Our pal Annie learned something last week on her way to 16th and Valencia. Here’s how it starts:
I was walking quickly on 16th Street, keenly aware of the six minutes that remained before I’d be late — and I hate being late — when I heard a man call out to a woman. “Excuse me! Miss?” he said. I kept walking. He kept calling. Then I turned and realized he was talking to me.
I am ashamed to admit that when a strange man approaches me in the city, my first instinct is to wonder if he wants money or to sexually harass me. Because of this response, I am always a little guarded. I looked at the man slowly.
that’s a nice story and all, but must guys aggressively following a woman down 16th street are at best total creeps and at worst very dangerous.
speaking as a guy, i think girls in this city have a reason to keep a guard up. i’ve heard too many stories of creepy/awful things happening to girls i know because they let some stranger on the street within arms’ reach. it’s too bad for all the nice guys, but there are a lot of creeps in this city.
Beautiful story. There’s a kind of vulnerability that is strength. In relaxing and trusting instincts over conditioned fear.
…that will end up getting you killed on 16th street so people can walk over you cause they’re in a hurry to get Zeitgeist before all the tables are taken up.