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that the way I saw it, he had just done some real man shit; that he was putting off some real big dick energy. I asked to shake his hand, and he requested we hug instead. Like I said, I’m a hugger.
What all three of these stories have in common is that all three sit- uations were brought to a safe and peaceful conclusion through a willingness to make a genuine human connection. The way I see it, such a connection is empathy put into action. It is also a power- ful and effective catalyst for de-escalation, and if you’re working security without prioritizing de-escalation, you’re wrong. Hell, if you’re a human and you’re not prioritizing de-escalation in life, you’re wrong.
We live in a world that isolates us from each other more and more every day. Social media has caused our interactions with friends to shift entirely to the Internet. Amazon Prime, DoorDash, Zoom, Netflix. Modern convenience has robbed us of our reasons for leaving the house. Especially now, fresh off the heels of a global pandemic that brought with it several years in which “social dis- tancing” was the mandate, I think we’re all feeling that isolation to some extent, without really knowing what to do about it. Here’s something we can all do about it: make the effort to connect.
Nate Hazen is a bouncer, writer, and hugger. If you’re needing a hug, come get one from him at Dixie Tavern and X Exotic Lounge.
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