This Is Why I Go To The Gym

[blas]

The guy that stopped yesterday? Solo.

The guy who slowed down, stopped, turned around and freaked me out 3 years ago? Solo.

I wouldn't say it's pressure or a pack mentality with guys.

Oh, I was also propositioned at my fucking mailbox earlier last year. By a solo guy.

Yeah, I won't be walking alone anytime soon. If I end up deciding to, I'm bringing my phone, so I can at least make it look like I'm calling the cops. Maybe that will scare them off.

[fireheart]

iPod. But the phone sounds like a good idea.

This is why I go to zumba classes.

[blas]

As much as that may seem like a way to drown out the surrounding noises, I'd rather be able to hear honking or other vehicular noises. I can't always anticipate someone who is going to bother me, but being able to hear honking and hear vehicles braking and/or stopping is preventative. I'd hate to be drowned in song and not realize I was being followed, or god forbid worst case scenario, someone stops and gets OUT!

I know, I'm probably worrying myself to death. I shouldn't HAVE to. I should be able to take a fucking walk (especially IN THE MIDDLE OF BROAD DAYLIGHT) whenever I please and without being bothered, but since men can't seem to not do that, I'm going to keep any distractions away. It may be boring without music or someone to talk to, but after what's happened before, if I ever end up taking a walk alone again, it's best to have my ears available.

[HorrorFrogPrincess]

One time, when I was still a teenager (and I look YOUNG), I was walking home from the store which was only a few blocks from my house. A car stopped, and I thought they needed directions (happens sometimes). The guy said "Hey, you got a man?"

I gave an icy look and walked away. The car followed me, slowed to my pace and the guy started yelling crap about me, about how I'm a bitch, he was just trying to be nice, etc. I yelled for him to F-off. He did finally drive off, but I was freaked out enough that I peeked around the wall before turning the corner to my house, just to make sure he hadn't driven around the block to wait for me.

Someone from down the street had seen this (I saw him outside washing his truck), and drove up after the first guy had driven away, and asked if I was OK, and if I needed a ride. I declined, but it was nice of him to check on me.

[blas]

That's why I was so befuddled 3 years ago when the first incident happened. The dumbass pig, sometime between 8-10 am, decided to try and pick me up and actually was going to wait for me......if I had kept walking and met up with his vehicle, was he going to get out and try to nab me on a busy street, with however many other vehicles driving by, in front of hundreds of apartments and townhouses and duplexes?

I cannot believe in the mid morning or early afternoon, a guy can be so stupid as to stop and bother a girl, much less follow her or keep turning around and coming back, or to stop and wait for her. I mean, do they really think that doing that on a busy street or in a neighborhood is a good idea?

Horrorfrog's story proves that anyone can be outside and witness it, and I'm sure that can happen anywhere.

[Victory Sabre]

I'm a guy. I like pretty women. I'd NEVER consider doing to a woman what those morons did to you.

That's my 2 cents.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

The guy that stopped yesterday? Solo.

The guy who slowed down, stopped, turned around and freaked me out 3 years ago? Solo.

I wouldn't say it's pressure or a pack mentality with guys.

Oh, I was also propositioned at my fucking mailbox earlier last year. By a solo guy.
.

I'm willing to bet these guys do quite a few things solo.

I think it was this organization that had a site where you could take pictures of predators such as these (and I'm sorry, but if anyone who randomly picks out strangers on the street to harass and intimidate is a predator and a bully) and post them on the internet, but I can't seem to find that particular thing now. Even so, though, hold up a camera and snap a picture of the fucker. Then either text it someplace or make a show of texting it someplace.

On the off chance that he's capable of thinking, it might make him think.

My opinion of being victimized by this is to take it like a man. In other words, react the way a man would react to being subject to the same kind of shit. I guaran damn tee they won't be expecting that.

And yeah, HFP, he's trying to be nice to you, that's why he's following a total ass stranger down the street calling her a bitch, right? Could he BE any more cowardly and passive aggressive? Maggot. They always say that, don't they? "Why can't you be nice?" Well, we don't owe it to strangers to be nice to them when they are bothering us when we're minding our own business. We don't owe them anything. I'm beginning to think the "silent ignoring" thing is the wrong tact to take because that's evidently what they're counting on and it frequently only encourages them. Can you imagine them doing this to a man? I can't.

[XCashier]

:sigh: Good old street harrassment. Honestly, has any guy ever gotten a date by screaming at a pedestrian woman from his car?!

I'm sorry you had to deal with that, Blas. I wish there was some sort of long-distance pepper spray we could zap these losers with.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

They're not trying to get a date. They're trying to make sure that lesser beings know their place.

Same as when customers treat retail workers like they're not really human. It's the same sort of thing: bullies seeing someone they can victimize and get away with it.

[XCashier]

They're not trying to get a date. They're trying to make sure that lesser beings know their place.

Most of the time, yes. There are a handful who honestly think they're paying the woman a compliment and don't comprehend why she's taking it so badly, or why the catcalling isn't working.

But yes, most of them are misogynistic bullies who can't deal with the fact that women are now equal to them in status, and are doing their damndest to "put us in our place". I really wish there was something that could be done about these sleazebags; the "hollaback" page is a good start, though.

[Mikkel]

I really wish there was something that could be done about these sleazebags

One of these babies would make a good start too .

[Gawdzillers]

Some fat orange bitch keeps driving by and yelling something at me. The first time it was something about my cock, the second time I think she called me a faggot.
Not quite the same, but it's annoying.

[greek_jester]

Not quite the same, but it's annoying.

No, it's exactly the same, & she's just as awful as the idiots who keep harassing Blas. The only difference is that she doesn't stop, & make you worry that she's going to try for actions rather than words.

Sexual harassment is sexual harassment. It doesn't matter what gender the victim & the abuser are. /

[ThirdGenRetail]

Years ago, I was taking a walk, and I went past a yard where two teenage boys were hanging out. One of them yelled something like that at me. He only saw me from the back, and I guess my long hair fooled him. I turned around slowly, and gave him a glare. His jaw dropped to the ground, he turned about a dozen shades of red, and his buddy stood there laughing at him and poking him. As soon as I was out of their sight, I busted out laughing.

You reminded me of a post on Not Always Right... Now I wonder if that was you. Did you ever work in a grocery store?

I, alas, really don't walk... Not that life's that exciting in the Park.

[MadMike]

Did you ever work in a grocery store?

Actually, I did.