How Street Smart Are You?

By: Zoe Samuel
Estimated Completion Time
7 min
How Street Smart Are You?
Image: Alexander Spatari/Moment/Getty Images

About This Quiz

Some people are book smart, some are street smart and some lucky souls are both. While book smarts are, unsurprisingly, considered the gold standard of intelligence by academics, street smarts are essential for living a functional life. It's no good writing your magnum opus if you leave your laptop on the train and then get mugged for the wallet containing your backup flash drive!

A street smart person has high emotional and situational intelligence. They know when bad guys are about to kick off and start something. They know when to stand up for themselves and when they're in over their head and need to exit. They are always alert, but not to the point of freaking out for no reason. They can spot who's dangerous, but equally important, they know who isn't (and they don't let prejudices picked up from wider culture make that decision). They have photocopies of important identity documents at their mom's house, a GPS tracker on their phone and they're always wearing or carrying a pair of shoes fit to flee in an emergency. They have an awareness of their position on the map, and if their planned route home doesn't pan out, they always know an alternative—and if that means walking a few miles, well, if they're physically capable of doing so, they'll do it (and if they're not, you can bet they have a plan for that, too). 

Does this sound like you, or are you at a loss in the urban jungle? Let's find out!

Do you have headphones on at night?
Only if there are a lot of people around
No
Yes, but there is no music on in them.
Yes, they're noise-canceling too!

Advertisement

Do you always have enough cash on you to get home if you absolutely had to?
Obviously
Usually
No
What is "cash"?

Advertisement

If someone mugs you at knifepoint, what do you do?
Give them money, obviously. It's just money, not worth dying for.
Try to bargain with them
Run away!
Fight and win!

Advertisement

You think you are being followed. What's the best way to be sure?
Go into a store.
Stop and examine a window display.
Switch sides of the street a few times.
Turn round and bark at them. If they're following, I'll know. If they're not, now they know I'm crazy and they won't start!

Advertisement

On the subway, there is an open seat, but it's between two people manspreading into it. Can you get that seat?
Yes, I just say, "Excuse me" loudly as I sit.
I just sit there and take up space until they move.
I ask them nicely to move.
No. I'd be scared.

Advertisement

From how far away can you typically identify that a crazy person is crazy?
Over 100 yards. I just know.
As soon as I'm close enough to see their expression
I have a sense once they are nearby.
I don't think that's something you can know until they act nuts.

Advertisement

What is the scariest time of day to be accosted in the street?
4 a.m.
Breakfast time
Midnight
Afternoon

Advertisement

A guy decides to hit on you in an enclosed space like a subway or bus. Hardly anyone else is around. How do you signal that you are not interested?
If he's creepy enough to do it in an enclosed space, I just smile and nod until I can switch cars. Plus, I lie about where my stop is.
I get a weapon into my hand,then say, "It's not OK to hit on men/women in enclosed spaces. You need to go away."
I say no thanks, very firmly.
II mention my boyfriend repeatedly, even if I don't have one.

Advertisement

Do you charge your phone every night?
Of course, and I carry a charger.
Yes
No, more like every few days
No, it dies all the time!

Advertisement

How often do you wear shoes that you couldn't sprint 100 yards in?
In the street? Never! What if there's a zombie apocalypse?
Rarely, and I have a change in my bag if necessary.
Only on workdays when I'm around a lot of people
All the time. Give me stilettos or give me death, man.

Advertisement

What sort of bag do you typically carry?
Theft-proof backpack with hidden zipper and reinforced seams
Shoulder bag, so it's where I can see it
Briefcase
Regular backpack

Advertisement

Where on your person is your phone?
In a zippered compartment in my backpack, or a zippered pocket on a piece of clothing
In an inside pocket
Front pocket
Back pocket or backpack outer pocket

Advertisement

What security do you have on all your devices?
PIN, GPS, remote erase app, case
PIN, "find my phone" type apps, case
Lock pattern, case
I don't even have a case.

Advertisement

In an Uber-free area, do you always know the name or number of a cab company?
Yes, I write it down in case my phone dies.
I usually have an idea.
No, but I should!
Who am I, the memory man?

Advertisement

A woman comes up to you and says she just needs $5 for the bus. What's her deal?
Scam artist, 100%. People in real trouble don't ask for $5, they ask you to call their mom, 911, for directions, or to sit with them.
She's likely a scammer and she's not getting my money. I will consider walking her to the bus stop if she's scared.
She's possibly a scammer, but I'll consider Venmoing her if she can show me a LinkedIn profile that proves who she is.
That poor lady! Here's $10!

Advertisement

A very nice man in a suit would like to give you a free piece of literature. What does he want?
To make me join a cult or donate money
To make me sign a petition
To get into my pants, by a circuitous route
To give me something nice to read. What a nice man!

Advertisement

You see someone start to cross the street without noticing a bus coming. What do you do?
Yank them back if I have to. That's the only time you can touch someone.
Touch their arm
Yell out
Fret a lot

Advertisement

Someone has fainted! What's going to happen now?
I'm going to check they're breathing and call for help.
I'm dialing 911.
Honestly? I'm probably going to stand around like an idiot. Sigh.
I'm going to film it. Screw privacy rights and dignity! I want those clicks!

Advertisement

You are walking home when a fight spills out of a pub. Do you engage?
No, I just keep walking.
I stop and check there are no guns involved.
I run past in terror.
I stop and film it.

Advertisement

You are offered a free hotel room overseas with a friend. What is the first step to prepare?
Check my passport is in date, then make sure I have a photocopy stored where a friend/family can get it if I lose mine
Check whether my phone and cards will work in the place they've invited me, and if not, address the issue
Look at flights. The price will only get worse if I don't.
Tweet about it! Tell everyone the exact dates that my home will be unoccupied! Then buy stuff!

Advertisement

In a foreign country, someone sliced open your bag and took your phone and wallet. What's your next step?
Use my real phone and wallet, since they took my backups. I don't go around foreign countries with my actual valuables on me.
Use my backup phone and wallet, as they took my better ones.
Use my other card that I locked in the safe in my hotel room. Buy a throwaway phone.
I have absolutely no idea. I'm screwed.

Advertisement

In a bar, you just got a new drink but need to go to the bathroom. What will you do?
Drink it, then go. I can hold it.
Ask a friend to guard it, then go.
Ask the bartender to guard it, then go.
When you gotta go, you gotta go. Nobody's gonna take my drink.

Advertisement

You need to get cash. What's a step you'll never miss in making sure you do so safely?
Check the area for suspicious characters. Ensure my wallet is ready to put the cash away quickly.
Check nobody is looking over my shoulder.
Cover the PIN pad with my other hand.
Ask everyone to step back, I'm getting cash!

Advertisement

You need emergency services while in Europe. What do you dial?
112
999
911
No idea! Do they even have real police? They don't even carry guns!

Advertisement

You are on line at the DMV when a person screams at you that you cut them in line. You didn't. What happens next?
Put on headphones and set brain to "ignore wacko" mode
If they keep it up, let them go ahead. It's not worth it.
Shouting match time!
Run away

Advertisement

Have you ever gone abroad on your own?
Yes, many times
Yes, once
Yes, but only to meet someone who was going to show me around
Of course not. I'd die.

Advertisement

A person is walking their unbelievably adorable dog. How will you arrange things so that you get to pet it?
I ask the owner. It's only polite - and it makes sure the dog is friendly.
I drift into its path then say hello. If the dog is friendly, proceed with petting.
I touch the dog. If I still have fingers afterward, petting is on!
I veer across the street toward them screaming, "Lovely doggie come to mama/papa!"

Advertisement

If your local subway or bus is shut down, do you know an alternate route to get home WITHOUT checking?
Yes, many
Yes, one or two
I have an idea.
Not without a car, no

Advertisement

A heatwave has descended! What do you have with you at all times?
Water
Sunscreen
Hat
Emergency beachwear, in case of unexpected partying

Advertisement

Which of the following quotes rings truest for you?
He who fights and runs away has wasted good running time with all that fighting. - Mahatma Gandhi
It's better to look poor and be safe, than look rich and be a victim. - Anthony Liccione
I was street smart, but unfortunately the street was Rodeo Drive. - Carrie Fisher
At the very least, we need a sort of street-smart science: the ability to recognize evidence, gather it, assess it, act on it. - Judith Stone

Advertisement

You Got: