What can I do to stop people from harassing and bothering me on the road?

submitted by 8thmonitor from self.AskSaidIt

This constantly happens when I go out. I don't know why. It doesn't ruin my day, but I find it weird and uncomfortable.

A few days back, some girl asked me where my brother was. She told me he is so cute. I continued walking because I am an only child. As I walked away, I heard her say she was talking to me and called me an idiot. She didn't even ask if I had a brother. She just assumed. I have never seen her before in my life.

Today was probably one of the all-time worst and strangest experiences. I was walking at night, and I saw another person. Maybe I made the mistake of looking at them too long because they saw me and crossed the road. Then, they stood there and started singing/shouting something at me. They started walking toward me, and I started walking away from them. As I walked, I heard them behind me. When I turned around at the lack of sound, they were not there anymore. I am so grateful I am safe.

These are just some of the countless weird experiences that I have faced. I am only grateful I didn't get killed or robbed by anyone. What can I do to reduce these experiences?

all 14 comments
sorted by:
top
newinsightfulfun

[–]IkeConn 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Do you have voices in your head?

[–]LarrySwinger2 1 insightful - 2 fun1 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 2 fun -  (5 children)

Being male would help, have you tried that?

[–]Vulptex 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

What? Men are seen as disposable so people can harass them with no remorse.

[–]LarrySwinger2 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

My experience is that I'm usually left alone at least.

[–]Vulptex 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

My experience is you have to constantly be doing something for society or they will harass or even kill you.

[–]8thmonitor[S] 1 insightful - 2 fun1 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

I am male. I think this happens because I am shy, young, and small guy.

[–]Anman 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

So, you are merely the idea of a male and not a male? I am a large, dominating, alpha male and no one stops to talk to me at all. It's great. Sometimes though it gets boring, I wish people would start more fights with me.

[–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Start packing heat 💥🔫

[–]NiceGuy 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

🌶️🌶️🌶️

[–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

The first one you seem to have been mistaken for someone else, the second seems like a crazy person.

[–]buffalo_fart_the_VII 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

If you're a chick maybe you want to ride a bike, or drive. If you're a guy probably the same advice. You could have some sort of mental illness where these people don't actually exist.

[–]jerkwad152 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Try not being a huge pussy.

[–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Physically it is your posture and your walking-style.

If you let others fool themselves into the illusion that you may become a (read: their) victim, they'll start to believe it and then maybe even act on it.

Mentally, it is a mindset- and awareness thing.

Otherwise: I don't believe in carrying weapons. Your real weapons are your mind and your hands. If you look closely, any weapon, should you ever need one, is lying around. Or someone even fetches it for you.

The only things, I consider worth carrying around for this defensive aspect are some sweatbands and a belt. The sweatbands are important if you run away from a conflict (which always should be your first option) for a while and someone follows you, to keep your hands dry. But it also is a question of personal taste, of course.

If you have to walk somewhere, where you'd expect guns, I wouldn't carry any valuables.

Just think about what you actually can do with a belt and its buckle, if need be. Improvised handcuffs or tourniquet e.g.

[–]Bigs 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

You sat this constantly happens, yet you give only 2 examples, both of which are rather unrelated.

From what little you've said the issue seems to be that you're really uncomfortable with interacting with strangers, right? I suspect your discomfort is so strong that others pick up on it, and you become an easy target for casual bullying. For example dogs that are normally placid will bark at or attack my wife - because she's scared of dogs. They can sense her fear and it triggers their aggression.

If anything I've said resonates at all, feel free to PM me. I may be able to help.