https://maps.app.goo.gl/pkngQvGLz9U6rQKe9
Normally I walk in a STRAIGHT LINE to my destination on Stanford campus. However, occasionally, I may have to pause or even reverse direction for various reasons . In some cases I have to take a phone call and I'd rather pause to talk. In other cases I may not know exactly where my event is located. I may have gotten it wrong so I need to consult my phone. I may have passed it and need to double back.
Why am I telling you what is probably obvious to most people ? Because apparently there are some people, usually female,who are easily disturbed by any aberration in a male person's walk. They seem to think that any kind of pause or change of direction is a clue that they are potential predators. I don't know how to get it through to them because you can't talk to such persons usually. So I am posting it here maybe they'll read it or maybe some of you will be able to communicate it to them better than I am.
99% of men are NOT predators, including me 🚫. In fact, most of us men are able & willing to help a woman in distress. But if you keep treating us men like we are the enemy you're not going to have many friends left. I now have to pre-plan my walk accordingly if there's a certain type of female in the vicinity so that I don't cause alarm and, God forbid, get misinterpreted in my intentions.
For example, recently I was walking to my car and it was dark and a female was a few steps ahead of me and she was nearing my car. And I was on the other side. And I knew that if I crossed over directly towards my vehicle I would almost intersect with her and she would think I was walking straight at her. So I paused and pulled out and pretended I was talking on my phone so that it would seem natural. But I didn't notice that there was another female coming up behind me. So after female #1 had passed and I crossed over towards my car apparently this set off the alarm bells in female #2 & suddenly she went running past me because she didn't want to take the chance that I was hiding in the shadow of 2 cars lying-in-waiting for her, instead of actually I was standing next to my car door by that time trying to get my key in the dark clock.
The point of the story is to hopefully communicate to nervous females that 99% of us males ARE NOT PREDATORS. But if you keep treating us like we are potential predators you are alienating your potential protectors in case anything actually does happen.
And trust me, most men are NOT thinking about raping a woman as they walk down the street. Nor are they even thinking about you as a sexual object. Most men are JUST LIKE YOU, trying to get to their car or their destination. Period. Full stop.
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