imported post
That act is commonly referred to in security professional circles as one of the following..
Nervous Ned Syndrome: The unconscious need to play with something or have something in hand to keep the nerves in check by focusing at least part of a persons mind on an inanimate object. It allows the individual to route feelings of fear or uncertainty one direction, and concentrate the logical mind in another. Its a bad habit to say the least, because police and security personnel are most likely to play with something on or from their utility belt.
This can happen to anyone however, and OCers need to be especially mindful of this unconscious act because of the items we keep on our belt and on our person. :?
Badass Bill Syndrome: The very conscious act of carrying an "item of perceived power" in the hand. This can be anything from a clipboard or a coffee cup to a baton or a rifle. This is normally caused by a feeling of inadequacy that the individual tries to make up for by getting people to focus their attention on the object they are holding instead of at them and any facial or body expressions that may give away what they are really feeling.
Speaking from experience, it takes conscious training to break these habits. Neither are conductive when dealing with the public at large. I once told a Seattle PD officer to put his baton away when talking with me during one of my few encounters while OCing down town. We were about 90 seconds into the "conversation" and I interrupted them with the none too polite request. He seemed more surprised by the realization that he had it in his hand than he did by my abrupt request. :quirky
