Today...

[TicklishHope]

So I was going on a 2 mile walk... And where I live it has ALWAYS been safe to on a walk.. So anyways.. I was walking down the road and this blue truck drove by and he waved so i waved back.. (which is totally normal bc almost everyone who drives by waves..) Well he turned around and stopped me, and he asked if I knew where a certain road was.. So I told him and he told me he thought I was cute and asked if I needed a ride.. of course I was like no and told him I was going on a walk and he drove on. Then he turned around again.. and I start to kinda panic.. and he asks if he can walk with me. So I am thinking to myself.. if I say no, he could hit me with his car and no one would see(bc I live out in the country).. so I said yes.. and he parked his truck and began walking with me.. I cut my walk in half and walked him back to his truck and he wanted to give me a ride the rest of the way to my house.. and I was like, no I'll be ok. So after trying to get my number he drives off.. I was so fucking scared.

 

[Adam]

God, that is pretty creepy. I'm very glad that nothing bad happened to you, Hope. Could have been that the guy was just overzealous and has no real sense of social skills. But yeah, still weird.

 

[naughtylucy]

Well done for keeping your head, Hope.

I walk a lot as well (I don't live in a particularly safe place, though nowhere is), and have come across similar people.

I've got systems with a few friends where we phone one another when we're walking somewhere and being followed or whatever, and stay on the phone until we get somewhere safe. I usually find it effective. Failing a friend on the other end of the phone, I usually pretend to be speaking to someone on my mobile.

Glad you made it home in one piece. Take care.

 

[Marquis De Sade]

God, that is pretty creepy. I'm very glad that nothing bad happened to you, Hope. Could have been that the guy was just overzealous and has no real sense of social skills. But yeah, still weird.

That's what I was thinking. Lack of social skills. But still creepy.

And Lucy, that is a great system!

 

[naughtylucy]

And Lucy, that is a great system!

Thanks.

It happened once when I'd left my phone at work, and I held my hand up to my face as if I was holding a mobile and talked loudly to an imaginary person who was apparently expecting me for dinner. I felt bloody ridiculous, but the guy backed off.

My friend always used to be followed between the bus stop and her flat late at night, usually just be irritating guys trying to chat her up, rather than really scary ones like yours, Hope. She had a fake house that she always stopped at, and would indicate that she lived there with her family who would be twitching the curtains any minute.

 

[Gothika]

glad u r ok u should have told him no but i understand ya concern with taht always have to be carfull make sure u have your cell with ya if ya have one and mayby somethign to protect ya self just in case

 

[Bugman]

I'm sorry that happened Hope.You should have called me or someone while this was going on.

 

[TicklishHope]

I know I should have said no.. I guess I just didn't think straight.. I didn't want to make him mad. Plus he was thin.. and I was thinking.. I could take him.

 

[Adam]

I know I should have said no.. I guess I just didn't think straight.. I didn't want to make him mad. Plus he was thin.. and I was thinking.. I could take him.

You were put in a very awkward, frightening situation, Hope. I think you did pretty well given the circumstances. Don't beat yourself up and take it as a learning experience.

 

[naughtylucy]

I know I should have said no.. I guess I just didn't think straight.. I didn't want to make him mad. Plus he was thin.. and I was thinking.. I could take him.

It sounds like you were thinking straight, though. I'm really impressed that you managed for such an extended period of time.

In an ideal world I suppose you could tell him no, then do a Buffy-style assault course move if he gets nasty; but it's just not that simple. You do have to keep yourself safe until you're safely away from the guy.

Reminds me of a few years ago, my aunt was home in the daytime and had recently had her first baby, and a really strung-out man broke into her flat. There was this whole bizarre exchange, she kind of kept the guy calm while walking him down the hall and out of her flat. It took about 30mins, and she said afterwards that if the baby had made any noise she probably would've gone berserk.

Would it be worthwhile reporting it to the police where you live? I don't know how they operate in Texas; I've reported similar things to the police where I live, and while they can't technically do anything because a crime hasn't been committed, they keep records of things like that in their database and they can stop and search people.

 

[Capnmad]

You can rethink your decisions now in calm and better prepare yourself for the future, but don't get down on yourself for your decisions at the time. You coped with an unexpected situation that was very strange and uncomfortable at best and also held potential danger, but you managed to emerge unscathed. Well done.

Consider Lucy's suggestions, carry a cell phone, let people know where you're going, your planned path, and consider other alternatives as well.

Plan different walking paths, stagger them for variety and so you don't have a normal "pattern" someone could pick up on.

Don't be afraid to consider pepper spray or an alternate deterrent, but make sure you're practiced with it, knowledgeable, and confident in it's use.

For the long-term, consider a self-defense class.

As a fellow walker/hiker, it's always good to leave someone with the knowledge of your flightplan before you go trekking -- even for a short while.

 

[TicklishHope]

Thanks for being so supportive.. I had a cell phone with me.. Don't ask me why I didnt pretend to be on the phone.. I guess I just didn't think about it.. And self defense class could be good.. But I grew up with 4 brothers.. lol. I could teach them a thing or 2.. 🙂 Thanks ya'll..

 

[TMF Jeff]

I really think you should not have walked with him. If he was going to do something crazy like hit you with a car, walking or not walking with him wasn't going to be the trigger. I think a lot of times women in particular will stay in a potentially dangerous situation rather than do something embarassing like just run away from the creepy guy, or openly take out your cell phone and get on the phone with someone and say "I'm alone on a deserted road with a stranger, so I wanted to have someone on the line."

 

[Sir Shish Kabob]

Two obvious words; Crotch Shot.

 

[unclebill]

You can rethink your decisions now in calm and better prepare yourself for the future, but don't get down on yourself for your decisions at the time. You coped with an unexpected situation that was very strange and uncomfortable at best and also held potential danger, but you managed to emerge unscathed. Well done.

Consider Lucy's suggestions, carry a cell phone, let people know where you're going, your planned path, and consider other alternatives as well.

Plan different walking paths, stagger them for variety and so you don't have a normal "pattern" someone could pick up on.

Don't be afraid to consider pepper spray or an alternate deterrent, but make sure you're practiced with it, knowledgeable, and confident in it's use.

For the long-term, consider a self-defense class.

As a fellow walker/hiker, it's always good to leave someone with the knowledge of your flightplan before you go trekking -- even for a short while.

What he said. I`m glad you`re ok, Hope.

 

[TicklishHope]

What he said. I`m glad you`re ok, Hope.

Thank you Bill

 

[EcEu]

Great job Hope, you got put in a high pressure, awkward, movie-like scene and you kept your cool. When i read 'parked his truck' that's probably when i would have readied the weapon o_o

Glad it ended the way it did, i would never walk around my area alone at night, so cal is safe but being this close to the border makes it not.

 

[Mitchell]

I'm sorry to hear that happened to you, Hope. Thankfully you are okay.

Sometimes in a dangerous situation, instinct takes over. I remember one time about 10 years ago I was walking out of Yankee Stadium with a friend. Most of us probably know what a dangerous neighborhood that is in. It was daylight, but my friend and I looked up, and saw these two seedy, suspicious looking guys following us on a paralillel path. I thought for sure we were going to get mugged, or get into a fight. I remember my friend looking at these guys, and going "Let's turn back and walk in another direction, and if we see they follow us, we'll worry about it then". So we turn around, walk in completely the opposite direction from where the car was, and looked at the guys out of the corner of our eyes, without making direct eye contact with them. They kind of looked at us once, and then walked off. I have no clue whether or not they were just loitering, or wanted to scare us. Part of me felt that if we had walked further into the more deserted area of lots, they would have started something. Maybe when they saw we had headed in the general direction of the stadium, they thought we were in ear shot or eye shot of others, or a cop.

Anyhow, I'm relieved you are okay, Hope. Often in these situations, a person has a split second decision to choose what they're going to do. The right decision may not always be made, but, I'm one who believes that instinct can lead one in the right direction more times then not.

Mitch

 

[Capnmad]

I really think you should not have walked with him. If he was going to do something crazy like hit you with a car, walking or not walking with him wasn't going to be the trigger. I think a lot of times women in particular will stay in a potentially dangerous situation rather than do something embarassing like just run away from the creepy guy, or openly take out your cell phone and get on the phone with someone and say "I'm alone on a deserted road with a stranger, so I wanted to have someone on the line."

Valid observations all, but let's not belabor the errors she already sees with clarity in retrospect:

I know I should have said no.. I guess I just didn't think straight..

Focusing on possible errors in their own judgement is what leads actual victims of crimes to feel deeply guilt-ridden, foolish or embarrassed. All the "woulda'-coulda'-shoulda'"... Not a pattern you want to get into or that we should be encouraging others to embrace. She got out unhurt and with experience from which to learn. That's good.

You just don't know how you're going to react in an unfamiliar situation. The point is to get out safe (which she did), and adapt and learn for the future (which I trust she is) so she can be better prepared and react with clearer thought and greater calm and confidence next time.

 

[TMF Jeff]

I agree, I was trying to offer strategies about what she might do the next time something like this happens. Having planned it out in advance makes it easier to react when you get caught off guard.

 

[Deleted member 66627]

Carry a switch on your hip whenever you're out by yourself. It's good that you are alright.

When I used to walk around a lot on my own I would hold my keys in my hand so the key was pointed down and I could gouge anyone who tried to grab me. That and a switch attached to my hip, but it's not always easy to pull those out if someone grabs you. But, it's better to be safe then sorry.

 

[Capnmad]

I agree, I was trying to offer strategies about what she might do the next time something like this happens. Having planned it out in advance makes it easier to react when you get caught off guard.

Agreed.

 

[TicklishHope]

Carry a switch on your hip whenever you're out by yourself. It's good that you are alright.

When I used to walk around a lot on my own I would hold my keys in my hand so the key was pointed down and I could gouge anyone who tried to grab me. That and a switch attached to my hip, but it's not always easy to pull those out if someone grabs you. But, it's better to be safe then sorry.

I need to remember that one.. You think pepper spray or mace is good enough?

 

[Deleted member 66627]

I need to remember that one.. You think pepper spray or mace is good enough?

Absolutley. They carry kinds that you can have right on your key-chain. While having a level head is all well and good.. it's also best to have other options. Because, a level head won't prevent you from getting raped or killed.

Be safe, hon.

 

[xionking]

Seriously, that sucks! What is the world coming to when you can't even take a walk safely in your neighbourhood anymore?

I've never really had a problem in my area. I've lived in the same house my whole life in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne called Wheelers Hill. It's about 15 minutes out from the city along the tollway. I consider our neighbourhood a very safe area to live in.

In saying that however, we have had our share of things happen. Someone around the corner from me got into a domestic with her partner and ended up axed in the back and killed not so long ago. Just recently, at Wheelers Hill Shops, one of the Fish&Chip Shop owners was shot as he left the store for the night.

One night, my mate and I were walking home at 3am from our local after a night out on the piss. We're walking down the road, and this car pulls up with a couple of guys inside. They both exit the vechile, and one has a video camera with them. And they're like, 'We will pay you if you let us film you having sex with his girlfriend,' the guy with the video camera was pointing at his mate. My friend and I just looked at each other, like...speechless. Needless to say, when we refused, they got upset, and we ended up beating the perverts fucking senseless.

There's just weird people everywhere.

-Xionking