easy! Maybe the drunk would have cursed or something, so what? AT might have taken out his cell phone and called the police. Instead, he escalated, endangering both himself and the drunk guy. Let sleeping dogs lie. Don't be a self-appointed vigilante. There's no way anyone can get rid of all the jerks in the world.