Yet city dwellers often have occasion to venture out alone (or, with one or two others, but we shall concentrate mainly on the loner) into the world of strangers-into the public space of the urban settlement. Surely, if there is any urbanite who cannot "avoid" the city, who is incapable of privatizing its public space, it is this lone individual. But no, even in this situation, there are things that can be done. (In fact, most of the instructing in "how to act" in the city, discussed in Chapter Five, is precisely instructing in how to act under these circumstances.) The lone individual cannot transform the character of public space. He can, however, transform the character of his social psychological relationship to that space. By utilizing body management-by controlling gestures, facial expressions, movements, and so on-the individual can create around himself a symbolic shield of privacy. He can, that is, move through public space in such a way as to make himself as inconspicuous as possible, while simultaneously communicating to anyone who might happen to look that he is definitely not open to interaction.

DEFINE: Introduces the concept of a 'symbolic shield of privacy' — body management strategies that deter interaction in public space.

Lyn H. Lofland, World of Strangers_ Order a…, loc. 829