Classic case of a man being terrifying while insisting he isn’t. There was a man waiting at a bus stop as I walked past. As I approached, he turned to face me and started walking backward so he could stare at me. I ignored him. When I got about even with him, he kept walking backward, and said, “How you doin’?” When I didn’t answer, he started repeating himself over and over. Finally I said, “I don’t like it when men I don’t know talk to me, so fuck off.”

He started yelling, “What’s all this about fuck off! I’m just being friendly!”

Me: Yeah, well, a lot of guys aren’t friendly, so don’t talk to me!

[at this point, he is yelling and following me, at a distance of about ten feet, as I continue down the street]

Him: You got no right to curse at me when I’m being friendly!

Me: Yeah, well, I been through a lot of shit with creepy guys following me, so even if you’re not creepy, leave me alone!

Him: I’m not following you! I’m just goin’ this way! [remember that he was waiting at the bus stop]

Me: I’m just saying a lot of guys do and I don’t like it!

Him: Well, I’m sorry about whatever you been through, but I’m not like that!

Me: I’m sorry, too! If you see any guys being assholes, tell ’em to knock it off! That might help!

Him: I will!

At that point, I stopped moving, and he chose to walk past me in order to keep up his pretense of not following me. I don’t think I would’ve said “fuck off” if I hadn’t just come from a work shift where a gross customer was who trying to flirt with me (I obviously wasn’t allowed to tell the customer to fuck off), but I’m proud that I did. Even if that was really scary and non-optimal.

Submitted by anonymous

Location: bus stop on New Hampshire Ave NW

Time of Harassment: Evening Rush Hour (3:30P-7:30P)

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