How To Intimidate People
But mastering the art of intimidation can and will go a long way to getting what you want. The best intimidation is the one that's implied. Any cafone can point a gun; he's not scaring anyone, his gun is.
You want people to fear you, but you also want them to respect you, and your power. A fool with a weapon might get you to wet your pants, but you'll never write a tribute to him in The New York Times.
So let me take you through some of the ways you can intimidate without having to be 6'5" or 250 pounds.
build uncertainty & mysteryThe best way to intimidate someone who doesn't know you from a hole in the wall is by being as mysterious as possible. Be impossible to read. Sure, not shaving, having a scowl on your face, and wearing a trench coat can help your look, but if you don't know how to carry yourself, whoever you are trying to intimidate won't know the difference between you and a Larry The Flasher.
The less someone knows about you, the more you leave things open to the imagination. The more blanks your opponent fills, the less menacing you are. It's that simple.
Everyone fears the unknown and uncertainty. If you don't know what to expect, you're more on guard. If someone finds out you cry during chick movies, well, guess what buddy? You won't even intimidate your blow-up doll.
We've got a big earner in my Family who has an excellent record of collecting his "dues" because he's perceived as unbalanced. You know, crazy, wacko, pazzo, whatever sweetens your cannoli.
He'll knock someone in his crew unconscious, to show his "associates" he's indiscriminate and short-tempered. This guy is hilarious to watch in action because I know it's an act and, although he's one of the most intelligent people I've ever met, he comes across as a barbarian.
How does he intimidate? By being unpredictable, not having a stable, normal, logical MO, people are always trying to figure him out. They can't, because he's smart enough to freak out in the most normal of circumstances and be as cool as a Sicilian winter night amid a bordello of chaos.
Does he get his message across despite his instability? Do Italians do it better? Of course. Because he's too convoluted.
You don't have to be violent to show the other guy you have a screw loose or that you're out of control. Be a psycho, but a scary psycho; let them fear your eyes. Never, ever be nice or sensitive. You have to put it in your head that you are a cold, calculating machine. And execute.
Keep it short and sweet, and use that voice, you know, the Brando voice...