Advice for boys...

[aumentou]

Hypothetically, if you are ever travelling down a dark path with no side exits and not observers and there's a woman on her own ahead of you on the route, it's not particularly polite to move fast enough that you're catching her up. Better to hang 40 yards back or so - you know, so that if you were hostile she'd have a good head start. Otherwise, she might get twitchy. Also, when she stands to one side and waits for you to pass rather than keeping on moving, that is not your cue to look amused. Yes, YOU know you're not a mugger or a rapist or anything like that. She doesn't. Since you have just moved in a way consistent with an attack, it's not unreasonable for her to be concerned.

Comments

Re: Don't really agree

[mr-s-face.livejournal.com]

It's not paranoia for women to be scared of men - it's quite normal.

This article (http://kateharding.net/2009/10/08/guest-blogger-starling-schrodinger%E2%80%99s-rapist-or-a-guy%E2%80%99s-guide-to-approaching-strange-women-without-being-maced/) is slightly more forceful about things than I am, and is focussed on conversational approaches (because it's from the US), but it's a useful read.

Of course, I'm less worried about rape, and more worried about mutilation or death, but the principle is the same.

Re: Don't really agree

[glitterybint.livejournal.com]

it is paranoia because it implies the assumption that all/ most men are out to get you, which is not true. Most of them are harmless. Maybe bumbling and thoughtless and inconsiderate but not actually a threat.

Therefore, if one is percieving a threat which isn't really there then one is paranoid.