Scenario: It’s night, and a man is walking home. He sees ahead there is a woman going in the opposite direction as him. Knowing not to stop or approach her, but his presence makes her nervous. What would help further in this scenario if anything?
I think the classical answer is “tip your hat”.
I usually just say something like “good evening” and continue walking and you immediately see the other person relax.
Just be polite and ignore them, I guess
Does anyone remember that Vine where the guy is filming himself walking at night and says “oh there’s a woman walking alone up there. I better catch up to her and let her know I’m not a threat” as he starts sprinting? Damn vine used to be fun
Rape jokes are so funny
Agree, Jimmy Carr absolutely nails them!
You think that’s a rape joke? The fuck is wrong with you?
The joke is he’s doing the exact opposite of what he should be doing to ease her mind. That’s the joke. Not that he was going to sprint up and assault her. Maybe you need to get off the internet for a while.
Damn, I was kinda hoping you would actually try to answer the questions.
Running fast towards a woman at night in order to scare her is the joke.
What do you think a woman is scared of when a strange man runs at her while she’s alone at night?
What’s the punchline?
You think he was really walking behind someone? He wasn’t. It was a joke. Relax.
What’s the punchline?
Why is it funny to make women scared?
The joke is that his actions would have the opposite outcome to what he desired. He wanted to put her mind at ease, instead he’d scare the shit out of her. End of. I don’t see how I’m having to explain this to you.
What would the woman be scared of when a strange man runs at her at night?
Rape and murder.
It’s a rape joke. Say it with your chest instead of trying to deny that you found a misogynistic joke funny and funny enough to retell it.
Ignore her like anyone else and let her decide on her own comfort zone walking by you? If some one sees you walking alone, and starts altering their behavior because of your presence, whatever their intention, it sends the message that you have been noticed, you are being watched, they are reacting to your presence, and this indicates some kind of interest or goal in an interaction.
So just keep waking, if she wants to cross the street, just ignore her. Definitely don’t yell “It’s okay I’m not a rapist!” or “I have a girlfriend already!”, just let her do her thing, and you keep doing yours.
Its just a jump to your left.
Ignore and carry on with your life.
I’m a very large bearded guy with perpetual asshole face. I’ve learned that the best thing to do is whip out my phone and study it assiduously and make sure not even look in her direction while we pass. It works quite well. Everyone who knows me knows that I am definitely not a danger, but I sure as shit look like one.
Ignore her?
Don’t try to chat up women at night. There is no scenario of a strange man being interested in me while it’s dark that I’ll be receptive to. It’s impossible for your line to be so good I’ll stop seeing you as dangerous.
If the woman is uncomfortable she can alter her path. I’ve been that woman before but have rarely felt uncomfortable enough to cross the street or whatever. I just keep walking and either ignore or give a pleasant nod to the man to let him know I’m chill and not scared and we’re two normal innocuous people passing each other.
Maybe twice in my life my spidey senses tingled and I changed my path and got out of there. Our instincts protect us.
Make eye contact, smile widely, and enthusiastically extend my hand so she knows I’m not a threat.
No, I actually just keep walking, not altering my path. Occasionally will give them a nod, just like I’d give anyone.
I just wave and go on my business. Unless they have a dog, in which case I say ‘sup dawg’ because that’s what I do for all 3 dimensional dogs.
And for 4 dimensional dogs?
Since they’re moving through time, I view them as a flipbook version of the 3 dimensional version, thus they also deserve a 'sup.
If you’re referring to a dogserract, that’s above my pay grade.
People can pick up a lot of information from someone they see walking towards them. They can tell by your gait, your body movements, and facial expressions (if you’re close enough to see them) whether you might be a threat or not. As a man in this situation who has never and will never be a threat to women I think that comes across in subtle ways without having to say a word. And since someone I didn’t know at a party came up to me and said I had the kindest face they’ve ever seen, that also works in my favor. When we finally pass each other I always say hello and smile and keep on walking. And if you do see a woman walking towards you don’t do anything stupid like slow down or stop or walk with your head down with your hands in your pockets.
Take a step or two to the side if able, otherwise just try to get past without eye contact. I worry more about coming up behind them and say good evening to let them know I’m there.
Coming up behind them is the worst. Especially if you’re close. I always wait until there’s a good distance between us before I start walking.
If this isn’t a wrong answers only question:
I would be more comfortable if the guy gave me space, but as long as you are not accosting me, a “good evening” and keep going is fine.
If it’s wrong answers only, choose any of the walks from the ministry of silly walks Monty Python sketch.
I suggest rubbing your hands together and winking as often as possible while breathing heavily.
