Hi there Asman
On your walks what other meetings happen? Sometimes i have been walking along and been forced to interact with another person. Usually this has been positive, but sometimes scarey. It takes me a while to identify where the stimulus is coming from and what it is and what to do. So even the simplest interactions can be clumsy.
Then i started cycling. Yay! :grin: i avoided that unpredictable meetings on the footpath thing, but had to learn to watch the road. But I have found when i speed up physically i also speed up mentally and am more decisive.
I had to learn possible bicycle/car/pedestrian combinations and make calculations to direct my movement. I am very good at it and it is fun too.
I run as well for the same reasons. i can choose or avoid interaction.
Looking like i had a purpose helps too, maybe.
Keep enjoying your walks. You don't have to speed up like me i am sure.
becca
I like walking in places that I know have very few people. It make things much less confusing.
i thnik this kind of scary incouterts with pepole happen to everyone as or not.
Dear ASMan,
I hope you find a safer place to walk or maybe a time to walk when this person isn't there. It sucks to not be able to enjoy your local space because of assholes.
I don't think any group has or deserves a monopoly on being the discriminator or the victim. Unfortunately, it seems that every dumped-on group becomes the dumper at the earliest opportunity.
Jerry Newport
The last week or so around 5-6:00pm I have been taking a walk on MY block. My block is U shaped. I started with one loop then 2 loops now 3 loops. I only did 2 today. On my first loop, I saw this guy on a bike coming towards me. All dressed in red. He gave me such a stare. He is black . I thought that maybe he didnt like me cos I am white/hispanic looking.
When I came around the second time. He was asking by shouting if I knew anyone here. etc he was being very agressive. He shouted that I look like a pedophile. He cursed and grabbed his crotch suggessting a course of action. Now should I be afraid of doing walking loops on my block??
NT-ism is not a disability???
This guy, does he show up the same time on the same days? If this was a one day occurance then it would be logical to assume this was a one time occurance and won't occur again. Seriously, his behavior would have been rude to anyone and his judgement would have to be put into question. My question though is are you the racial minority in this neighborhood? Maybe his reaction was due to the fact that it's not an ethnically diverse community and anyone who's not black is usually there to do illegal things. Are you still walking your u-shaped block? I hope so.
I love to go for long walks. I am also afraid for my safety.
My husband doesn't like me to go for walks alone in the park. There is a running track nearby. I go walking around the track and listen to music. No one bothers me and others walk or jog there so it is safe. I usually go around 6 pm or after dinner. It doesn't seem weird to anyone to walk there.
My husband likes me to carry a cell phone or personal alarm when I am out. The alarm makes an extremely loud noise when activated.
5-6 pm when you walk sounds like a good time because most people are coming home from work then. There are not likely to be any children out playing then so what is that guy's problem? Pedophiles usually hang around places where there are lots of children: playgrounds, school yards, public pools. Maybe avoid those types of places on your route.
Another good place to walk is the shopping malls. Many malls have "walking programs" where people are allowed to walk around the mall in the mornings before the stores open. Usually you will have to register and wear a special t-shirt. They also sometimes have group exercises but you don't have to participate or talk to anyone if you don't like to.
I'm in a suburb which is a little rough in places but have only been hassled once when walking home from work.