This happened to me today
I was standing outside the university rec building waiting for the DH to pick me up after class. This guy came running up beside me and said “We need a picture!” His mate came running up and stood on the other side of me, and the first guy said “We need a picture!” again. (For reference I have bright pink hair at the moment.) I backed up about ten feet away and shouted “No you really don’t, now fuck off!” I saw the guy with the phone camera and yelled “Get that thing out of my face and fuck off! Go on, fuck off!” The second guy had already taken off by then, and the camera guy backed right away. The first guy had run round the corner, came back and made the “pussy whipped” noise and gesture. I shouted “No, get away, fuck right off!”
And then I stood there shaking for a couple of minutes before I was game to look round the corner to see if the DH had arrived yet.
I remember being super aware that it was in public and during daylight, and I was near the door of the rec building so I could have run inside if they’d come back. I was also super aware that there were other people standing nearby who COMPLETELY IGNORED what was happening.
DH came to get me, and me an' the Weasel went to Deathly Hallows Part 1. It was only while I was having dinner afterwards that I realised what a big fright I'd got, and had a cry about it.
The DH and the Weasel had to go out to the supermarket, and they brought me back some Lindt salted dark chocolate. That and lots of hugs and a cup of tea have made me feel better, but it should still not have happened in the first place.
For the record, it is really fucking scary to be a woman and have two completely random, unknown men come up one on either side of you and demand something. Even in public. Even in daylight. It's even scarier when it doesn't look like they're going to take "No, fuck off!" as an answer.
And I was lucky. I had people around me, even if they weren't paying attention. I had access to immediate safety and help if I needed it. The guys just wanted a picture and thought they were entitled to take one without my permission. The thing that bothered me most was that they seemed genuinely surprised when I said no and removed myself from the situation.
What else would these guys be surprised to have "No" as an answer for, I wonder?
And then I stood there shaking for a couple of minutes before I was game to look round the corner to see if the DH had arrived yet.
I remember being super aware that it was in public and during daylight, and I was near the door of the rec building so I could have run inside if they’d come back. I was also super aware that there were other people standing nearby who COMPLETELY IGNORED what was happening.
DH came to get me, and me an' the Weasel went to Deathly Hallows Part 1. It was only while I was having dinner afterwards that I realised what a big fright I'd got, and had a cry about it.
The DH and the Weasel had to go out to the supermarket, and they brought me back some Lindt salted dark chocolate. That and lots of hugs and a cup of tea have made me feel better, but it should still not have happened in the first place.
For the record, it is really fucking scary to be a woman and have two completely random, unknown men come up one on either side of you and demand something. Even in public. Even in daylight. It's even scarier when it doesn't look like they're going to take "No, fuck off!" as an answer.
And I was lucky. I had people around me, even if they weren't paying attention. I had access to immediate safety and help if I needed it. The guys just wanted a picture and thought they were entitled to take one without my permission. The thing that bothered me most was that they seemed genuinely surprised when I said no and removed myself from the situation.
What else would these guys be surprised to have "No" as an answer for, I wonder?