Might sound silly, but every once in a while, random guys around me (pretty short, female) start humming/making random noises when they get near me, usually when I’m alone. Imagine me standing at a red traffic light at night or something. It’s never women. Sometimes, it’s some creep trying to get my attention, though that’s usually kinda obvious.
But I also had it happen with guys who didn’t seem like they wanted anything. I lowkey suspect that some might make noises so that I’m not caught off guard or something?
Any men on here who do this? Or am I just tripping?
Edit to summarize: So, a few guys apparently do it on purpose, while others think they might do it subconsciously. Some do it around women, others around whomever, since anyone can get scared. Super interesting.
Also, when I spoke of creeps, I meant actual assholes who did and said shitty stuff, not random socially awkward people. You know the drill.
Not just with women. I usually drag my feet to make some noise when coming from behind. Most times I’m walking faster than other people so I constantly have to overtake them but don’t want to surprise anyone.
Women specifically I try to avoid passing directly, if it’s not too inconvenient or I will look in another direction, on my phone or whatever to make it clear I’m not interested in them.
But if a creep approaches her, I do make sure to stand nearby and be openly aware.
I hate that women need to be so afraid.
Humming seems a bit odd. I wonder if those people are just humming to themselves.
I’ll do things like scuffing my feet, jingling my keys, or pretending to talk on my phone. I am a large guy and I naturally walk very quietly. I have scared quite a few women, and honestly, it is unpleasant for both of us.
I certainly don’t. I just act like they don’t exist and mind my own business unless they make some effort to engage with me. I’m built like a goblin though so I don’t think I’m particularly scary to most people.
Personally I just walk up behind them, cover their eyes with my hands and yell “guess who?”
But to each their own
As someone who gets mistaken for a man: Yes. I clear my throat, shuffle my feet, make some kind of noise. If it’s a headphone wearer, I’m either going to slow down to make space or give them a wide berth if it can’t be avoided.
Different people have different ways of trying to appear non-threatening. If I am ever behind a woman, I just start running behind them in a friendly chase fashion just to break the ice and make them realize that I am just a goofy harmless guy. Usually, they play along and run as well.
Oh, I know that game, very appreciated! When I get too excited, I might use pepper spray or a kick between the legs. It makes things fun!
I have to do it just walking around the house. If I’m not in the room for a minute and suddenly appear my wife gets scared. I’m not intentionally quiet, but I walk gently most of the time. I’ve joked that I need to get a bell around my neck.
I do try to make some sort of noise, or i will shift what i am holding to what ever side i am passing a woman, or will cross the street to avoid having to cross paths… mainly because accusatory stares, or women clutching their children as i pass is too hard to bear
I go for walks for exercise. Sometimes I encounter lone women in the woods etc and I’ll try and take another route to avoid walking behind them. I feel like announcing by whistling etc would just make things worse. It annoys me that we have to think about these things tbh. I’m gay for fucks sakes, ive got zero interest in women. Im just out and about minding my own damn business.
Lol, I’m not into men and I very much wish that would exempt me from the harassment. The assholes in this world ruin it for the rest of us.
Yes! Another one is ‘the sniff’.
There’s been so many times when I walk past somebody and they do that weird outward sniff thing, like they want me to know they’re there.Maybe that’s a regional thing, but the thought of someone aggressively sniffing behind me to announce their presence is hilarious.
That must be a sign of the times.
That has never crossed my mind.I mostly use my dog as a way to introduce that I am near and mean no harm to anyone not expecting someone following the same path (mostly rather long streched bike&pedestrian roads with no exit but with park benches and geen patches for dogs and so on).
Simply by saying “Dogs Name, are you coming sweety?”.
Announces that I am nearby with a doggy and by no means any poser that wants to appear scary.
At dark day times I mostly have a flashlight with me to shine on my dog and whatever she is currently sniffing (or sneakingly trying to eat…). Which has the sideeffect of her being better visible to others. (She’s a bigger dog with black fur - so some people would be scared of her anyhow. Especially in the dark if there is a barely visible big dog. Which is why I hope to make people not that uncomfortable by speaking softly and shining light on her. (And of couse because bicicle riders need to be able to see her, to not run her over))
And then the lady has the same name as your dog…
One time I was out walking someplace and a woman was walking about 20 feet in front of me. I just took out my phone and called my wife and rather loudly announced where I was walking to, asked her about her day etc. The woman visible seemed to relax.
You probably know that, but this is exactly the thing that a lot of women and girls do, just reversed. Calling a friend or pretending to be on the phone when in a dark alley. I think the first time I did that was at 14 or something.
Nice one!
Yeah, I’ve got a lot of sisters.
I’ve done similar things. I’ll clear my throat or something if it seems like someone hasn’t noticed my presence.
Nope but I sing and whistle when im alone walking my dog. Maybe if I have headphones and im going along with the song. Nothing to do with proximity of womenfolk though.
