Survival Skillset #1: Ghost in the Machine

This is Skillset #1, Becoming a Ghost in the Machine, on my list of essential skills for staying alive in the post-collapse world, part of a continuing series the beginning of which can be found here.

What Exactly Is A Ghost?

With everything that has been happening in our messed up world, many people are looking for that extra edge that can help them in a survival situation. That advantage over all the other people in the world who will also be looking to get ahead of the pack, often at the expense of the unprepared. Sometimes you might find this edge in weapons and gear, sometimes it means having more supplies on hand, and other times you could look for it in different overall strategies for survival. Here, we are going to explore one of those strategies, which many refer to as the theory of being a “gray man”.

Sounds pretty cool, all cloak-and-dagger, right? Well, this theory doesn’t involve things like Jason Bourne’s missions, although he is a good example of a character who embodies many of the elements of being a Ghost. (James Bond, sadly, does not.) Still, I think you will be interested anyway. So, let’s dive right into the strategy behind being a Ghost in the Machine.

First off, let’s take a quick look at what it actually means. The simple definition of what it means to be a Ghost is that you practice a way of conducting your everyday life to become just another face in the crowd. The primary factor in being a Ghost is working to never leave an impression on the minds of people around you and to blend into your surroundings. Never giving anyone a reason to pick you out of the crowd. That is, essentially, the entire thing. You don’t even want to catch anyone’s sight, and if you are seen you don’t want to register or be remembered.

The act of being a Ghost is a method of disappearing into your environment so that you can move around unnoticed once the SHTF. The idea is to conceal your preparedness and abilities by blending in with the crowd before, and certainly during, a disaster. You want to hide the fact that you have survival skills, are carrying tactical gear, or have a good plan and a large stash of supplies.

Generally, there are negative associations made by being the one who “disappears into the crowd.” Most people don’t want to be just like everyone else. They want to be unique, to stand out and be noticed, all eyes on them. Socially, it is awkward and boring to be nondescript. People believe it is a good thing to be noticed, and normally it is. At least until there’s a disaster of some sort and you are the only one prepared for it. Or, you are trying to get through some sort of hostile environment like a riot intact. Those are not times that you want to be picked out or remembered. If you have been training and preparing, you will be ready when the SHTF, but what will everyone else be doing around you?

Losing their minds, probably.

When in a panic, people become desperate, and we know that desperate times call for desperate measures, right? That can lead many to do whatever it takes to survive, with no options off the table. When that time comes, you really don’t want to be singled out as someone prepared for survival.

Why Be A Ghost?

Okay, now that we have the definition of what being a Ghost is, and why we should care, let’s lay out some very specific advantages to practicing this skill, a baseline for what it does for you.

1. In a truly bad situation, your main objective will be to move yourself and your family to a safe place as fast as you possibly can, hopefully to a preset bug-out location. As a skilled Ghost, you will be able to move more quickly and decisively when the SHTF. Without causing undue attention, you will be more capable of controlling or avoiding bad situations, and of moving around more freely.
2. By blending in and being just another face in the crowd, you are much less likely to be targeted by others for any reason. Being approached for assistance by those who did not prepare or attacked by opportunists for your supplies is far less likely. If no one is aware that you are prepared they will not see you as a potential lifeline, either as savior or victim.
3. Maintaining a ghostly presence in people’s minds makes it much less likely that you could be, um, “mistakenly” identified as an offender or participant in any criminal activity. Depending on what sort of SHTF event happens, simply attempting to leave your home could become criminal.
4. By being nondescript your appearance and manner of dress will not be inflammatory to any groups of people. Broadcasting things like political affiliation, career, and even sports teams, could inadvertently identify you as an enemy to some, but as a Ghost you are better able to avoid entanglement with anyone lashing out, rationally or otherwise.

These are just a few of the benefits and advantages you will have as you become a skilled Ghost. Now that we have identified “why” we should aspire to be ghosts, let us explore “how” to become one.

Operational Security (OPSEC)

First, I want to go over a key concept in living like a Ghost, and that is Operational Security (OPSEC). OPSEC is the process by which you protect critical information that can be used against you. It focuses on preventing others from having access to information about you that may compromise your operations and safety. OPSEC challenges you to look at yourself through the eyes of a potential adversary, identify things that could give away what you have or are doing, and then to deny that adversary the information they need to act against you or your interests.

In simple terms, OPSEC basically means keeping your activities secret so other people cannot figure out what you are up to, or what goodies you might be hoarding.

But there is a lot more to it than just keeping secrets. Many traditional preppers have this idea that they are living in the shadows like some sort of black ops ninja. Well, guess what? They’re not. And in reality, they can’t. This is the modern age and for the most part, before you even get a chance to stash a bunch of newly purchased goodies, your neighbors have already seen you almost throw your back out trying to carry it inside and they are wondering why in the hell you need so much damn rice.

So, while it is a good idea to keep as many secrets as you can, don’t fool yourself into thinking you are going to have some secret squirrel stash that absolutely no one knows about. That being said, it is not your neighbors you have to worry about most.

Most people don’t really believe this to be true, but this is one of those “unconventional” things I have personal experience with. There are quite a few people out there who are…different. Some of these different people are something like preppers, in that they are aware of the coming collapse and intend to have a plan for when it happens.

But their plan is a predatory one. The idea is to keep track of others who have supplies that they can steal, either by stealth or by force, should the need arise and the threat of law enforcement response has all but disappeared. These individuals run the full spectrum, from common criminal to active duty military. I have met them, talked with them, and gotten to know some of them. Suburban areas are “target rich environments” and all that stuff you have piled up to ride out the apocalypse, those are called “assets in place.”

In short, there are individuals and groups out there who are gathering intel and coming up with plans. And their plan is to screw up your plan. And when they are doing their research, it is a constant thing, even when just driving to work. They see and they remember. So, the real goal of OPSEC is to keep them from seeing as much as possible. Being a ghost helps with that.

How to Become A Ghost

Being a ghost is actually an instinctual human behavior. Many people do it all the time unconsciously without even realizing it.

Try and visualize how you normally act when you want to avoid someone, say at work, or around the neighborhood. What is it that you end up doing? You kinda look away, avoid eye contact, and even try to quiet your own thoughts, almost like you are drawing your energy and emotions inward and away from the subject as you set your expression to be bland and neutral.

While avoiding making any sudden moves or loud noises, you slowly direct your travel, and your own attention, away from the individual and move calmly in a different direction, perhaps even using other people who might be around as a screen between you and that chatty lady that you are trying to avoid.

You can also try and wrap your mind around the concept of being a ghost by thinking about how you tend to act when you do want to get someone’s attention. What do you normally do? You raise your head, try and make eye contact, maybe even call their name, wave or make other gestures. You probably start walking towards them directly and with purpose. Unconsciously you even elevate and project your emotions, and express yourself by smiling and greeting them normally.

All of these things, sudden motions, movements, noises, actions, and emotional broadcasting, are all designed to attract the attention of others.

To be a Ghost, you focus on doing the opposite of all that. There are some basic rules, kind of like guidelines, to help you practice the techniques, and with time they will become reactive and instinctual.

The Science of Ghosting

Now that we have gone over some of the actual practices of being a Ghost, it is time to delve more into the science behind gray man theory, or Ghosting as I have dubbed it. While managing your appearance to blend in certainly has a vital role in the practice of ghosting, the real core is actually much deeper than just that. A good portion of it comes down to plain old human nature and psychology. Just because you are wearing an old worn hoodie and some dark sweatpants, with a trucker hat pulled down over your brow, it does not mean you won’t draw attention. For example, if you were in the corporate district of a major city and everyone is wearing business attire, your shabby urban casual would definitely stand out quite a bit to the people there.

To understand the science of ghosting you need to learn about the brain’s Reticular Activating System, or RAS. This is a part of your brain that filters input from your sensory organs. It is kind of like the censor for your brain that parses everything you see, hear, smell, feel, and even taste so that your conscious mind is not overwhelmed with too much extraneous information.

This key part of your mind plays heavily into the science of ghosting. When your gaze washes over an area and the people who occupy it, your RAS is scanning the individuals and their appearance and then quickly dismissing them if they seem insignificant. And that is exactly what you want to be to everyone else: insignificant. The unconscious mind is looking for important details which will identify threats or people of interest. And as any cop can tell you, you do not want to be a person of interest.

For example, if you are at a home game sporting event looking around at the people in the stands, you wouldn’t take notice of every regular Joe or Sally out there. However, if you were to catch sight of someone in the rival team’s colors, your conscious mind would be alerted by the RAS, and you would immediately recognize that person as being different, as someone distinct, and you would take some small note of it, at least.

This is a function of our natural, “lizard brain” primitive instincts. Our brains have been hardwired to spot things that are out of the ordinary. A flash of yellow among a landscape of brown tree trunks indicates the potential presence of another beast in the forest, and we have an intense interest in whether it is predator or prey.

This is what you want to avoid when ghosting. You want to camouflage yourself so well that nobody thinks twice when their eyes wash over you. Better still to not even register in their consciousness. There shouldn’t be anything about you that stands out in their minds.

Our minds are looking for things that stand out, shapes, smells, sounds, and colors. While RAS is primarily a visual function, the brain similarly evaluates sound and smell. When we’re out in the woods, our ears get used to the sound of the background bugs and breezes, but a snapping twig stands out. That same broken stick, in the middle of a sprawling cityscape, fades into meaninglessness.

You need to take the science of ghosting and apply it in the real world of everyday life. This is not an easy thing to do, at least not at first, but there are rules and guidelines you can follow that allow you to get into the instinctual habit of becoming invisible no matter where you find yourself.

The Rules of Ghosting

Information Rules

1: Control the flow of information. This means keeping as much about your activities and preparations as secret as possible. Never let anyone know you are prepared whenever you can help it. Don’t brag about all of your extra food, water, and supplies. When you engage in conversation with neighbors, keep any radical political or world views to yourself. Talking politics can be dangerous, especially if you have any fringe views. Don’t broadcast to the world, especially when outside of your neighborhood, that you are someone who is ready to take on the Wasteland.

2: Do not reveal defensive capabilities. People should not be privy to specifics about your security and defenses at all. You don’t want them to see you as defenseless, obviously, but if you can hold off an armed assault, don’t tell people about it. It is never a good idea to go on about how much of a badass you are, or how many cool guns you have. The real badasses out there keep their mouths shut about it.

3: Conceal your supplies. Everything you have stockpiled should be hidden well enough that even your nosiest neighbors must work hard to figure out what you have. You don’t have to try and hide every bag of nuts you have squirreled away but keep those massive sacks of rice out of the view of the windows.

4: Maintain OPSEC at all times. When you are training, planning, practicing, or whatever, keep it as secret as you can. Don’t roleplay scenarios with your neighbors or pester them with questions about their own possible preparations. You always need to know what is going on around your home, but no one else should know what’s going on inside of yours. Above all, keep any escape and evasion plans completely to your own household. No one should EVER know your bugout plan or safe spots except the people that are a part of those plans.

Logistical Rules

5: Don’t broadcast your moves. Whenever you make purchases or collect supplies, especially large amounts of stuff, try to bring it all home as discreetly as possible. If you have deliveries being shipped your home, this is even more important because it’s harder to do. A huge pile of boxes labeled “Survival Food” Will certainly raise red flags for the neighbors and whoever else may be taking note.

6: Disguise what you are loading. Try to handle the moving of supplies when most people are away from the neighborhood, such as early morning workday hours. Be careful about what you load in and out of your car, like gun cases and tactical bags. If you can, do loading with the vehicle in a garage. Whenever possible try and use non-descript packaging as a means of concealment.

Appearance Rules

7: Avoid identifying characteristics. Don’t dress in tactical clothing as a habit. I know, it looks cool, but that is not the point, and you should try to look as normal as possible. Keep it casual. Avoid sports teams or trendy brand logos and designs. These things can be remembered easily, and can place you in a category in people’s minds. Wearing bright colors and team or brand logos will cause you to stand out and attract attention. People are often identified and stereotyped by what they wear. Tactical gear is awesome, but it may lead to others seeing you as someone who knows what they are doing, and that makes them interested for a variety of reasons, none of them good. Bright-colored and flashy clothing is easily noticed and remembered.

8: Dress like the people around you. Always think ahead about the type of people, culture, and weather you are most likely to be in. Plan your general appearance based on that. Remember, staying concealed does not mean wearing a jacket in the middle of an Arizona summer. Whenever possible wear neutral colors. You want to blend in with the surrounding city colors and the people you will be around. Obviously, people are still going to see you, but there is a difference between being seen and being remembered, and it is that latter we want to avoid. Depending on your town and location, try and wear something similar to everyone else.

9: Avoid unique items and looks. Tattoos are easily identifiable, cover those up if you can. Hats, hoodies, and sunglasses are easily recognizable and should be avoided. But, you should carry an item or two like that with you that you can use to alter your appearance quickly. A hat, a different jacket, or a wig and sunglasses. Also, avoid strong-smelling deodorants or perfumes. Smells can attract attention. That attention might be innocent at first, but then people might notice you have more than they have. Don’t be too dirty or too clean. Just be as boring as you can. The same goes for your backpack and other accessories. These should be a neutral color, nothing bright that will stand out in a crowd. Simple, dull-colored, and common looking. The less obvious it is that you even have a backpack the better. A backpack rain cover is an excellent thing to have for your pack. Tactical backpacks are definitely the better choice when it comes to utility and durability, but they stand out quite a bit, especially in an urban environment. For this reason, a rain cover is perfect to cover the backpack so it isn’t obvious and the tactical features are hidden.

10: Don’t flash your gear. Absolutely no tactical or survival accessories should be visible on your person if it can be helped. Use pockets in clothing and your backpack to conceal such gear. Nothing shiny or obvious should be visible either. Camouflage is always a good idea. And no, not that cool digital woodland pattern you found, I mean street camouflage. Scuff up your rain cover or backpack to make it look less desirable. Use duct tape, dirt, or other stuff on it that will make it look less desirable.

Behavior Rules

11: Play the role you need to. Behavioral camouflage is a critical part of being a ghost. This is basically reading the area and the people in it and then behaving in a similar way to the prevailing behavior pattern. Act as though you are just as lost, angry, confused, or scared as the rest of the crowd to avoid drawing attention to your actual state of mind. Avoid eye contact with everyone that you can. Even if you act as though you are panicking like everyone else, your eyes can give you away to those who are adept at their own situational awareness. Plus, once you make eye contact, it can be an opening for someone to ask for help or pose questions to you, and it will be a lot harder for them to forget you later.

12: Don’t be an asshole. Confrontation must always be avoided at all costs. Keep your head down and act like everyone else. If someone seems aggressive or threatening, do your best to keep away from them. Antagonizing people is a bad idea. And being a dick can make people more apt to remember you, your actions, and what you may have said even if it does not lead to any altercation.

13: Go with the flow. Always make it appear that you are simply moving along with the crowd. Move as naturally as possible and gradually make your way in the direction you want to go. If something extraordinary happens, act as astonished as the rest of the people are. If you do speak to anyone, be very careful about what you say. Keep your speech along the same lines as what you are hearing from others around you. And do not make yourself a source of any new information. You don’t know what’s going on, haven’t heard anything, etc.

14: Maintain situational awareness. Keep yourself aware of everything going on around you at all times, but don’t make it obvious. If you are unfamiliar with the concept, read my article on the subject. You might be acting like everyone in the crowd, but in reality, you should be assessing everyone and everything around you at all times. Try not to reveal your own attention when looking at things, be like a predatory animal and move only your eyes, not your head.

15: No sudden movements. If you have to move against the crowd or take some other action, do it casually and try to make it seem like a part of something else. Even when you are doing something completely normal, make it look as mundane as it can. If you need to do something that will be noticeable or loud, try and time it with some sort of natural background noise. For example, breaking a window can be done when a loud vehicle goes by.

16: Don’t skulk around. Slink and the world slinks after you. Being noticeably furtive can call attention to you as people begin to wonder what you are hiding from. Yes, you are trying to hide, but it has to be natural. Hiding in plain sight. Misdirection is the key to this, so often it is best to camouflage your actions by appearing to do something else, boring and normal, and to move openly and with confidence so it appears as if you belong there doing whatever it is you are doing.

Conclusion

I could go on with specifics all day, but these rules are intended to give you a general idea and a baseline from which to make your own judgements about it all. Evaluate anything about yourself and your activities and look for things that stand out so that you can mitigate or eliminate those things. There are a great many resources out there about the “gray man theory,” and while most of it is summed up here, this is just an introduction to the process, a base to build from.

As a final note, these rules can all be summed up by a single sentence: Do not draw attention to yourself and keep your secrets secret. You need to make yourself a ghost in the minds of other people around you. When they start getting the idea that they need to start finding people to victimize to ensure their own survival, you definitely do not want to be the one who comes to mind.