I had the lovely combo of getting mocked and ridiculed by both “friends” and “family” for sharing my tastes and interests, and now I struggle to share them with people and in spaces that seem safe, but my stupid fear and anxiety keeps me from reaching out 😅
Depending on the jurisdiction, always have a baseball and potentially gloves with you as well. Having only a baseball bat can be considered as either possession of a weapon or having an intent to cause harm I think, which can really backfire when authorities get involved.
IANAL, and anyone reading should consult their local laws surrounding self-defence before carrying items for the express purpose of self-defence