Yesterday I was waiting for my bus at a stop with puke everywhere so things weren't off to a good start. But there was no one else waiting which is always a plus.

I was checking the wait time for my bus on my phone when some random dude walked up, stood next to me and said, �Hey.� I ignored him because why the fuck should I respond to someone who just says hey and stands there. You got something you actually wanna say to me, say it.

My bus was three minutes away.

The guy is still standing there and I'm staring at my phone, willing the bus to hurry up.

He says, �You look good.�

I�m wearing my workout clothes. I�m sweaty. I don�t want attention, I don�t want to be bothered, I just want to go home. Nine hour work day, one hour Bar Method class. Seriously, I just want to be in my shower.

I continue staring hard at my phone, WILLING the bus to be there.

The guy reaches out. And POKES me. POKES MY SHOULDER.

�Don�t TOUCH me.�

�You don�t gotta be rude like that!�

�You don�t need to touch me! Don�t TALK to me. Don�t TOUCH me.�

He shuffles off about 10 feet away and stares at me until my bus FINALLY comes.

Who pokes people? What makes you think that�s an okay thing to do? You poke me and I�m the rude one? Get the fuck outta here!

I have no obligation to talk to you or respond to you or anything! Just leave me alone! Why can't I just be left alone?

Am I bitchy for how I acted? Is it unreasonable to ignore someone you have no interest in interacting with? What the hell am I supposed to do in a situation like that? Be nice? Ignore? WHAT SOMEONE TELL ME. Or at least tell me how to look even more unapproachable so I don't find myself in a situation like that ever again. Bag over my head? Wear a Snuggie around? Dress like a man??

UGH.

ylech. I hate that. Usually I'm just super polite but very aloof. Like, "oh, hey," in a eyes-not-quite-focused-way and then go lean against something and look at my phone. I pretend not to hear people if they talk to me as I'm passing by. I hear their friends say, "hahah, she totally didn't even hear you!" But when I'm trapped and I totally ignore people, it usually turns out poorly. One time this old dirty drunk guy on the metro started stroking the side of my face with his finger. I got off the train. Creeeepy.
» Zanzibar on 2013-05-15 06:08:42

Generally if strangers talk to me I'm polite but terse.

"Hey."
"Hello."
"You look good."
"Okay. Thanks."

The tone of voice generally seems to discourage further conversation.
» randomjunk on 2013-05-15 07:44:49

I would have responded the same way. That's just creepy and wrong and a total violation of your personal space. Usually when strangers say something to me in public, I make eye contact, smile in a very obvious forced smile way, nod my head and continue on my way. Having a naturally quick pace when walking helps. If I was in your place, I might have even walked away and gone to another bus stop. That's an extreme reaction, but still. People are really creepy sometimes. I'm glad you got away unscathed.
» LostSoul13 on 2013-05-15 11:44:15

I don't think you were really being bitchy. The guy sounds weird as hell from your description. I think that if it had been me in your situation, I probably would have thrown myself to the ground and pretended to be direly injured from his forceful poke. JK that would be even weirder. I don't think I would have been as forceful as you, but only because it's not in my character to come across strong.
» The-Muffin-Man on 2013-05-19 07:47:08

re: I'm planning a trip to Vegas to visit my sister and nephew. I haven't seen them since I moved here so it'll be a nice two weeks. =)
» LostSoul13 on 2013-05-21 05:47:54

POKE???!!!?!?!??!!?!!?!?!???!1!!!?!
Who does that?! Everyone knows looking-at-phone secretly means, leave-me-alone-i-don't-want-to-physically-interact-with-humans, even if you're not doing anything. Same thing with music players/earbuds/headphones.
Devices around head = STAY AWAY.

eh. :/
» invisible on 2013-05-30 12:55:55

I had to sign in and comment on this.
Girl, you aren't bitchy for standing your ground and avoiding sexual harassment. He's a gross bitch for coming onto you at a bus stop with puke everywhere and EVEN touching you because you ignore his charming advances. Not ok. Nope. You did the right thing.

the shitty reality is it doesn't matter how you dress, women are always harassed by nasty creepy men who feel they are entitled to our bodies and attention.

Also I love you wedding dreeess!!
» dont-see on 2013-06-02 07:02:48

I don't think you reacted enough. I would have punched him lol.
» Midnight on 2013-06-03 12:23:10

ALLOW ME TO PROVIDE THE MALE PERSPECTIVE ON THIS ISSUE
yeah he crossed the line touching you.

i'm trying to convince my sisters to carry guns because of guys like that o.o

then again i talk to random women/strangers out and about.. typically only if they've made eye contact and/or smiled.
» undisputed on 2013-06-07 11:24:07

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