The GRAY MAN, To Be or Not To Be?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ต.ค. 2024
- Do you buy into the "Gray Man" hype? I do in some regards, but I think it's a little over-hyped in other regards. In this video I just talk about my thoughts on the concept, as well as a little info on the concept as a whole, in case anyone is new to the whole Gray Man philosophy.
Since people will ask, the hoody is this - amzn.to/2mZDBYc - but looks like the current model has green lettering instead of this older gray color.
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I live in small town in mid Michigan.
All my clothes were bought at Walmart.
Boom. Instant grey man.
I view the gray man mindset is best used in situations and locations you are not familiar with. You ARE the average man in your everyday life, it's when you step outside your comfort zone that you need to appear anonymous.
Agreed, and I should have touched on it specifically - but being the 'gray man' is especially important when traveling abroad, especially in some of the sketchier places.
The most grey man thing I do dealing with situational awareness is when I have headphones in its either low or not playing any music
Haha, I do that too, sometimes. Sometimes you hear interesting things when people think you can't hear them.
Exactly why I do it sometimes too lol
cavaughn haynes I do that at work so I can purposely ignore certain people
lol that is another plus
Grow your belly out, check!
Chris 😂
Got that gray man thing DOWN.
Chris Two steps ahead.
You should make a podcast! I'd listen dude :)
xavier fernandez yeah, it takes significantly less editing time and could even be multitasked.
xavier fernandez yes! That's would be awesome!
I would also listen. I love podcasts
GLM! Gray Lives Matter!
Haven't heard of that. I'll have to join that movement. I'm a big supporter of BKM. Black knives matter!
I like to blend in but not 100% grey man. I'll wear 511 pants but don't wear gun shirts or hats. Also no gun stickers on my truck (mainly to prevent break ins). Same reason I don't open carry. Prefer to have the element of surprise if I even have to use my weapon. Good video. I can see your point on how sometimes it could benefit you to look like a "gun guy"
Combine the grey man and hard target aspect. Don’t stand out like wearing Camo in an urban setting but don’t look weak a defenseless either.
Dress the way you are comfortable but paid attention to your surroundings and chances are you'll be fine
I like to dress as the McDonalds clown. Very comfortable.
lmao
hahahahahaha
Eric Armel i am nudist
Grey is my favorite color.
Might be mine too, coincidentally.
I agree. In everyday life, not SHTF, people are so absorbed in their cell phones no one notices each other anymore, not to mention how short attention spans are now since social media and devices became the mainstream.
In a gray man situation definitely have your cell phone out to look typical but really be aware of your surroundings prepared for "whatever".
You mentioned you are half-Asian. I thought as much. Which nationality? I'm half-Chinese, half-white myself. I think we blend in perhaps better than anyone else--can pass as white, Asian, Hispanic, pretty much anything...
I'm half Korean.
MrKalash74 - half Mexican living in a heavily Cherokee country. Blending.....
I get a similar effect being ethnically mainly German and Athabaskan. People just believe what I tell them.
I agree on you with the point that you should wear what is comfortable and suites you. The gray man concept in my opinion should be used in a way so you don't stick out. For example if you are in an urban area and wear a red jacket and green trousers you'll stick out as well as if you're in a rural area. But if you you just wear more tactical looking pants you don't stick out that much.
Actually I saw some work clothes that look way more tactical than I thought you should dress, but apparently you don't stick out that much if you just look like some guy who builds the new building next door.
Really like your videos and your down to earth approach to preparedness. Keep up the good work!
Easy for us Asians to be greyman...or yellowman? we all look like Jackie Chan =)
Only in a room of Asians can we be greyman to the outside looking in.
recycled365
True.
That’s why we go around in packs!!!! Asians unite!!!!
I completely agree 100%.
I appreciate the lack of groupthink promotion and I'm very thankful for your content.
Excellent thought discussion. Very much agree. In everyday life, be prepared, be comfortable, stay alert, do not go looking for trouble. In SHTF, or when traveling abroad, taking a few moments to consider the anticipated norm and taking reasonable measures to more effectively assimilate will have advantages.
basically the gray man is the opposite of the peacock
LLD, I wanna thank you for your videos! I watched your search for the best tactical pants videos and ended up purchasing two pairs of pants... Tactical Distributors McQuade Grey pants and a pair of the tan 5.11 Flex slim pants!! I love them both which is very hard for me to find. I usually have to try on 20-30 pairs before I find some I love and these were first time trying them on! THANKS AGAIN!!
I like this style of video. Probably because I listen to a lot of podcast. I can just put my phone down and listen
Good guy Jigsaw yeah same here!
I agree with you. My thought is to be capable of transitioning from everyday life to gray man to full battle rattle as the situation dictates.
Yes! I'm in agreement with you about most of the topic of the gray man. I know it really works because I've seen it work! It's not at all that difficult! I'll say this though, I've seen others try too hard to do the gray man, yet stick out like a sore thumb! What a laugh, a hoodie and sunglasses inside a store!
Great video, and I like this low-key format. Have you ever considered doing a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly podcast, especially with all of the ad/financial issues other youtubers have been experiencing lately? I, along with a lot of your other fans, would listen for sure!
I am 6'4", 200 lbs, with a 35 inch inseam. To say I have problems finding pants that fit me is an understatement. Name a brand of pant and I bet I've tried them. 5.11 Stryke pants fit me. Go ahead and call me tacticool or whatever. Don't care. Wearing them.
Hey, those pants are EXPENSIVE but will last you a lifetime, nothing wrong with that.
I agree being the grey man is important based on your individual circumstances. I work with colleagues who speak openly about wanting to harass, assault anyone who voted for Trump. I voted for Trump. I do not tell colleagues that I voted for Trump. I need to keep my mouth shut while they speak about committing terrorist acts of violence and hate against Trump supporters. Unfortunately, this is common place for some people.
Right on point. I don't where the 511 W/ cargo pockets. But I where hiking paint that do have extra pockets. But that just me.
I have a friend who does all the gun guy stuff with stickers on his big ass truck to wearing t-shirts and someone followed him home broke into his house when he wasn't home and stole all his guns. That's why I personally keep things on the DL.
If you try to kill the fantasy you must also slay the dragon so my advice is, be careful because some are very protective of their pet dragon and feeding it is a priority.
Dale B no one has try to slay me and I have made myself look like a easy target a few times.
5.11 stryke for the win....not sure why people think jeans are so comfortable in the first place. plus, min. I carry is light, knife, gun, phone, wallet, keys; the stryke gives me a dedicated pocket for all that.
Way I see it, anyone who would care about me being prepared won't notice, and anybody who notices is probably also a gun guy, and won't care. I don't go around flaunting my preparedness but I won't go out of my way to stay hidden in a crowd either.
Hey Mike! Interesting video. Grey man is definitely in my bag of tricks, so to speak. Former LEO here. Most crimes are crimes of opportunity. These days I'm jeans and fleece jacket for the most part. Very indistinguishable and unnoticeable in the PNW (Colorado too, I bet!). But I'm armed and always aware of my surroundings. If you have your head down and are distracted, you're a target no matter what you're wearing. IMO.
Agreed. I love to hear feedback from LEO, because they have a good (and often varied) perspective on how to be a 'regular civilian' etc and what to look for, what to do, what not to do, what criminals look for, etc.
...appreciate your thoughts & opinions on this topic. You hit on some things that I never considered & definitely will be thinking about.
Thanks for the video. I feel that the grey man movement is hype and counterproductive. The public needs to be conditioned to accept that people can be armed and that the people around them are armed. I think people use the grey man movement to avoid confrontation with other law-abiding people who would judge them for being armed more than using it for its "intended" purpose.
Yep. We need to go back to the (old west). More respect
This is nonsense if I am a criminal and I see a clear threat I will deal with that first if there is a gray man beside the clear threat the gray man is safe and will deal with me when the time comes. Being a gray man is more of a tactical outlook on survival carrying a big gun on your hip for everyone to see is just a bad tactic that will make you a target sure it might deter most crime from going down but if the bad guy is persistent you know who he's targeting first.
I agree with most all of that Mike. I want to have grey man skills for certain situations (being overseas, or in the ghetto, or when SHTF) and I don't want to stick out like a sore thumb, but I'm also not willing to compromise functionality in order to be 100% covert when most people are oblivious to it.
I wear 5.11 pants and I use a lot of the pockets! When I wear jeans, I've got nowhere for my IFAK and my TQ! I usually don't where obvious gun shirts, but I like ones that only gun guys/girls will notice (like the Builder's Club shirt you have on in this video, and many others from ENDO. Or maybe one that has the III% logo or Molon Labe.)... also, I don't have gun stickers on my truck, but my truck is also unique because of it's functionality.
I HAVE stopped using bags that are all squared off and covered in MOLLE in favor of some of the more covert, but functional bags (LOVE my Vertx!) because I found it's hard to switch into that grey man role when carrying a military-style bag. Also, it seems the security at the airport, amusement parks, sporting events, etc is often trained to pay special attention to men with "military-style bags".
Hadn't really pondered the "Gray Man" concept prior to seeing it expounded upon on TH-cam. That said, I agree with everything I heard here. Still don't eat, drink, sleep & breathe "Gray Man", but it carry a slew of items on my person @ all times that could be called upon for tactical use. Or if I need a flashlight to help me find a dropped screw or nut, what do you know? I have one. SHTF happens all the time, and in varying degrees of intensity and urgency. To be prepared is not that difficult, and in my opinion, it's an intelligent thing to do.
Thanks for all the videos, LLOD.
Just now seeing this video. I agree with some of the older comments. Most people are so distracted by their phones that you could almost get away with wearing tactical looking 5.11 clothes and still not be noticed. I wear 5.11 most days when I am on campus going to class and never get any kind of unwanted attention.
I appreciate that you don't regurgitate information.
Too much of the same online, people don't realize that the they can enjoy other information than the top link on google.
You acctually DO want to be the strongest and most dangerous man in the room, for survivability, but NOT showing it.
Go grey, carry a big stick.
Like you I understand the concept of not standing out in a martial law situation but apart from that scenario I'd rather rely on situational awareness and being prepared.
thumbs up Mike.
good point. some people may have distimguishable physical characteristics in absence of tsctical add ons. i stand out in most environments so i have to overcome this by being more situationally aware.
Kohy Holmes yeah to most people I seem like a threat when I'm not a threat which works to my advantage most of the time.
Something else to think about is the message their vehicle is sending.... like bumper stickers, decals, etc. Your vehicle is a good representation of you and what you like. You are a rolling billboard. Good video.
77Tenderwarrior I'm okay with that why blend in to much and not live life and isolate yourself to much.
77Tenderwarrior if shit does hit the fan is a bumper sticker gonna put your life at risk?
great video totally agree with the line of thinking... but remember the most important accessory in being the tacticool greyman prepper survivor (besides the 80lb rucksack loaded with guns and ammo, and machetes, and tomhawks, and 14 different ways to make fire, that people feel the need to bring to work daily) is the amazon special Shemagh. It doesn't make you stand out at all.
Hey man, loved this video. Thanks for putting this one out and clearing the smoke. To be honest, I was one of those who got confused with the whole gray man concept when I started into prepping and buying tactical stuffs.
To add to it was blogs and videos that almost "worship" the gray man concept as if it's the only thing that matters, and the more people who wrote/made videos about it, the more "gray" they'll add to the content up to the point that you go out and don't even smile to anyone, you go out on your daily life as if it is SHTF.
Is it doable, yes. But is it realistic? Gotta ask yourself.
Again, thanks for putting this one out, keep up, you're doing a great job
Also, you should do a podcast. Me and my buddy started one two years ago (The Realistic Prepper) and we've been successful. I definitely think you have what it takes.
Totally agree with your take on this.
I try to go right down the middle between gray and tacticool. for example I run the Goruck bags.
act like your normal self because most people are boring and dont stick out to begin with...and in todays world,if you do stick out by not looking down at your phone while walking through the mall or actually paying attention to people around you,most likely criminals wouldn't attack you because they know if they see you,you see them. great video..
Steve Holt I agree to that to a point I feel that that if I'm not looking at my phone people think I'm up to something and no notice me if also if you try to look at someone in the eye if they try to avoid eye contact like the plague something suspicious about that. And they should be more focused on than what looks like a hard target.
Best common sense gray man video I've seen yet. Agree 100%. I have a build, larger than the average guy, and I wear some tactical looking shirts. I agree that I think this gives me an advantage over the average joe walking around.
100% agree with you. And I also live by that, and it works. And that's saying something, since I live in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. And people can't carry guns around here. Even owning a gun is pretty impossible. And "bad guys" have all kinds of guns. So being robbed by somebody with a gun is pretty standard here because bad guys know NOBODY has a gun. So just not looking like the easy target goes a long way here. Even in this scenario.
This subject is very good. I would like to say many things but to be brief I think it is good to remember that the big trick is to know how to adapt to the situation and to know how to change to adapt to changes. I agree with everything you said, I am a policeman in a city (Rio de Janeiro) where to be recognized as a policeman is to risk being executed, even so I prefer to keep my tactical profile to be faster in case something happens, so I don't care much if I print ( another video of yours) I also have a physiognomy and a face that you can't go unnoticed even if you try to be the gray man, lol
The good thing about police work is that sometimes I do this exercise of transforming myself into a gray man to enter the enemy's area and eliminate / arrest my game, in which case there is a good reason to be a gray man.
Friends, let us be what we are without too much stress ;-)
I was observing a suspicious person thats been hanging around my neighborhood lately and something I noticed was his clothing / colors
some days when he wears more subdued colored clothing like greens, tans, or dark blue, black, he is almost invisable when he walks or rides his bike down the road with a tree line and shady areas, he blends in with the shadows when wearing subdued colors.
but when he wears something like a faded red sweat shirt or checkered red shirt, I can spot him immediately , even from a distance, yesterday I spotted him waiting by some thick bushes trying to evade the local LE that has been patrolling the street, I could see the red shirt he was wearing, even though he was standing behind bushes
for survival / SHTF / avoiding detection, etc
it's best to wear more earth tones or subdued clothing colors, unless your lost in the wilderness and your wearing a bright colored shirt for rescue personnel to spot you easier.
300% agree and live my life the exact same way every day. With my 5.11 pants and all haha! 😂
Practice good situational awareness, and avoid doing Stupid Things, in Stupid Places, with Stupid People. And always carry your tools (gun, knife, light, whatever works for you).
Daniel Madrid see there is a point of being paranoid also carrying your stuff always can incriminate you.
I like this video you say a lot of what I think I like to think that I’m ( tactically gray ) like you are hinting to how you do your Dayly a tier.👍🇺🇸 love your videos keep up the good videos
Thanks Chris!
When I'm with my child I try to not look like an easy target. Cause it might just be easier to give them my wallet then roll the dice, and my child get hurt in anyway. I'd like to think I can draw 1 handed fast, but I think I'm probably better than I am...
I completely agree.
Interesting. I have 5.11 pants but they don't really stick out in my opinion. Never had anyone comment on them. I like them because they have so many deep pockets...hard to find women's clothes that have any useful pockets at all. Other than that they don't really seem conspicuous to me.
I think a balance is smart. The baseline concept & SA is the best approach for me.
Yeah I'm with you on this one for sure, some people go way too far with this kind of stuff to the point that they can't even live everyday life. I don't go out of my way to advertise that I have guns etc. but I do maintain awareness in public. I don't prep for the apocalypse, but I keep a lot of water and some canned/box food separated for an emergency.
Hence why most spec. Operators hate wearing Tactical Woodland camo in Urban settings
I'm sorry I commented before the video was over and people just plainly need to pay attention to their surroundings no matter where they're at or how they're dressed gray man is fine I consider myself more gray than tactical but I always pay attention to my surroundings no matter where I'm at so I think you're right and you're thinking but again as you say it's just my opinion everybody needs to decide on what they want to do or be a Sheeple and hope for the best
I think you make a great point. Sometimes the Gray Man is beneficial, sometimes it's a detriment. The mugger seeing someone looking like the "5.11 guy" is less likely (IMO) to get mugged....but in a shtf scenario it could go either way. I prefer situational awareness and preparedness while being a gray man.
Great video, Mike. Couldn't agree with you more!
Best description of gray man n also tactical
Mike, that halo light reflection on your eyes is trippy. Good video content though.
A little gray man appeared on my screen. He was both smart and quite obscene. The first he thought he always is, the second only when at ease. He used "on the concept" in two neighboring phrases - and did not get the simple basis of grammar rules that say: Do not repeat, because it's gay. You see I failed an exam in German language - long ago. I used "under the shadow of a tree" - or so. My teacher underlined with rigging red. He said: You must have been digging and would be dead.
For those who failed to understand: It's as important as a hot dog stand, but those who obey this simple rule, are less likely to be called a "fool".
shorts, flip-flops, cuban-link chain. Instant Florida Gray-man 😎
what about my MOLON LABE bumper stickers. would this make my vehicle a target?
I would say yes. So would the "Punisher" stickers single a person out.
Really love your vids man. Ever thought of an actual podcast?
As i understand it one should attempt to blend with the crowd that would require a wideish
variety of wardrobe choices its nice to practice in daily life beacuse its a discipline
Cool Vid I am like you I wear what I want. I just happen to like 511's with a T-Shirt and Flip Flops.
Perfectly said and totally agree with the train of thought man.
your logic is refreshing
Some use grey man in necessity, these would be the operators. For the rest of us, there is a spectrum of grey. In some situations, I can see the tactical apparel (in moderation) being a non issue. For example, I don't think it would make a difference in a mass shooting or drive by because it is indiscriminate. In everyday office life and running about town, I personally think it draws attention. There are also situations like convenient store or bank robberies where I can see tactical apparel being a problem. As for clothing, I would just say try to look ordinary for the environment.
Thanks for keeping it fresh. Life is too short to listen to barf blogs. Eye contact and a confident, healthy smile go a long way to being grey, but OK. It shows you are aware and not a soft target, but also is disarming and reassuring to potential alarmists. More vids like this please. Thanks.
Complete agree with your philosophy! Love your channel.
If your wanting to know more about grayman concepts, situational awareness, and escape and evasion go to blackscoutsurvival's channel.
I try to aim for the upper end of the gray scale (LOL) without taking it overboard. There is a balance to be struck and in some ways I don't want to compromise utility for stealth. For example, I wear Tru-Specs practically every single day and would even if I wasn't tactically-minded because... I find the pockets very useful. ;-)
An area I think that gets glossed over is that even if you dress to disappear, how you carry yourself still shows through. I am of the mind that an observant person with a confident bearing who makes eye contact with those around them tends to be deselected by the bad actors. Confidence and being observant are much more of a deterrent than gun-related clothing or a pocket knife showing IMO.
Day to day I don't think it matters too much. I feel like it would depend on your end of world scenario, early collapse grey man is probably a better tactic. If your vehicle is super kitted out, you'd probably be a juicier looking target (unless it's like a humvee or something then it's just intimidating) if your with a group and are walking then I feel like even a group of 10 with scavenged gear may think twice about shooting at 5 guys walking with ballistic helmets, plate carriers and a with rifles. Either way pros and cons....every day life however, I just wear what I want tactical pants and all.
I live in a small town too and just jeans and a t-shirt is what everyone wears. Its also normal where I live to see a leatherman or pocket knife on someone. So its easy to be the gray man here.
I can't be a gray man, I wear a bowie knife... Pretty memorable when the tip of my knife sheath goes halfway down my thigh lol
CrazyIrishMedic just say youre blessed 😅
My knife is well endowed if you catch my drift :P
hey, check out LOF Defense Systems if you haven't yet. You might like their gear...
Awesome explanation. In a corporate environment is it even possible to be gray when it screams transparency and without coming across as some kind of recluse?
I agree with your ideas!
Also wanted to mention that Infrared cameras sees synthetics as white, so your black fleece becomes a big white flag. Wear cotton or wool instead ... . in earth tones, of course....when it's gray man time of course
I have a similar outlook on this topic. Good video.
I like that you don't have a ridiculous loud rock and roll garbage intro. just get to it type :)
I’m Mexican, my color range is a bit lighter, people mix me up with all kinds of ethnicities. Hispanic, middle Eastern, European.....
I live in Ann Arbor....a melting pot.
So I can blend in pretty easy.....plus everyone here wears U of M gear!
Go BLUE!!!!!
Dude I love your videos keep up the good videos
Love the info, great video!
I agree!
greatest video ever. I'm early to travel and I think it's very useful
Gray man is a tool in my arsenal.... I think that people who live Gray man won't survive very long because in day to day life you need to be true to yourself. Now if you are a Gray man and that's how you're comfortable living then more power to you and you have my respect. Again great video keep up the good fight....
awesome point of view that i share
LLOD needs a podcast!
Love your thoughts about the gray man…tactical pants don’t count when there is a mass shooter , coz he will just kill the closest target available, i dont think he has time to scan what brand of pants his targets are wearing such as 511 or otg or calvin klein, eddie bauer😂
The circle light on your eyes make you look like the alien-man instead of the gray man :p
I agree with you on this, it's nice to know others don't follow the bandwagon, on the 1-10 grey man scale 1 being the week and 10 being the tactical guy , I try and float between 6-7 on the scale, I don't want to stick out to everyone , just to the people that are paying attention on both sides, and by that I mean if something goes down I want the fellow sheepdogs to known they aren't alone in this fight, and I want the wolfs looking for a sheep to be like whoa not that one, that could be sheepdog in sheeps clothing.
Great videos keep it up!
K9SheepDog totally agree
Sweet! Being a nerd helps apparently in a tactical inviorment! As a nerd, I was never picked in high school, so maybe that doubles over! Lol in all honesty, I have never really been called out if you will in any situation outside of work. Outside of work, I live in LAPolice Gear pants( even though my wife says I look like a tactical toddler wearing cargo pants) random t shirts(mostly comics, bands, Article 15, Ranger Up, Nine Lines, brewery's, Black Rifle Coffee Company, Sports, or First Responder Agency shirts) and some form of hat(mostly my Condor Contractors Hat with whatever patch I wanna pull on) the only time I got called out was actually by an Iraqi lady who knew what my Nazarene patch stood for while I was buying my wife's Valentine's day gift
It's a city mentality. Like NY, for example. Blend in, pay attention, but don't look like you are paying attention. No eye contact and walk with a purpose quickly.