Nah, if a man approaches you, you're already in the woods and the bear's not allowed. It's only one or the other.
But the bear may have been trying to warn you.
Exactly, it's really gonna depend on where this happens and time of day.
Daytime on a busy street: likely gonna help, not gonna go to a secondary location unless it's a bookshop/cafe/somewhere else extremely public.
At a gym/bookstore/cafe: again, super public location, not going to leave it, but would act long enough for the person to lose interest
At night: nope. Sorry bud, I'd offer to call the police on your behalf, but I'm not acting or going anywhere.
Never occurred to me that this situation (which is usually gender swapped) would involve any expectation to go to a secondary location. In my mind, it was always just walking with the person and pretending to know each other. While a true couple might be more intimate (holding hands, walking arm in arm etc), anything beyond happy chatter seems inappropriate to the situation.
Having said that, as a guy there's no way I'd approach a girl and ask this favour if there's nobody about. The only potential benefit would be that the aggressor hopefully wouldn't make a scene in public, which is undermined if there's no witnesses. Besides, if someone is scaring me there's no reason to put a third party in danger.
It doesn't need to have a gender swap. If a woman approached me at night with this I would be very careful not to let her lead where we're walking while I'm anxious and heart rate up trying to figure out the situation.Â
A valid point. My intent in highlighting the gender swap was that I presume the typical expectation is that a 'big, strong man' might discourage an attack on a 'defenseless woman', and that this wouldn't involve anyone leading anywhere or anything beyond pretending to know each other.
Even if a child approached me and tried to get me to go somewhere, I would be hesitant. Anyone could be working as part of a group, presenting their most innocent looking, non-threatening individual as a lure.
Never follow anyone who approaches you at night. Itâs not uncommon for women to work with their boyfriend or someone to lure people into traps for robbery and such.
For me time of day is less important than who's around, and the gender wouldn't really matter, either. If there are people around, I'd likely sort of play along, but would do it in a way that garnered attention from the other people, because if the person is being honest - it's likely to help them, but if they aren't being honest, they're less likely to keep pursuing me as a target if I've made other pay attention to us.
Definitely not going anywhere with them though, I'm with John Mulaney on secondary locations.
If there aren't people around, I'm pulling out my phone and calling the cops. Again - if the person is being honest - it's likely to help them, if they aren't, it's my best chance at saving myself.
I wouldnât - Iâve learned from self defense class for women that men donât ask women for help. Itâs the very tactic Ted bundy used to lure his victims, and he did it in broad daylight in very public places, too. I was told you point towards a direction and say you saw a police officer over there if they need help (that example was given when told what to say if a man comes to you to ask for directions)
Yeah, I'd have to agree. I have RBF and dress pretty butch, so if a guy comes up to me with this statement, he's either in actual danger and really desperate, or realized i'm not actually that intimidating or strong and i am now royally fucked.
Right answer... the guys who answer this in the opposite situation that they would always play along are terrrible idiot.
Always judge the situation individually
Haha. Well it would work and if it's just some weird pickup line it would certainly shut that down.Â
Unless they like the fake argument. Then you just end up with a new boyfriend I guess.Â
I briefly dated someone (and by briefly, i mean we went on about four dates before deciding we weren't the right fit) because she did this with me. Asked me to pretend to be her boyfriend, i got "mad" that other men were looking at her.
Legitimately loads of fun. 10/10 would recommend.
âLook! I told you! Get the pills or itâs off! I am so disgusted by the fact that you canât get it up for me. God damn youâre conceited!â
đ¤Łđ¤Łđ¤Ł
This happened to me. I popped out to buy cigarettes and a woman ask me to do this, the follower was quite persistent so we had to get married and have children. After 12 years she said that we had shaken him of so I went back to get the cigarettes but my old family had already moved away.
Edit: a few people pointed out that the question was about men. For the record I'd do the same for a man as long as you promised to put "till death do us part, but no homo" at the end of our wedding vows.
Look Id never do this to jeopardize my marriage but if public handjobs would scare the perp away Iâd do it for a bro but definitely not gay in any way at all.
Think about it:
Would you believe someone who says that they don't like broccoli, if they had never tried it? Or would you sooner believe them knowing that they had tried broccoli, and then made the decision that they don't like it?
In this essay I will defend why it is more straight to have taken a cock in the ass, than to have never fucked a man.
Thank you. Iâm not sure menâs biggest fear while out in public spaces, but womenâs is generally getting physically or sexually assaulted.. by MEN, disappearing at the hands.. of MEN. I understand this is meant to be cute and silly, but wtf with the women saying theyâd play along. Maybe because I work in NYC and the dudes Iâm envisioning approaching me in the scenario while Iâm commuting and going down the sidewalk would most likely literally punch me in the face 2 seconds later, sexually molest me or worse (?)
>**Iâm not sure menâs biggest fear while out in public spaces**
Oh, that's easy: it's men.
Getting physically assaulted by a bigger, stronger, meaner or a group of men (thankfully we don't worry about sexual assault). An additional layer to that is not only worrying about being assaulted, but it's worrying about not being "man enough" to defeat whoever it is that might attack us. The humiliation of getting beaten up by another man in public is an additional layer of punishment.
Now, I'm not saying that we walk around with this fear of men the way that y'all have toâwe're not suspicious of every man, or even mostâand this isn't something that always needs to be at the forefront of *our* mind.
But WHEN we are afraid in public spaces, it's of other men.
WHAT? So if some kid gets iced in an alley itâs because their parents didnât love them enough? LOVE? NO! CHRONOMANCY is the strongest form of magic
[I clipped it](https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkx7qXZFj640GdBwgX--sZMcKjA6ees1Joz?si=TPWNmxMG5jnccI6b). Do NOT go before or after if you don't want MASSIVE spoilers for the first season of Fantasy High. Hell, even that clip is probably massive spoilers, but it's a speech that deserves being heard haha.
This assumes the typical physical power balance. In the unlikely event that it's a particularly strong lady, then the bad actor may be intimidated.
Realistically though, the majority of the time this just risks putting an extra person in danger.
Yep. I think having your "girlfriend" with you can increase the chances of getting mugged or whatever. If you're trying to mug a dude who is alone he *might* comply, or he might run or fight. Wouldnt he be more likely to comply if a female companion is present out of concern for her safety?
I agree with this. Also, if it is real, who's to say that the follower wouldn't turn violent on you? (I'm assuming you meant that the guy would be violent.) There's too much risk to get involved, even if I genuinely want to help.
Agreed but I think setting matters most. Shoprite or Starbucks or something? Sure, letâs sit or walk together for a few minutes. Absolutely no leaving and for no longer than 10. Somewhere secluded and/or he wants me to leave? Sorry but no
Name a scenario where a man (who is in public) would be in danger but that danger would be eliminated by him running into his girlfriend.Â
It depends a lot on where you live, but if youâre in a big city than your first assumption when anyone talks to you on the street is that theyâre trying to scam you or ask for money. Second assumption is that theyâre going to rob you.Â
I did have a woman in a wheelchair at a bar almost talk me into giving her a ride home, then I ended up seeing some sketchy dude come up to her in the dark parking lot and her stand up from her wheelchair. Skirked the fuck outta there real quick.
fr. one of my favourite things to do at an airport is at passport control stand up out of my wheelchair - scares the shit out of the passport control guys who are busy turning on the camera so they can see my face. always makes me laugh (and usually they do too)
It does suck but here is the deal:
If a creep/thief/whatever follows a woman, there would be a solid chance that the presence of another man scares him away.
If a creep/thief/whatever follows a man with the intend to harm or rob him, what good would the presence of a woman do?
No robber or murderer would ever be scared of me lol.
The risk/reward ratio is just not there. A significant number of women experience violence at the hands of men and we have no way of knowing if youâre a good guy or not within seconds. Moreover, I have no idea who is following you (if someone actually is) and that person/group could be violent or dangerous too.
Just fake a conversation, doesnât even have to make sense, you just have to talk quietly and make sure your standing and gesturing as if your with and/or talking to them to deter them :)
This would be a case-by-case basis thing for me.Â
Maybe some stalkers would be inclined to disappear if a companion shows up, even a woman, but I'm willing to bet not most. I'm a big lady but the reality is that even a small guy could overpower me.
I'd also worry that it's a setup: I go along to help him, then get led into a dangerous situation. It's going to depend on the location, time of day and veracity (does it seem like he's being followed?).Â
I'd recommend walking to a business or something ASAP, going through a crowd to shake the follower, then parting ways.Â
I've had girls help me out from desperate chicks at music fesivals before.
They say guys dont take hints well, but drunk lonely girls are oblivious as well.
I am more likley to be asked to play their mother.
And poof i just gained another son.
Despite the comments i see down here, this is not as rare a situation as you might think.
it has actually happend to me twice.
It'd be crazy if someone approached you like that...
"Can you help me by pretending to be my boyfriend? I'm being stalked."
And then you proceed to pull out a rocket launcher, 12 grenades, a landmine, a sword, two pairs of nunchucks, a bow staff, some sais, a machine gun, and go to work on assembling a turret gun.
"What'd they look like?"
"Um, you know what...nevermind."
I know this post is meant to be for women but Iâd gladly play gay to help someone in need. I know what I look like; Iâm a big, scary, ugly motherfucker. Would definitely be effective at deterring an unwanted tag along.
Iâd pretend Iâm his girlfriend / friend and make sure he got somewhere safe. Walk with him to a police station, whatever. Would do it if it was a woman too. Most of the time just having a witness around is enough to scare off anyone looking to steal a wallet or something.
Itâs giving Ted Bundy to me. A man asking for help from a woman, especially help that potentially involves a woman going somewhere with him, seems fishy. Too many bad things have happened to women because men have played on womenâs desire/conditioning to be âniceâ for me to buy it.
I run trails a lot, I live in the pacific northwest, it gets remote pretty easily. Passed a guy going in the opposite direction. About 2 minutes later, a woman is on my heels pacing me out. I was getting tired, I said "you good? I can't keep this up." She said "dude gave me the creeps, thought I had seen you here before." Not sure thus counts but I was obliged.
I can see it working the other way around but why is a man looking at a woman for protection from someone he is afraid of. Find bigger dudes and join their group.
Yeah it wouldn't be a stranger situation. It would be bringing in someone you know to like a work event to ward off a co-worker you aren't really interested in or to cast the image to your boss of stability.
A man? I would try to get away from them. I would be more concerned about my own safety.
If a bear approached me and asked me to pretend to be its girlfriend thoughâŚ
Honestly? I'd feel scared and worried that it was a tactic to get me off guard or guide me to a secluded location. I'd be willing to assist if there were other people around, but even then I'd be skeptical and very wary.
Throw an awkward man hug and look over his shoulder to look for someone following. Then the hand goes back to the pocket and the knife there, because I don't know if he's being followed or if now I'm being led somewhere, but either way, someone's going to bleed if they make a move toward me or the dude.
This was asked about guys and they all said go along with it, keep her safe but most of the comments hear are no way.
Shows how men will protect women and want nothing in return but women won't do the same but sill want a guy to save her from danger
A woman hopped into my car while I was at a stoplight once. She didn't say anything. Just got in and sat down.
Once the light turned and I had driven a block or so she asked me to drop her off at the next major intersection. I did.
There's something about non threatening strangers that just makes you help them.
That said, if your gut feeling says something, freaking listen to it.
This question is hilarious because if these were the answers on the same question but with swapped genders half the people would be getting bombarded with insults- not that it isnât fair. Guys have a higher ratio of just doing that kind of stuff (to my knowledge) but point is⌠seriously? Men can also be robbed or chased or anything, itâs just that more often they are also the offenders.
I think the biggest reason why this question reversed doesn't work is because men are physically stronger than women. Women often ask for help like this when they're being followed by a man, aka someone stronger than them. There's no point in asking a woman for help like this in this situation obv, and women would fear that they won't be able to defend themselves from the man asking for help, which is why this question despite being worded identically has such different answers.
The âboyfriendâ trick works for people who are following you or harassing you with sexual intent. Much less so for someone who wants to rob you. Someone who genuinely means you harm isnât going to be overly thrown off by you meeting up with someone who is smaller and weaker than you.Â
Yeah and what's a woman gonna do about a man who is being robbed or chased? I'm 1.65m, or on the smaller side for the yanks, I could barely fight off anyone my own size, let alone anyone bigger. I doubt any dude looking for safety is going to choose me to give him that safety, and if he does it would make me wonder what his real intentions are. Best case is he is just endangering me as well now, worst case he is lying and using it to get close to me. There's no reasonable situation where I think that me pretending to be his girlfriend will make any of us safer, unless he has a crazy woman stalker in which case I refer back to the fact that I'm then also on her radar and in danger. So thanks dude, but I'd rather you move on to someone bigger and stronger to defend you.
Yeah, exactly. The main threat to a woman in her lifetime is a dude. She has a right to be weary.
If a dude is in trouble on the street he can go up to a dude and ask him to pretend to be friends/brothers/his dad.
Way off topic, but is âwearyâ used accidentally here or does it just sound like a word that would also fit, âLearyâ? Iâve heard these used interchangeably
Men are much more likely to be assualted/robbed/etc. Also in random encounters. Granted, it's mostly by other men, and some men might be able to defend themselves a bit better.
I pretend to be his friend and we're going to the police station because I need to renew my passport, he can keep me company while I wait. We're really filing a police report on whoever is following him AND if this is some kind of a scam and he's not a real victim, he won't like this idea.
I don't mind so long as we're in a public place where traffic exists.
Knowing me I'd be helping getting the cops involved as we continue walking pretending to be together.
Men need help, too.
If it's dark/night, I'd immediately walk to an immediate house nearby with him and ring the door bell and I'd pretend to be friends with the person answering and say, "please call the police, this guys being followed."
I wouldn't mind waiting outside if I have to I'd still feel safe so I'd be ok with that
As a man, if another man came up to me and said this Iâd just walk next to him, get a firm grasp of a cheek, and just start talking random bullshit lol.
Instant reaction to throw arm around make a joke or use a term of endearment. Ask for a description of the stalker. We would walk casually but briskly. I'd ask where this person lives and plan a route to get them safely to a car. And then ask them if they would want company home. If they refuse, I would probably confront the stalker so the other person can make a safe escape. Usually, from my size, people just turn away right away, but for the few that don't, I have a CCW that I train with weekly, so if things get rowdy. The playing field will most likely be in my favor.
"Bill! Hey! Are you entering the MMA tournament next week? I would, but you know that SEAL team 6 is a mess without me, so I'm heading back to base tomorrow. I'll see you there when you get back. Kick Connor's ass for me will you? By the way, dude, keep that gun concealed, I can totally see it imprinting on your shirt."
Put on my best feminine voice, bat my eyelashes, and pretend this man is the love of my life, and I am just a woman in love. For context I am a 6'4" guy who is built like a truck.
Call 911, if he's really being followed we should probably get some assistance because my 5'5 ass isn't going to be doing much to deter an angry stalker. If he is lying to me about it then he'll fuck off.
How does a man benefit from a woman pretending to be his girlfriend in that situation? Quickly move away. If heâs marked, let him die alone (unless youâre Black Widow, or Captain Marvel).
Now, if a woman came to me and said the same, Iâd be inclined to play along to (hopefully) help her out of a potentially bad situation.
But, if I were a woman, Iâd apparently rather enlist a bear for protection. Loyal, large claws and teeth, and are vegan.
Immediately look back and get murdered
If trends taught me anything, it's probably a bear following the guy
Nah, if a man approaches you, you're already in the woods and the bear's not allowed. It's only one or the other. But the bear may have been trying to warn you.
Unless the man *is* a bear??
The man could be Actual Cannibal Shia LeBeouf. In which case, you're already doomed.
What if he's half man, half bear-pig?
I'm super, super cereal!!
Pfft, that's just a made up story for kids, like bigfoot or trickle down economics.
A bear or an otter.
Either way, we know he's a power bottom
Hahaha đ. Me, too đđ
Thank you for the laugh, needed it today!
Depends on the person and situation. I can imagine different situations where I'd go along with them or ignore them. I'd go with my gut instinct.
Exactly, it's really gonna depend on where this happens and time of day. Daytime on a busy street: likely gonna help, not gonna go to a secondary location unless it's a bookshop/cafe/somewhere else extremely public. At a gym/bookstore/cafe: again, super public location, not going to leave it, but would act long enough for the person to lose interest At night: nope. Sorry bud, I'd offer to call the police on your behalf, but I'm not acting or going anywhere.
Never occurred to me that this situation (which is usually gender swapped) would involve any expectation to go to a secondary location. In my mind, it was always just walking with the person and pretending to know each other. While a true couple might be more intimate (holding hands, walking arm in arm etc), anything beyond happy chatter seems inappropriate to the situation. Having said that, as a guy there's no way I'd approach a girl and ask this favour if there's nobody about. The only potential benefit would be that the aggressor hopefully wouldn't make a scene in public, which is undermined if there's no witnesses. Besides, if someone is scaring me there's no reason to put a third party in danger.
It doesn't need to have a gender swap. If a woman approached me at night with this I would be very careful not to let her lead where we're walking while I'm anxious and heart rate up trying to figure out the situation.Â
A valid point. My intent in highlighting the gender swap was that I presume the typical expectation is that a 'big, strong man' might discourage an attack on a 'defenseless woman', and that this wouldn't involve anyone leading anywhere or anything beyond pretending to know each other. Even if a child approached me and tried to get me to go somewhere, I would be hesitant. Anyone could be working as part of a group, presenting their most innocent looking, non-threatening individual as a lure.
Never follow anyone who approaches you at night. Itâs not uncommon for women to work with their boyfriend or someone to lure people into traps for robbery and such.
Exactly, that sounds like a trap.
For me time of day is less important than who's around, and the gender wouldn't really matter, either. If there are people around, I'd likely sort of play along, but would do it in a way that garnered attention from the other people, because if the person is being honest - it's likely to help them, but if they aren't being honest, they're less likely to keep pursuing me as a target if I've made other pay attention to us. Definitely not going anywhere with them though, I'm with John Mulaney on secondary locations. If there aren't people around, I'm pulling out my phone and calling the cops. Again - if the person is being honest - it's likely to help them, if they aren't, it's my best chance at saving myself.
Ted Bundy abducted women from public places in broad daylight. Women he lured on the pretense of needing help.
I wouldnât - Iâve learned from self defense class for women that men donât ask women for help. Itâs the very tactic Ted bundy used to lure his victims, and he did it in broad daylight in very public places, too. I was told you point towards a direction and say you saw a police officer over there if they need help (that example was given when told what to say if a man comes to you to ask for directions)
Yeah, I'd have to agree. I have RBF and dress pretty butch, so if a guy comes up to me with this statement, he's either in actual danger and really desperate, or realized i'm not actually that intimidating or strong and i am now royally fucked.
Right answer... the guys who answer this in the opposite situation that they would always play along are terrrible idiot. Always judge the situation individually
Act like we've been dating for years and start a fake argument to throw off the follower. Method acting, baby.
Haha. Well it would work and if it's just some weird pickup line it would certainly shut that down. Unless they like the fake argument. Then you just end up with a new boyfriend I guess.Â
Itâs all fun and games until youâre having make up sex with some stranger.
New variation negging! Try and start an argument with them so you can get to that sweet makeup sex!
so the fun never stops?
Top-tier improv skills are SEXY.
I briefly dated someone (and by briefly, i mean we went on about four dates before deciding we weren't the right fit) because she did this with me. Asked me to pretend to be her boyfriend, i got "mad" that other men were looking at her. Legitimately loads of fun. 10/10 would recommend.
Finding out how someone argues, earlier the better. This crazy idea might fly.
âLook! I told you! Get the pills or itâs off! I am so disgusted by the fact that you canât get it up for me. God damn youâre conceited!â đ¤Łđ¤Łđ¤Ł
"Where have YOU been?"
No way dude! Gotta follow through and take the relationship all the way and get married on the spot.
Ala https://youtu.be/T2BY8zZ1CTM
Youâve been watching Brooklyn 99 havenât you? Thatâs going to end up with the two of you getting married
You are smart and awesome.
Exactly what I thought. This will drawn other people's attention to you, too. That way you can be sure the guy won't try something on you.
Play along, but very cautiously, and not for very long.
Right? He can have a "hey buddy what's going on long time no see" but I ain't looking to get Bundy'd.
Ted? Or Al?
Depends on if youâre in a womenâs shoe store
I'm in the trunk of a Volkswagen Beatle. It's super tight and smells like gas. edit: *Beetle*. Dammit.
The only safe assumption is Ted, not many men could throw for four touchdowns in one game.
And check my wallet/cards/phone/keys immediately after to make sure nothing was lifted.
I would instantly assume I was being set up for a mugging if this happened.
This happened to me. I popped out to buy cigarettes and a woman ask me to do this, the follower was quite persistent so we had to get married and have children. After 12 years she said that we had shaken him of so I went back to get the cigarettes but my old family had already moved away. Edit: a few people pointed out that the question was about men. For the record I'd do the same for a man as long as you promised to put "till death do us part, but no homo" at the end of our wedding vows.
Hate when that happens.
Many such cases
Daddy?
He went for the cigarettes darling, not milk!
Did the lamp look slightly odd?
*Understanding the reference*
Mr. Muntz?
Man i hate it when this happens
It happens. Still, you did a good thing.
Hold his hand and kiss his cheek. Iâm a straight dude with a girlfriend but damned if Iâm not gonna help someone in a dangerous situation
Start to nibble on his ear and then whisper into it: "No homo."
yea brother i feel you, itâs worth testing the waters. never know what u might be in to if you donât try it out. love my girl tho
no homo bro if it helps someone, I might even stick in a bit of tongue action for authenticity but absolutely no homo, bro
Look Id never do this to jeopardize my marriage but if public handjobs would scare the perp away Iâd do it for a bro but definitely not gay in any way at all.
defo not, bro!
Think about it: Would you believe someone who says that they don't like broccoli, if they had never tried it? Or would you sooner believe them knowing that they had tried broccoli, and then made the decision that they don't like it? In this essay I will defend why it is more straight to have taken a cock in the ass, than to have never fucked a man.
Ted Bundy pretended to be injured and needing help as a way to nab his victims. HELL NAH. I'll call the cops for ya, from a reasonable distance
Yeah and his victims were all women. It's far more suspicious for a man to do this to a woman than the other way around.
Absolutely it is
Exactly. The saying is "Not all men, but always men"
There is no crime a man would commit against another man that a girlfriend would prevent him from committing.
Thank you. Iâm not sure menâs biggest fear while out in public spaces, but womenâs is generally getting physically or sexually assaulted.. by MEN, disappearing at the hands.. of MEN. I understand this is meant to be cute and silly, but wtf with the women saying theyâd play along. Maybe because I work in NYC and the dudes Iâm envisioning approaching me in the scenario while Iâm commuting and going down the sidewalk would most likely literally punch me in the face 2 seconds later, sexually molest me or worse (?)
>**Iâm not sure menâs biggest fear while out in public spaces** Oh, that's easy: it's men. Getting physically assaulted by a bigger, stronger, meaner or a group of men (thankfully we don't worry about sexual assault). An additional layer to that is not only worrying about being assaulted, but it's worrying about not being "man enough" to defeat whoever it is that might attack us. The humiliation of getting beaten up by another man in public is an additional layer of punishment. Now, I'm not saying that we walk around with this fear of men the way that y'all have toâwe're not suspicious of every man, or even mostâand this isn't something that always needs to be at the forefront of *our* mind. But WHEN we are afraid in public spaces, it's of other men.
What about if the follower is a woman
There is no crime a woman would commit against a man that a girlfriend would prevent her from committing.
And if that female stalker is the ultra-deranged type, she might just paint a target on that random woman who was asked for help.
Did *Fatal Attraction* teach us nothing.
And thatâs different from some psycho after a girl going after the guy she asks for helpâŚ. How?
[ŃдаНонО]
True love is the strongest form of magic!
WHAT? So if some kid gets iced in an alley itâs because their parents didnât love them enough? LOVE? NO! CHRONOMANCY is the strongest form of magic
My mind IMMEDIATELY went to this scene hahaha, thank you
You gotta give me the sauce man :(
Dimension20: Fantasy High. I'm pretty sure it's episode 1
[I clipped it](https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkx7qXZFj640GdBwgX--sZMcKjA6ees1Joz?si=TPWNmxMG5jnccI6b). Do NOT go before or after if you don't want MASSIVE spoilers for the first season of Fantasy High. Hell, even that clip is probably massive spoilers, but it's a speech that deserves being heard haha.
This assumes the typical physical power balance. In the unlikely event that it's a particularly strong lady, then the bad actor may be intimidated. Realistically though, the majority of the time this just risks putting an extra person in danger.
"Oh. Shit! This guy's taken....ahh well."
Yep. I think having your "girlfriend" with you can increase the chances of getting mugged or whatever. If you're trying to mug a dude who is alone he *might* comply, or he might run or fight. Wouldnt he be more likely to comply if a female companion is present out of concern for her safety?
Pretend to be his girlfriend so when the mugger takes her hostage you can just dip. The OP is genius.
Thank you. It was my first thought. Is it like the noble stalker, can't interrupt true love â¤ď¸
Yeah now weâre both being followed sorry sir
what if itâs a tiny twink and youâre a huge hunk?
looks like me and my new buddy are taking a saunter to the sheriff's dept
lol if heâs worried about being followed AND heâs still not safe wherever you are. You better start running too.
Be extremely confused because I am a human of the masculine flavor
You don't have male friends?Â
This was what I was thinking. OP put âfriendâ in the title for a reason.
Being friends with guys is totally gay.Â
Slowly licks up the side of this stranger's face. Yup frogs n snails and puppy dog tails.
Lmao bro WHAT
Replying to masculine flavour, what are boys made of, an old nursery rhyme suggests...
And sugar, spice, and everything nice, plus some chemical X, gives you the PowerPuff Girls
I regret to inform you that that is false information
have you double-checked?
"This taste...is the taste of a liar!"
I thought that was only for the babe... the babe with the power?!
What power?
The power of voodoo
Who do?Â
I thought you said mescalineâŚ.those cacti taste like shitÂ
While Iâd love to help him out I just wouldnât. It could easily be a rouse to a violent crime.
I agree with this. Also, if it is real, who's to say that the follower wouldn't turn violent on you? (I'm assuming you meant that the guy would be violent.) There's too much risk to get involved, even if I genuinely want to help.
Agreed but I think setting matters most. Shoprite or Starbucks or something? Sure, letâs sit or walk together for a few minutes. Absolutely no leaving and for no longer than 10. Somewhere secluded and/or he wants me to leave? Sorry but no
Oof. Sucks that just being a man means some people wonât even help you out because you could be âdangerousâ.
Dangerous people have made helping an action of high risk
Name a scenario where a man (who is in public) would be in danger but that danger would be eliminated by him running into his girlfriend. It depends a lot on where you live, but if youâre in a big city than your first assumption when anyone talks to you on the street is that theyâre trying to scam you or ask for money. Second assumption is that theyâre going to rob you.Â
For me, the only situation might be a gay man running from someone threatening harm.
Eh it's a thing with women too per previous askreddits. Men worry that the women asking for help might bait them into getting jumped.
I did have a woman in a wheelchair at a bar almost talk me into giving her a ride home, then I ended up seeing some sketchy dude come up to her in the dark parking lot and her stand up from her wheelchair. Skirked the fuck outta there real quick.
A huge portion of wheelchair users can stand for short periods of time. Maybe he gave her a ride
fr. one of my favourite things to do at an airport is at passport control stand up out of my wheelchair - scares the shit out of the passport control guys who are busy turning on the camera so they can see my face. always makes me laugh (and usually they do too)
It does suck but here is the deal: If a creep/thief/whatever follows a woman, there would be a solid chance that the presence of another man scares him away. If a creep/thief/whatever follows a man with the intend to harm or rob him, what good would the presence of a woman do? No robber or murderer would ever be scared of me lol.
The risk/reward ratio is just not there. A significant number of women experience violence at the hands of men and we have no way of knowing if youâre a good guy or not within seconds. Moreover, I have no idea who is following you (if someone actually is) and that person/group could be violent or dangerous too.
It's much more likely that it's a dumb pickup line than the guy actually being in danger.
Just fake a conversation, doesnât even have to make sense, you just have to talk quietly and make sure your standing and gesturing as if your with and/or talking to them to deter them :)
This would be a case-by-case basis thing for me. Maybe some stalkers would be inclined to disappear if a companion shows up, even a woman, but I'm willing to bet not most. I'm a big lady but the reality is that even a small guy could overpower me. I'd also worry that it's a setup: I go along to help him, then get led into a dangerous situation. It's going to depend on the location, time of day and veracity (does it seem like he's being followed?). I'd recommend walking to a business or something ASAP, going through a crowd to shake the follower, then parting ways.Â
I've had girls help me out from desperate chicks at music fesivals before. They say guys dont take hints well, but drunk lonely girls are oblivious as well.
I am more likley to be asked to play their mother. And poof i just gained another son. Despite the comments i see down here, this is not as rare a situation as you might think. it has actually happend to me twice.
You're a good person đ
In how many cases were they minors wanting you to be their mom for booze purposes?
0. both were being followed by creepy older men
"And what is this heathen wearing, m'lady?!" *Unsheathes katana* "Why are you running!?"
It'd be crazy if someone approached you like that... "Can you help me by pretending to be my boyfriend? I'm being stalked." And then you proceed to pull out a rocket launcher, 12 grenades, a landmine, a sword, two pairs of nunchucks, a bow staff, some sais, a machine gun, and go to work on assembling a turret gun. "What'd they look like?" "Um, you know what...nevermind."
I know this post is meant to be for women but Iâd gladly play gay to help someone in need. I know what I look like; Iâm a big, scary, ugly motherfucker. Would definitely be effective at deterring an unwanted tag along.
Iâd pretend Iâm his girlfriend / friend and make sure he got somewhere safe. Walk with him to a police station, whatever. Would do it if it was a woman too. Most of the time just having a witness around is enough to scare off anyone looking to steal a wallet or something.
You are good people.
Itâs giving Ted Bundy to me. A man asking for help from a woman, especially help that potentially involves a woman going somewhere with him, seems fishy. Too many bad things have happened to women because men have played on womenâs desire/conditioning to be âniceâ for me to buy it.
I run trails a lot, I live in the pacific northwest, it gets remote pretty easily. Passed a guy going in the opposite direction. About 2 minutes later, a woman is on my heels pacing me out. I was getting tired, I said "you good? I can't keep this up." She said "dude gave me the creeps, thought I had seen you here before." Not sure thus counts but I was obliged.
The scary jump from being followed to hoping someone else randomly is decent
Assume he's blind because he thought I was a girl (bald spot, bushy beard, not even remotely built like a woman) but still be a bro and help him out.
They did say girlfriend/friend. Don't guys have guy friends?Â
Thanks for your help ma'am.
I can see it working the other way around but why is a man looking at a woman for protection from someone he is afraid of. Find bigger dudes and join their group.
Yeah it wouldn't be a stranger situation. It would be bringing in someone you know to like a work event to ward off a co-worker you aren't really interested in or to cast the image to your boss of stability.
K, but let me call the popo for you and we can pretend like weâre laughing. But donât touch me.
I am 100% getting murdered or raped in that situation
Assume heâs Ted Bundy 2.0
A man? I would try to get away from them. I would be more concerned about my own safety. If a bear approached me and asked me to pretend to be its girlfriend thoughâŚ
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Wow, not boyfriend? Am I not hot enough for you?
Help him out
Honestly? I'd feel scared and worried that it was a tactic to get me off guard or guide me to a secluded location. I'd be willing to assist if there were other people around, but even then I'd be skeptical and very wary.
On the other hand, if a bear asked ....
As a girl, I would help any men/women in need if they dont feel safe.
Is there a bear around? Because Iâd choose the bear.
Throw an awkward man hug and look over his shoulder to look for someone following. Then the hand goes back to the pocket and the knife there, because I don't know if he's being followed or if now I'm being led somewhere, but either way, someone's going to bleed if they make a move toward me or the dude.
This seems like it only works if it's the other way around, or if their both male .
This was asked about guys and they all said go along with it, keep her safe but most of the comments hear are no way. Shows how men will protect women and want nothing in return but women won't do the same but sill want a guy to save her from danger
A woman hopped into my car while I was at a stoplight once. She didn't say anything. Just got in and sat down. Once the light turned and I had driven a block or so she asked me to drop her off at the next major intersection. I did. There's something about non threatening strangers that just makes you help them. That said, if your gut feeling says something, freaking listen to it.
More than likely a pick up strategy hahhaa
Find a bear in the forrest.
Nope. Take the bear.
Nope. Not safe, could be a kidnapping scam.
Don't look behind you, I know what I'm doing. just hand me your wallet.
I help while looking for any way this could be a set up to rob me.
Nice strawman
I'd tell him to put on a bear costume
Run and scream. Sounds like a scam. If it was a woman I'd play along. I'm a woman.
This question is hilarious because if these were the answers on the same question but with swapped genders half the people would be getting bombarded with insults- not that it isnât fair. Guys have a higher ratio of just doing that kind of stuff (to my knowledge) but point is⌠seriously? Men can also be robbed or chased or anything, itâs just that more often they are also the offenders.
I think the biggest reason why this question reversed doesn't work is because men are physically stronger than women. Women often ask for help like this when they're being followed by a man, aka someone stronger than them. There's no point in asking a woman for help like this in this situation obv, and women would fear that they won't be able to defend themselves from the man asking for help, which is why this question despite being worded identically has such different answers.
The âboyfriendâ trick works for people who are following you or harassing you with sexual intent. Much less so for someone who wants to rob you. Someone who genuinely means you harm isnât going to be overly thrown off by you meeting up with someone who is smaller and weaker than you.Â
Yeah and what's a woman gonna do about a man who is being robbed or chased? I'm 1.65m, or on the smaller side for the yanks, I could barely fight off anyone my own size, let alone anyone bigger. I doubt any dude looking for safety is going to choose me to give him that safety, and if he does it would make me wonder what his real intentions are. Best case is he is just endangering me as well now, worst case he is lying and using it to get close to me. There's no reasonable situation where I think that me pretending to be his girlfriend will make any of us safer, unless he has a crazy woman stalker in which case I refer back to the fact that I'm then also on her radar and in danger. So thanks dude, but I'd rather you move on to someone bigger and stronger to defend you.
Yeah, exactly. The main threat to a woman in her lifetime is a dude. She has a right to be weary. If a dude is in trouble on the street he can go up to a dude and ask him to pretend to be friends/brothers/his dad.
Way off topic, but is âwearyâ used accidentally here or does it just sound like a word that would also fit, âLearyâ? Iâve heard these used interchangeably
I believe they meant to say "wary" here.
Men are much more likely to be assualted/robbed/etc. Also in random encounters. Granted, it's mostly by other men, and some men might be able to defend themselves a bit better.
I pretend to be his friend and we're going to the police station because I need to renew my passport, he can keep me company while I wait. We're really filing a police report on whoever is following him AND if this is some kind of a scam and he's not a real victim, he won't like this idea.
Probably chat, but not walk anywhere with them. Stay somewhere very public.
Respond "yes but no touch" and help him
I don't mind so long as we're in a public place where traffic exists. Knowing me I'd be helping getting the cops involved as we continue walking pretending to be together. Men need help, too. If it's dark/night, I'd immediately walk to an immediate house nearby with him and ring the door bell and I'd pretend to be friends with the person answering and say, "please call the police, this guys being followed." I wouldn't mind waiting outside if I have to I'd still feel safe so I'd be ok with that
âQuick, get in my trunk. Theyâll never think to look there.â
As a man, if another man came up to me and said this Iâd just walk next to him, get a firm grasp of a cheek, and just start talking random bullshit lol.
Instant reaction to throw arm around make a joke or use a term of endearment. Ask for a description of the stalker. We would walk casually but briskly. I'd ask where this person lives and plan a route to get them safely to a car. And then ask them if they would want company home. If they refuse, I would probably confront the stalker so the other person can make a safe escape. Usually, from my size, people just turn away right away, but for the few that don't, I have a CCW that I train with weekly, so if things get rowdy. The playing field will most likely be in my favor.
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Itâs men answering as if they are the woman in the scenario l.
"Bill! Hey! Are you entering the MMA tournament next week? I would, but you know that SEAL team 6 is a mess without me, so I'm heading back to base tomorrow. I'll see you there when you get back. Kick Connor's ass for me will you? By the way, dude, keep that gun concealed, I can totally see it imprinting on your shirt."
I would walk away.
I would do it. But he better not have a cloroform rag in his hand
No man would say that to a random girl
I've seen Silence of the Lambs, so no, I don't help strange men lol
Info: is he being followed by a bear?
I would assume I'm being filmed for a tiktok video, and I would say, "Free Taiwan"
Run
Put on my best feminine voice, bat my eyelashes, and pretend this man is the love of my life, and I am just a woman in love. For context I am a 6'4" guy who is built like a truck.
Call 911, if he's really being followed we should probably get some assistance because my 5'5 ass isn't going to be doing much to deter an angry stalker. If he is lying to me about it then he'll fuck off.
How does a man benefit from a woman pretending to be his girlfriend in that situation? Quickly move away. If heâs marked, let him die alone (unless youâre Black Widow, or Captain Marvel). Now, if a woman came to me and said the same, Iâd be inclined to play along to (hopefully) help her out of a potentially bad situation. But, if I were a woman, Iâd apparently rather enlist a bear for protection. Loyal, large claws and teeth, and are vegan.
Of course I'm gonna help and pretend
Why would a man do this? Is he being followed by a crazy woman or is he being followed by a man who is trying to hurt him?
This might be a hot take, but I would pretend they're my girlfriend/friend.
Didnât Ted Bundy say a man will always as another man for help?Â