Random Ramblings discussion

This is an issue I've sort of been having to deal with recently, and I wanted your thoughts on it (ESPECIALLY any guys in this group, because I'm interested in your thoughts).

Girls,

"Hey beautiful!". "Nice tits!". "Show us your boobs!". "Slut!". "Whore!". "Bitch!".

Chances are, if you're female you've heard these comments before, tossed cavalierly out of a car window or being spat at you as some random guy tries to grope your butt as you try to walk nondescriptly past. It's terrifying, degrading and, quite frankly, one of the worst experiences I've ever had. And it happens so often, and yet is rarely spoken about.

What are your opinions on this? Because it's frightening to me, and it only seems to be getting more common and accepted as horribly normal.

It's an issue that really needs to be dealt with. personally I've been called "boot" while sitting on the bus home from school, "cow!" while waking down the street and "bitch!" from a prick in my class. All of these were completely unprovoked and the worst part is it seems to be perfectly acceptable.

I haven't been around any areas where this happens, honestly, so I don't have much experience beyond being stared at (which isn't exactly harassment). I mean, a few people kinda tried to hit on me, but so far it's been only non-insulting positive comments in non-scary areas. But it sounds terrifying, and it should definitely be less common than it is.

I think one of the worst things about it is the fact that nobody seems to care, especially men. They use the excuse "you should be flattered!" or "If someone complimented ME on the street, I'd be happy!".

But the problem is, the comments aren't compliments. It's not a nice feeling to know that someone is staring at you like you're a piece of meat, and that when they say "Hey sexy!" you know it's not because they think you're a nice person. To them, you're nothing more than an arse and a pair of boobs. An object. That's scary.

Plus, there's nothing really that you can do about it. If you yell angrily back, there's a risk they might get angry and attack you, so you have to ignore it and act like it's nothing when it really isn't.

I live in a stupidly small state in a stupidly sheltered town. It's not a problem here. I mean, I get stared at all the time, but I ignore it. It sounds like you have it much worse.

Wow, yeah. I agree with everything you're saying, Gabby.

Yeah... I'm sorta like what Robin said. I live in a REALLY sheltered little town, so nothing really happens over here..

I live in the capital city of my state - over 2,000,000 people live here, and although I don't live in a humdrum sort of area, if I go out it happens more often than it should. Even if I'm just walking down to the local corner store, chances are some arsehole will yell something; it also happens a lot when I go running.

It wouldn't be as much of an issue in small towns, I guess, because everyone pretty much knows everyone in a basic sense, and there's a far greater risk of the people getting caught. Obviously this is more of a problem in places with a higher population-density.

Another terrible part of it is the fact that when you reject their totally innapropriate and, frankly, quite creepy, sexual advances, they call you a bitch, a whore or a slut.

That's mind-boggling to me, that you'd get called a slut for REJECTING their creepy sexual advances. Just shows you how intelligent they are.

Knowing me I'd say something dumb ("Rawr") and flip them off...

So far, I've been in too much disbelief at the fact that they would even do this to think of a clever response, but I'm trying to work on one XD

Ha, Gabby, maybe you should say RAWR. XD

Hehehe, I'll try it next time

That's terrible Gabby! Stupid teenagers will honk at me when I'm waiting to get my brother off the bus and I'll like jump up because I was zoned out or reading and they'll laugh and drive away. it scares the crap out of me.

I've had people call me a f**king animals on the bus.

And had candy canes thrown out the window at me as I was walking back from the beach one time

I get whistled at more lately. I just flip 'em off. Also some guy in NYC asked me if he could buy me a drink the other month. But I think he thought I was over 21 and honestly he wasn't weird about it. Just like a "You're cute wanna go on a date". Except I'm in high school. xD

XD I'm still pretty young, so, no...
And my city/area is apparently practically the {or one of the} safest places in the country. And people here aren't really...like that.

Well you're extremely lucky.

I've had people honk at me also while crossing the road and I found it rather rude and embarrassing.

1) I LOVE THE HP ALLIANCE WHERE THAT IMAGE IS FROM.

2) Even in my town full of rich white kids I STILL get the looks down the shirt and the whistles and stuff. It's really quite annoying. Some like 13 year old and his friends were all "ooooooo!!" as I walked by the other day and he was all "Whatcha doing tonight?" and I was like "No."

o_O 13-year-old?
That's...just...what..

I was at a school for once cause I'd been invited to do a science thing and I was walking with my friend (I know this isn't street harassment) but they were just like well hey there girls.

no. you're 12. don't talk to me like that

WHY WORLD

I think this is disgusting,
Thankfully, I have never had to deal with this.
Thank you world for keeping me looking like a 12 year old

IT IS DISGUSTING.

XD

Don't worry Jess. I'm turning 15 in a month and I still look like a 10 year old! haha

...I look like a 21 year old...

I don't think I look my age. I don't know whether I look older or younger

With me, I don't necessarily look like a 12 year old.
I look younger than I am, yes, but the way I act and dress make me look like a 12 year old.

I look my age..XD

How old are you?

I have absolutely no idea if I look my age or not...

I'm 12..so...no street harassment for me..XP

I'm 14, and I've never really gotten any of that...

I guess that's really good, then..XD

Dude, Lotus, I thought you were like 16...

Do I sound 16..? XD

You sound a lot older than 12

I've been told I'm more mature. But I have an older brother so I guess I was more immature and then now I'm more mature, if that makes sense...XD

You do sound a little older, but I was picturing you as this stupidly photogenic Asian 16 year old with gorgeous black flowing locks and stunning eyes. I dunno. *Shrugs* My brain forms an image for everyone I meet. That's yours.

I picture everyone as their profile picture. So Robin, I picture you as a talking white lion. Seriously.
Unless I know them in person of course. Like Ducky isn't a giant rubber duck in my mind cause I know what she looks like.

What if someone changes their profile picture? XD

Then they become the new profile picture! Yes, my mind is confusing...

I kind of want to show you a picture of me, now xD

XD My mind forms interesting pictures, too...

But imagining Robin as a talking white lion is cracking me up XD

I don't imagine you guy's faces, but I always imagine your voice based on your picture.
I even imagine my own voice based on the picture...

I can't imagine voices, ever.

I don't really form faces, but I imagine voices from the way you guys talk. Or type. Or yeah.

Literally people ask me my age, I tell them 13 which is true, and they say really? You look like you're 11/12. Like they expect me to be like, "OH darn it! You got me, I was lying about my age to you for no apparent reason!"

My picture is my face sooo... But I always picture LLT as Sean Johnson and Lotus as an anime character... The rest of you I picture looking exactly like Becky for no apparent reason. I'm strange...

XD Wow. I think I'm just accepted as I am. People don't really ask my age.

I just sort of have this vague image of you guys..