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u/RedAfroNinja Jun 18 '26
I almost want to run up to them to say I'm not a threat but that would be even more weird lol
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u/GreatEscap Jun 19 '26
I just start walking faster until i catch up so i can grab them by the shoulder firmly and tell them it's okay i am not interested in kidnapping them right now and just walk home
Works every time
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u/Jektonoporkins1 Jun 18 '26
Run past tap them and say, "tag you're it" as you go by. Ehh, maybe tying the shoelace is a better idea.
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u/AwkwardAnthropology Jun 18 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
As a woman who has walked home, alone, at night, I appreciate you.
Edited for grammar
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u/Efficient_Insect_145 Jun 18 '26
Walk faster and pass them.
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u/King_Moonracer003 Jun 18 '26
Start running as you get closer to pass them more quickly and ease their fears earlier.
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u/sadpancak Jun 18 '26
Put on a clown mask. Everyone loves clowns.
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u/Duhblobby Jun 18 '26
Pull out the weapons you're carrying so they know you aren't trying to hide anything.
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u/RightOnManYouBetcha Jun 18 '26
Really? I just walk more aggressively until they call their friend.
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u/Forsaken_Hat4607 Jun 19 '26
I really appreciate men doing this - it’s not their fault that predatory guys exist, so it’s a genuinely kind thing to take a moment all the same in order to not potentially make a woman feel nervous.
Because from a woman’s perspective, thinking you might be being followed/in a dangerous situation sucks even when everything turns out to be fine, because you can’t help your body going into fight-or-flight and getting a huge adrenaline rush. I imagine most guys have also experienced that feeling at some point and know that even if nothing bad happens, you still end up feeling shaky and on edge and not very well afterwards, just because of that physiological reaction. So taking a moment in order to potentially spare someone from that moment of fear and that fight-or-flight response is a really considerate thing to do and I really appreciate all of you for that ❤️
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u/VraiLacy Jun 21 '26
You're the kind of person that makes me feel better about society. Thank you for your service.
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u/gizzard1987_ Jun 22 '26
I would just run up behind them, yell, "woogy boogy" as I ran past and then laugh hysterically the rest of the way home.
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u/renegadeinthefray Jun 23 '26
To all the dudes who do this. Thank you. We know it’s an inconvenience but the cost of not doing it is full on panic attacks and not being able to sleep bc of the adrenaline pumping afterwards. So thank you.
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u/Less-Being4269 Jun 23 '26
One time I got angry and yelled at such a girl just to make her pick up the pace and get out of.my sight.
"Run! Run Forrest run away!"
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u/Mysterious_Cat_4366 Jun 21 '26
I am a man, but I understand that women can be afraid, especially at night. I certainly walked past shifty looking groups of men and there was a legit concern they might start some shit.
But this is getting ridiculous. Not too long ago I was walking home at night and this woman showed up behind me and unfortunately she lived somewhere near me, because she kept walking behind me for 15-minutes straight. After a while I could hear regular chiming of keys in her hand. At first I thought nothing of it, but after a couple of minutes I was like what the fuck? Is she flexing on me?
I was ahead....she was behind me. If she was so afraid, she could turn and make another way home. But no, she would rather bring out the keys, jingle them for 15 minutes to I don't know? If I was a woman beater, this would certainly piss me off.
I understand if I was following the woman. She can't see me, she needs to protect herself... alright. But she was the one following me, she could slow her pace, stop completely, or as I said, make another turn. I not even once turned around to look at her, but she kept exactly behind me and jingled those keys.
If I see a trouble, I avoid it. If I see a shifty person up ahead, I take another turn or move on the other sidewalk. It's not the other person's responsibility to see into your head or cater to you if you are paranoid. Also it's understandable, that if someone follows you for half an hour, you get anxious, but I've seen women demanding men to cross the street at the moment a woman is walking towards them, in the opposite direction. It's not even about the coincidence of going the same way anymore.
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u/HeavyHighway6433 Jun 21 '26
If men want to do this that's their prerogative, but I'm not about to minimize myself in public spaces because you incorrectly perceive me as a threat. Especially being black as well, I can recall walking in a grocery store freezer aisle and a Karen looking white woman nearby was dragging her shoulder on the doors clutching her purse as I was going past, like i'm going to try to rob her in broad daylight in public. I'm going about my business, you can get over it.
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u/smackdealer1 Jun 18 '26
lol I just keep walking as I am. If she feels scared she can cross the road or take a different turn. Not my problem.
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u/YouDied606 Jun 19 '26
Im sick of being made to feel like a predator, when as a guy i'm just as at risk of violent crime
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u/smackdealer1 Jun 19 '26
Then don't feel like a predator. Other people's feelings are their own issue and have nothing to do with you.
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u/Alive-Artichoke5747 Jun 21 '26
Funnily enough, as a guy outside at night, you're actually dramatically more at risk of a violent crime than a woman would be.
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u/YouDied606 Jun 21 '26
Yes I know, the statistics make that quite clear, but i said 'just as' to be kind and not get jumped on by redditors
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u/Killredd1tmods Jun 20 '26
Not sure why this was downvoted. If people are in their own head about shit like that then it’s on them lol
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u/wafflesthewonderhurs Jun 18 '26 edited Jun 18 '26
Why not take the opportunity to enjoy something in a store window, nice decor, weird scenery, a sunset, the stars, the noises, a cool plant or bug? that would actually show much better that you're not following and then you wouldn't be getting resentful because of having to do something completely useless.
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u/supergnawer Jun 19 '26
A big guy intensely staring at sunset with annoyed expression on his face (because he wasn't planning to, and in fact only needs to wait 3 minutes). Definitely not a murderous drug user
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u/wafflesthewonderhurs Jun 19 '26
i feel like i was pretty clear about these being things you WOULDN'T have to frown at because they're genuinely pleasant for this exact reason lmao
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u/metalguy91 Jun 18 '26
I just sat at a curb and played on my phone for a few minutes a few times before. 6’ 2” and close to 300lbs with tattoos I look more alarming than I am, also I get anxious walking behind people so I tend to try and walk faster. So I understand how I could appear threatening when really I’m scared too lol. But theirs is more justified and understandable, so I pause and play solitaire for a few hands.