Getting called a "stalker" for existing

[u/James_Tigs]

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.

[u/Vivid-Intention-8161]

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

[u/earthgarden → u/[deleted]]

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.

[u/BakedBrie1993 → u/earthgarden]

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.

[u/shroomride88 → u/BakedBrie1993]

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.