#62: I honestly think that people pay too much attention to the news - which reports on the most sensational story they can find, because news is ENTERTAINMENT - and not enough attention to the real people around them. You are NOT surrounded all sides by freaks and perverts. Men are NOT waiting around every corner to feel you up and molest you. You have been scared into a new form of submission by the television. And some of you wear it like a badge. "The odds are against us." Nonsense. Where is that mantra I heard growing up? "Girls can do anything boys can do... BETTER?" Well, how about taking care of yourself? Why does the OP need her boss to call the cops? If she really feels threatened, SHE CAN CALL THEM HERSELF! I'll tell you why: Because the guy ISN'T "stalking" her (at least, not by any valid LEGAL definition). He's just being friendly. And that's all. Don't believe me? Then continue to isolate yourself away from human contact. Go right ahead and use the legal system to push everyone away because you're so afraid of everyone that you can no longer function in society. Or... engage the guy in conversation. Either you'll prove me right and earn a friend, or you'll prove me wrong and you'll have something concrete to tell the cops. Either way, stop being such a pansy, show us some of that Girl Power, and deal with the situation head on and stop waiting for other people to help you. Geez, you people see demons in every shadow, I *swear*!

Have fun

#66: I never mentioned the news. Perhaps you live in Antarctica or some other uncivilized region, but in most populated cities and towns, there is definitely a good amount of creeps around. Sure, they might not all wear raggedy clothes or leer at you with creepy grins every four seconds, but that doesn't mean that they have good intentions. A man who makes a woman uncomfortable and persists his questioning of personal information for a period of time longer than a couple of days - after her continuous refusal to answer, I am assuming - could easily be considered a creep. Not everyone is as sunshine-and-butterflies-pleasant as you seem to think they are. "He's just being friendly." Dear God, I hope this is not how you express your friendliness - approaching a woman over and over again for weeks asking about her personal schedule. For the umpteenth time, that is not sheer friendliness; that is crossing the line between polite/friendly conversation, and intrusive/uncomfortable harassment. Ignoring this guy is not isolating herself from human contact, it's avoiding a possibly dangerous situation. And she's not "pushing everyone away" by any means. Your arguments are all general statements that remain completely inaccurate because she is referring to one encounter with a man who has been bothering her for some time, after harassing a coworker. That's not the average person, and I can pretty much safely say that she probably doesn't act like that around the general public. Good God, women cannot just "engage the guy in conversation" or merrily go along with him; it's completely careless, idiotic, and unsafe. Women have to be extra careful because of all the horrifying shit that goes on in society; sure, we may take slightly more caution than necessary due to the stories in the media, but that's because of one reason: We don't want to be the next story. The OP is simply trying to protect herself, and it's incredibly chauvinistic and judgmental of you to accuse her of being wrong for doing so. And for the record, I think that the OP is functioning perfectly well in society; she is aware of her surroundings and keeping herself safe in an uncomfortable situation. She has a good head on her shoulders, from what I can tell. OP: Do NOT participate in conversations with him; any sign of encouragement will only lead him to bother you further.

Those kind of situations suck. You always have to learn the hard way.You just got to lie and try to keep your self as safe as possible. When i was working there was always creepy old guys around. And they notice yourschedule kinda and come in just to talk to you. Why can't they ever take a hint and go for girls thier age. There so gross.

oh man, I hate creeps like that! There's a few at my work too! It's actually scary and should be taken seriously since creeps are known to kidnap, rape and even kill they're victims! BE CAREFUL!

#66: No, you didn't mention the news, but it's the news that leads people to believe that there are oh, so many people out there willing to cross the line from being a little socially inept into the criminal. There are very, very few people who want to hurt you. They are, indeed, there, and you shouldn't be going places by yourself with people you don't know. But that's how you deal with it. You get to know who you're dealing with by asking your OWN questions while you're in a safe environment (at work). You don't go flying off the handle and calling the cops. I'll say this one last time: the guy HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING ILLEGAL. Don't give me that "makes me uncomfortable equals harrassment" crap. Evangelists make me uncomfortable. People who get elective C-section births make me uncomfortable. People who don't signal when they change lanes make me VERY uncomfortable. That doesn't make it harrassment. It just means they are assholes. If you work in a customer service job, you're going to have to deal with the public. If you can't deal with the public, you need to get a different job.

thuryn, after reading all these comments i think you're getting a little bit too passionate about this issue remember, it's an internet argument! in an internet argument, whether you win or lose, you're still a loser with nothing to do all day but wait for the comments on an FML to update you have your opinion, others have theres =]

I agree completely with #21. I used to work front counter when I was in high-school and you would not believe the creeps that come in. At first I was polite with them, as I had been taught, but she's right, any sort of polite response is encouraging. Creepy forty + guys will go so far as to ask where you go to school, how old you are, and tell you you're pretty, when they should just order their coffee and leave. The only way to make them really get the hint is to be rude (since the fact that I was obviously underage was no deterrent). oh, and thuryn...no offense, but it sounds like you're trying to justify being turned down due to creepy behavior. Remember, NO girl is obligated to consider every guy who has an interest in her (although you all seem to think we are).

#73: I'm a father of two daughters. I don't hit on cashiers. Both you and #72 are just attacking me instead of what I said because you know you're just trying to justify being rude to people. And that's what you're doing: being rude. I've watched my dad, who is well over 40, go into places and strike up conversations with the help. He isn't hitting on you, and not everyone who shows interest in you is a "stalker" or is hitting on you. He's just being pleasant. He talks to the guys too. He wants to know the people who work in the places he goes. I know a lot of people like this. But I only hear bitching and moaning about the older ones. Maybe you just like it when young, good-looking people are nice to you and it's "creepy" when older people are nice to you? Oh, and #72, FML sends you an e-mail when there are posts. I don't have to sit here and watch. That said, when you're watching a two-year-old swim (riveting, let me tell you), sometimes the best intellectual stimulation one gets is picking through sticky issues like this one. The OP isn't entirely wrong. She *should* be cautious. But "cautious" and "fearful" are two different things. The first is empowering. The second is not.

how is he a creeper versus some legtimiate guy trying to pickup a cashier lol