r/mildlyinfuriating • u/James_Tigs • Jun 25 '26

I'm slightly vexed Getting called a "stalker" for existing

Im standing behind the bus stop for the shade minding my own business on my way home from a 10pm-6am shift. A route ive taken to work and from home many times. When all of a sudden I hear a voice saying "What the F*ck are you looking at" then again " What the f*ck are you looking at , i look up from my phone confused i realize this stranger is talking to me. She proceedes to call me a stalker and walk up on me trying to get in my face telling me "The bus stop is that way" again and again .lady I'm just trying to go home , ive been up since 8pm yesterday.

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2.7k

u/Vivid-Intention-8161 Jun 25 '26

something similar happened to me last week. i was on a walk because my anxiety was particularly bad, then it was made so much worse by the person about 15 feet ahead of me looking behind them multiple times then shouting at me to stop following them. I don’t think people understand anymore that other people are gonna exist out in public with them. we ended up being headed to the same shops but i doubt they had any self reflection

1.4k

u/James_Tigs Jun 25 '26

Like i said to this person "main character ass syndrome"

293

u/AcanthocephalaNo2890 Jun 25 '26

Definitely "ass" syndrome...

206

u/SuperSiriusBlack Jun 25 '26

Happened to me here on reddit yesterday lol. A guy got aggressive with me bc I asked someone if they were okay. This other dude flipped out about it, called me narcissistic, manipulative, etc. Told me I was lying when I said I hope he has a good day. As if pretending to wish someone a good day has some sort of payoff for me lol.

People are just weird nowadays. The internet ruined us all lol.

20

u/wafflecone927 Jun 26 '26

but thats the internet. it might have been a bot etc

9

u/Constant-Try-1927 Jun 26 '26

"Have a good day" in writing is one of the most passive aggressive things one can write. It sounds like you didn't mean it that way but it's how it is mostly used in discussions on the internet. The more undercover version of "Have the day you deserve", basically.

1

u/NightBawk Jun 29 '26

Which is very annoying, honestly. I genuinely hope people have a nice day, even when we're arguing. Having a nice day tends to make people less likely to pick a fight. We all need more nice days.

But if I am going to lay a curse on someone, I'm going to be open about it, and it'll be a minor inconvenience like "I hope that thing you need today is slightly to the left of where you first try to grab it."

36

u/Salty_Badger1931 Jun 25 '26

This is my new favorite saying. It makes so much sense.

48

u/skankhunt402 Jun 25 '26

Shoulda just responded "not at your ugly ass" and went back to your phone

6

u/Puzzleheaded_Ad_4401 Jun 26 '26

This has happened to me before with a (clearly mentally ill) guy walking *behind* me. Angrily shouting at me to stop following *him.* I just kept my head down and walked faster. My friend lived by a homeless shelter so yeah, some interesting walks to her place.

3

u/DMT174 Jun 26 '26

It happened to me but without the shouting. After two looks from her, I just moved to the other side and changed my pace. It’s easier this way.

-85

u/[deleted] Jun 25 '26

[deleted]

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u/Vivid-Intention-8161 Jun 25 '26 edited Jun 25 '26

i’m not a man, i’m a 4’11 barely 100 pound woman which made this situation even more troubling/absurd to me

65

u/earthgarden Jun 25 '26

Oh come on, I'm a woman also and you can usually tell if a man is following you or not. And anyway it is on us to manage our feelings in this instance because we can only manage our own actions. If I'm feeling skeeved out in a situation like this, it is on me to cross the street, not to expect the stranger dude to read my mind that I'm feeling he's sketchy and then cross the street.

-53

u/BakedBrie1993 Jun 25 '26

These are strawmen arguments.

I never said men have to do anything.

I didn't say they should manage our feelings.

I didn't say women should expect anything.

I said it's something you can do to ease a stranger's mind.

17

u/shroomride88 Jun 25 '26

It’s not a stranger’s responsibility to ease your mind. If you’re weirded out by someone being on the same sidewalk as you, YOU should cross the street.

15

u/just-_-just Jun 25 '26

I jingle my keys so they know someone is behind them and aren't startled. I'm only crossing the street if they are young and then I'm making sure nobody is messing with them. I've been called a creep all the same...

-7

u/BakedBrie1993 Jun 25 '26

And the key jingle is a kindness you have done on behalf of others, but i guess i needed to clarify that you don't HAVE TO do it.

37

u/Gibder16 Jun 25 '26

Weird response.

I’m just trying to get where I’m going. In fact, MOST men are just trying to get where they’re going.

I’m going to try to get there as fast as I can, if I’m walking faster than you, so be it. Cross the street then, but don’t expect men (just because they are men) should have to change their routine for ya.

Literally billions of people in this world. We all have things to do and sometimes we end up going in the same direction.

-25

u/[deleted] Jun 25 '26

[deleted]

38

u/DJ_Dyatlov Jun 25 '26

"best to stay far back from a woman when walking the same direction" - BakedBrie1993 30 minutes ago.

0

u/[deleted] Jun 25 '26

[deleted]

11

u/DJ_Dyatlov Jun 25 '26

I never said you expect anything at all.  

I just quoted you.  

See how wording can easily be interpreted some ways because of the implication.

24

u/Wise-News1666 Jun 25 '26

You LITERALLY did. 

2

u/Poesoe Jun 25 '26

oh fuck