I actually got curious and checked...most of them are girls! :3 How many of them either know someone who has or have personally been attacked/grabbed/followed/screamed at after asking someone to stop though...I couldn't say :3 Personally, I know about 5-6 girls (and I am not someone with a large social network). And how many of them would tell this to a timid/physically weak/social anxiety/past abuse victim if that friend complained to them...I don't know. In any case, I have a few "tough girl" friends who have always sworn they would yell or punch a guy who touches them, but a good chunk of them who were eventually touched were so shocked/scared in the moment that they froze. I think everyone would like to think they are strong enough to face this type of situation (a larger person touching them inappropriately, especially if they are alone), but I think you only know what you would REALLY do once you have experienced the situation.

Well I'm a woman and I asked her why she didn't say anything. Who cares if people think you're crazy for telling a creepy person to stop being creepy. In order to get those kind of people to use their brains you ask them what they would do in that situation. That usually gets people to shut up. Hell if it had been me I would of looked him in the eye with a wtf expression on my face and asked him to stop and if that didn't work I'd make a scene. No one has the right to pull that kind of shit and the kind of people that think they do need to know that they don't.

#48 Oh, I definitely agree with you that trying to get them to stop is the best way to go about it (because most of the time telling them "STOP" is enough). My point was more that you never really know what situation that girl was in/has been through, so I wouldn't agree with the people saying she deserves to be touched because she was too scared to do anything, or that she "must have liked it." Honestly, I don't even know what I would do. I'd like to think I would confront them or at least leave...but living in a more "unsafe" area of town (gangs, lots of homeless with psychiatric problems, ...) and knowing several girls who have been secretly stalked/attacked/raped by strangers they rejected, that and the fact that when I am truly scared I lose my voice and cannot scream or ask for help...I can't help but wonder if I would do the same as OP? Hopefully I'll never have to know...

That's a really sucky situation OP! Good for you for standing up for yourself. And if it was really that packed, then shame on the people around you for ignoring the situation. In any case, I just want to let you know that no matter what, I don't think you deserved to have someone touch you against your will and I believe you when you say you did not enjoy it. I hope you never have to meet that sort of creep ever again! XD

You were far too nice to this would-be rapist. No is ******* no, and when he refused to stop, you should have stood up and made a scene. Why should you sit there and suffer his unwanted attentions? Let him share the unwanted attention by shaming him in public. Glaring isn't a defense - standing up for yourself is. You know why your threat to call the police failed? Because you sat there and took it anyway, without saying or doing anything in your own defense. So he knew, no matter what you said, he could do what he wanted to you because you're too meek to do anything. I won't say YDI, but if you want to avoid this in the future, you need to stand up for yourself. No one else will.

@54 Solving rape culture by victim blaming...interesting tactics.

@#54 that sounds very close to victim blaming there. Never blame a person for something like that. Could OP have made a scene, sure she could have, should you blame her situation on her not doing that, no you shouldn't. I'm glad that you were ok OP.

I'm sorry you had to go through that OP, but I suppose that there are always going to be that sort of people in the world, and they should be dealt with appropriately. Which brings me to point out that I can actually find 54's comment agreeable, although his approach was a bit strong admittedly. While in this situation, I don't think that one could go as far as to label the man as a rapist, and I highly doubt anything could have came out of that situation. I do, however, mean to emphasize that there are certain situations where this could have went off the deep end and gone badly for you and should have been treated as such. I'm not saying you did not handle the situation correctly, hell, I don't think that I would have thought to do this, but while I wouldn't go as far to cause a scene, I would have made the situation more apparent to those around you, for a future reference

Hey, OP, if all else fails, just wristlock the guy. They will no longer have the urge to touch you. ;)

Sorry that happened OP. In that kind of situation, I'm not sure what you could do, especially since the bus was crowded. Shame on the people who didn't do anything to help you. Better luck next time you have to take the bus!

Ugh, what a ******* creep. I'm sorry that happened to you, OP. If it happens again (and you feel safe enough to do something like this), I'd recommend grabbing one of his fingers and bending it backwards towards his wrist as hard as physically possible. Either that or ask somebody else to swap places with you so you can get away from the guy. This isn't meant as criticism, just to be clear, but it's easy for me to suggest things to do when I'm at home and away from the situation, but it's always good to have a plan in case the same situation arises again. Hopefully it won't!

Next time punch him in the face. Or elsewhere depending on how brave you're feeling.

It's called move his hand and bend his finger back. Don't threaten with police calls. He's harassing you and won't stop, you make him stop. And this is why girls get victimized.

I blame the op for not doing something about. 54 is right. She should have done something instead of taking it up the ass.

I agree that he shouldn't of stroked her knee but to assault him for it wouldn't be the best option, The man wouldn't be arrested for stroking a knee but op would definitely be in trouble if she punched the man in the face.