Mastodawn

Unnerving encounters PSA:

Yesterday while walking my dog I had some dude walking toward me who honestly made me think I was going to have to throw down. We were walking down a street without sidewalks, against traffic as one should (there were no cars it’s a quiet neighborhood road) and this guy is approaching on the same side. I start moving over because I’m on the phone and just want to keep it moving.

This guy starts walking toward me, staring kinda like Charles Manson. Wide eyes, not blinking, no emotional affect whatsoever. I stare back and he shifts his gaze to my dog. Axel is about 70 lbs, half boxer half mountain curr, mostly friendly but has barked at a few men while on walks in the past. This guy keeps slowly walking, staring and when he got to about 8 feet away I said “he’s not friendly” pretty sternly and never breaking my gaze at him. He pivoted and kept walking past us. Never said a word, never changed his face. If he would’ve tried something Axel likely would’ve jumped at him, I don’t think he’d bite. He’s never bit anyone. But I’m not sure I’d have cared if he did. If I had to guess he was high on something.

So yeah, don’t fuckin do that to women.

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Joseph 1d ago

@tayfonay That sounds awful. I am sorry you and other women are often confronted with such experiences and have to constantly be vigilant. I briefly move to the wrong side of the road when walking my reactive dog, because it is easier than telling a stranger they are on the wrong side and explaining to them the traffic safety reasons why. A couple in my childhood neighborhood was run over from behind and killed while walking on the wrong side. I try to do what I can to appear non-threatening on hiking trails, which is probably easy enough for me as an old man. Seriously, though, I feel sympathy for every woman I pass on the trails and the possible threats they must assess.

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JJ 🇺🇦1d ago

@tayfonay Damn, Tay that’s scary. I’m glad you had your dog - saved you from having to kick his ass.

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Wm.son 1d ago

@j258853 @tayfonay

He could have at least said something to you, if he were scard of dogs in general, but why keep walking toward you? Step to the side, dude!

I'm a man and I am (too often) sorry for the way other men act.

@tayfonay 😬

@tayfonay I don’t hike/walk in parks and trails anymore because my dogs have all crossed over the rainbow bridge. I don’t feel safe in certain areas without a big dog. I just run on a treadmill at home now.

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Pete Prodoehl 🍕1d ago

@tayfonay Back when I was walking an hour or more per day I would literally cross the street to not have to walk on the same sidewalk as a woman walking alone because, well... I'm a man. I'm a bigger guy, would usually wear dark clothing. I am friendly as fuck but I did all I could to give women their space even if it meant I was going out of my way to do it.

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Pete Prodoehl 🍕1d ago

@tayfonay I remember talking to a woman about how I would go out walking at 630am or 6:30pm all on my own and she was like "Enjoy your privilege!" and that really stuck with me.

I never got nervous out walking alone. Occasionally I would look for escape routes or makeshift weapons I could grab if a car was rolling down the street really slow but I never had any actual issues.