You’re sitting in the Common. You’re walking to Starbucks. You’re getting on the T. You see him, but it’s too late. He’s spotted you from a mile away and he’s about to make his move: “Hey, honey, how you doin’?”
The classic creeper.
As lovely young women living in a city, we’re bound to receive some attention from our male counterparts. But why do they always seem to be so… strange? I have never been approached on the street by a guy and thought, “That’s my prince charming.” Don’t get me wrong, there’s someone out there for everyone, but prepubescents, grandpas, and hobos are clearly out of the question. Yet these men have no problem catcalling my way. I just want to know, where do the creepers get their confidence?
My creepiest creep shouted to me from his car window as I walked home from class one day. He wanted to take me out for drinks.
Yes, I’d love to go to drinks with you, strange man following me in a black car.
He attempted flattery, yelling, “You look so beautiful! Where are you from? Europe?”
Sorry to disappoint, but no. And no to the drinks too.
Last week, the human equivalent of the Abominable Snow Man serenaded my friend in the street. This man’s face and neck were covered with curly white-blond hairs. He swayed towards her, singing “Fiiiiiiiiiine female, folded arms on a Fahrenheit daaaaaaay. Missssssssss America!” And then proceeded to ask her out to dinner.
Then there’s guys like the young British chap who yelled to me several times from across the Common. I instinctively ignored him. “I just wanted to talk to you!” he yelled after me. And I’ve started to think maybe it was that innocent. As I walked away, I realized he was pretty cute. And kind of charming. And I probably would have enjoyed talking to him.
I’ll never understand why creepers think we’ll say yes to them. Is it the innocent look in our eyes? Our fresh-faced beauty? Is it because they’ve surpassed their fear of rejection? Whatever it is, it certainly is not helping their game.
But there is still something exciting about being spontaneously approached on the street. That’s how it worked in the olden days right? Seriously, don’t guys watch The Notebook?
Apparently, in real life, “normal” guys lack the confidence level of creepers. And if they do work up the courage to approach us, we automatically reject them. So how do we know when to give the creepers the cold shoulder and when to open our hearts to these random acts of affection?
After my encounter with the British guy, I’ve decided we should give these so-called creepers a chance. Obviously we shouldn’t comply to guys shouting to us from cars, but the guy on the park bench might be okay. If he compliments you, accept it. If he asks you to coffee, just make sure you stay in a public place. If he looks like he slept in a trashcan, washed his hair in the frog pond, and is coming at you with crazy eyes, walk away. Quickly.
The reality is, the way we meet guys is changing. Social media makes face-to-face interaction seem passé. And with all of our interests posted on Facebook, even random guys know a lot about us before we meet them. But that doesn’t mean we should assume guys who randomly approach us are creepers. There’s still good guys out there, and we have to give them credit when they’re bold enough to make a move.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Emerson chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.