I have a coworker who used to walk home at bar time a few times a week though a less then nice neighboor hood. One day his mom asked him if he was worried about someone mugging him or hitting him or whatever. His reply “Mom, I’m 6’2” 220 pounds and talk to myself, whose gonna bother me."
I’m 5’ 3" and look young for my age, but I’ve been told I have an air about me that is scary and intimidating. I know I can act very imperious but am not a loudmouth about it. A co-worker said that I was most frightening when I got really, really quiet – like I was plotting someone’s death.
I don’t entertain those kinds of thoughts. I have no clue how I do this. Animals like me (I’m a stray dog magnet), but kids tend to keep their distance from me (which is fine). When I brood, which is rather often these days, people tiptoe around me. But I don’t bite, really. And if I do, I’ve had my shots. 
So’s my mom. She is that teacher you had in grade school that never raised her voice yet was always able to discipline her class in a fashion that the military might envy. Her name is the magic word that other teachers use to quiet their students. Wish I’d inherited that particular gene, but it seems to have skipped a generation. 
Another scary looking guy checking in…
Seems like just about everytime I walk past a car, I hear that “chunk” sound of the doors being locked.
I remember about 6 months ago at the airport I was picking up my bags. I was in kind of a hurry and a bit honked off at the flight, so I probably looked a bit gruffer than usual. So I’m walking toward the bag on the carousel thing, and this woman that just happened to be in the way started cowering and blubbering “Who are you? Please don’t hurt me! Agghhh!” I said: “Pardon me, just getting my bags - thanks!”. Got a soft voice, so that helped, but I felt bad for her.
Seems more than a few of the scary guys in this thread fit the same mold. I’m also bald, wear sunglasses occasionally, and work out. Maybe we should start a “scary doper club” or something.
I think those claiming to be scary should be required to provide a picture link.
Self-reporting bias, and all.
I think I look like a bunny rabbit and am soft-spoken. However, I’ve had students tell me that I frightened them and my SO says that my “unnatural calmness” scares some people 
I did. I’ve gfot scariness I can turn on and off (usually but not always consciously). I’ve linked to both.
Only in court [wolfish grin].
Seriously, I’ve always thought of myself as non-intimdating, regular guy. Then one day when we were talking about work, Mrs. Piper commented that I was very intimidating in court (she’s seen me in action on a few occasions).
I was surprised. “I just go in and argue,” I said. “I don’t have any mannerisms, or loud voice, or ‘pound the table tricks’, and I always try to respect my opponent. I just do my best with my argument.”
“That’s exactly it,” she said. “People know that you don’t have any tricks - you just know the law and know how to argue it persuasively, without needing any tricks, and without making it personal. That’s very intimidating.”
Considering I’ve seen Mrs Piper reduce a witness to the fetal position by her cross-examination, I have to assume that she knows what she’s talking about, but I was still surprised by it.