Creepy MacCreepyPants

[attack_laurel]

 Oh, this happened to me yesterday.

I was in Michael's Arts & Crafts, buying mats and mounting tape, and from the moment I came in, I was vaguely and uncomfortably aware of someone shadowing me from a little way away.  I dodge down various aisles picking out the things I came for, but I'm always aware (it's a girl thing, I guess) of this guy, and

Comments

[kass_rants]

Ick.

Suckage.

[attack_laurel]

Totally. But no harm done, except for the psychic shower needed afterwards. :)

[vom_schwarzwald]

That *is* creepy. It sounds like he was one step away from whistling the "time is on my side" tune...*shudder*

Never know when the slightly off guy comments on, I don't know, how nice your skin is and then decides it would make a great pair of gloves.

I think I have seen too many horror films.

[patrikia]

My husband has/had (in his prime, anyway - don't let him know I said it that way!) thick shoulder length curly blond hair - to die for. A lady behind us in the grocery line once said to him, "You don't perm that, do you?"

No, he answered.

"I hate you!" And not in a playful way, I might add. He was really upset!

At least the airline attendant who rifled her fingers through his hair asked MY permission first (not his, mind you - just mine!).

[attack_laurel]

Lost Cause (buy our album!) was doing a Christmas performance in a bookstore a couple of years ago, and in the intermission, a woman came up to Bob and said "can I ask you a question?" "Sure," he said.

"Can I... touch your hair?"

He gets that all the time. :)

[oakenking]

I used to get this when I had waist-length hair. I henna'd it, and it was kind of a brown-auburn, with coppery lights.

Oddly enough, it was usually Hispanic women - often clearly having trouble with phrasing the question in English. They would come up very shyly, ask, "Please, can I touch your hair?" and then they'd touch - not fondle, just touch, like "yup, it's there" and then smile and walk away, no explanation.

I finally asked our Mexican housekeeper where I worked, what was up with that - it was clearly a cultural thing. She explained that they didn't want to give me mal de ojo - the Evil Eye. Most of the local Hispanics come from a culture that believes looking enviously at something can cause it ill fortune - unless you touch it, which apparently grounds out the evil energy. They do the same thing with nice clothes, new babies, pretty cars, etc.

[gwacie]

Unfortunately in this modern world of awful haircuts having long hair makes you something of an oddity and celebrity... it attracts attention and not always nice attention. I've been lucky in that I've not met any scary stalker dudes, though I have run into having a polite smile translated as "Gee I like you and want to date you" No dude! I was being -polite- go away!! *shudder* eew ew ew.

Best moment; a gentleman passed on the street saying "Girl, don't you -ever- cut that hair!" what an ego boost :)

Worst moment; getting yelled at by a check-out lady in the cafeteria for having long hair when "there are babies that need hair" Ya know, "Locks for Love" is a great cause, my Dad gives to it every so often when his hair is long enough. I refuse to believe that my not donating my hair is immoral any more than the choice of others to keep theirs short is. hmf! So there!

[kass_rants]

Worst moment; getting yelled at by a check-out lady in the cafeteria for having long hair when "there are babies that need hair"

WTF? Idjit checkout lady! I hope you turned sharply on your little heel and lashed her impudent face with it. Jealous creep...

[damedini]

*grin* I wear ponytails in public a lot for their utility as a weapon. *turns head quickly - whack!*

[attack_laurel]

I don't donate my hair - it grows very slowly, and has taken ten years to get this long.

Anyone trying that on me will get the hairy eyeball and a suggestion that if they're so big on the foundation, maybe they should write a check.

Grrr.

[jljonsn]

Was it the words themselves, or the non-verbals that creeped you out? Would it have been different if a (insert favority hunky actor) look-alike had said it in a smooth-jazz-DJ voice?

[attack_laurel]

anyone saying that *after* following me around for half an hour would be rebuffed - it's a combination of verbals and non-verbals. I think anyone saying "nice hair" in a "you're pretty, I think I'll keep you" voice, no matter how hunky, would be creepy. But there's a special creepy these guys have, with tone of voice, words, and movement that sets of strident alarm bells instinctively.

I always listen to my instincts. :)

[jljonsn]

Ya - I suppose the following-around part would tip the scales significantly.

[attack_laurel]

:) I'd be uncomfortable even if it were George Clooney.