<![CDATA[Going opposite directions at night, what should men do if approaching a woman?]]>Scenario: It's night, and a man is walking home. He sees ahead there is a woman going in the opposite direction as him. Knowing not to stop or approach her, but his presence makes her nervous. What would help further in this scenario if anything?

]]>https://forum.ieu.app/topic/216f88de-5d74-403d-8a74-1a3327956f6b/going-opposite-directions-at-night-what-should-men-do-if-approaching-a-womanRSS for NodeSat, 05 Sep 2026 20:51:28 GMTMon, 24 Aug 2026 19:37:47 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Going opposite directions at night, what should men do if approaching a woman? on Mon, 24 Aug 2026 20:21:01 GMT]]>Ah it looks like the advice here is very similar to the other post.

"hey if you're a man i'm gonna need you to never approach a woman who's alone at night time. don't care what your intention is - unless it's an emergency, don't. you probably have no idea what the jolt of terror and/or the gnawing dread feels like in these situations. thanks."

]]>https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://sh.itjust.works/comment/27068284https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://sh.itjust.works/comment/27068284Mon, 24 Aug 2026 20:21:01 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Going opposite directions at night, what should men do if approaching a woman? on Mon, 24 Aug 2026 20:19:44 GMT]]>According to Brent Staples' essay from a few decades ago, about how to not be seen as threatening as a black man in the US:
"And on late-evening constitutionals I employ what has proved to be an excellent tension-reducing
measure: I whistle melodies from Beethoven and Vivaldi and the more popular classical composers. Even steely New Yorkers hunching toward nighttime destinations seem to relax, and occasionally they even join in the tune. Virtually everybody seems to sense that a mugger wouldn’t be warbling bright, sunny selections from Vivaldi's Four Seasons. It is my equivalent of the cowbell that hikers wear when they know they are in bear country."

]]>https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://fedia.io/m/asklemmy@lemmy.world/t/4292117/-/comment/16087848https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://fedia.io/m/asklemmy@lemmy.world/t/4292117/-/comment/16087848Mon, 24 Aug 2026 20:19:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Going opposite directions at night, what should men do if approaching a woman? on Mon, 24 Aug 2026 20:19:04 GMT]]>Candy helps too.

]]>https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://piefed.world/comment/6595125https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://piefed.world/comment/6595125Mon, 24 Aug 2026 20:19:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Going opposite directions at night, what should men do if approaching a woman? on Mon, 24 Aug 2026 20:18:45 GMT]]>Start running until you pass her to make the awkward moment shorter.

]]>https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://lemmy.eco.br/comment/22699256https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://lemmy.eco.br/comment/22699256Mon, 24 Aug 2026 20:18:45 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Going opposite directions at night, what should men do if approaching a woman? on Mon, 24 Aug 2026 20:09:22 GMT]]>Walk to the side of the sidewalk and make room for us women. Please don’t keep walking in a straight line and expect for us to get off the sidewalk.

I collide with men who don't move for oncoming people.

]]>https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://lemmy.world/comment/25466077https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://lemmy.world/comment/25466077Mon, 24 Aug 2026 20:09:22 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Going opposite directions at night, what should men do if approaching a woman? on Mon, 24 Aug 2026 20:04:36 GMT]]>Nothing, ignore them and just keep walking

]]>https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://lemmy.world/comment/25465999https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://lemmy.world/comment/25465999Mon, 24 Aug 2026 20:04:36 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Going opposite directions at night, what should men do if approaching a woman? on Mon, 24 Aug 2026 20:03:59 GMT]]>As a woman, seriously, just give me the bro nod to acknowledge that I exist but am not that interesting to you and keep walking. If you go out of your way to show that you aren't a threat now I'm thinking you're a threat, and if you pointedly ignore me now I'm wondering if you are actually far more interested in me than you should be but you want me not to notice.

Brief eye contact while acknowledging that I exist tells me you aren't afraid of me remembering your face but that you aren't being weird and staring or trying to hide from me.

]]>https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://sh.itjust.works/comment/27068000https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://sh.itjust.works/comment/27068000Mon, 24 Aug 2026 20:03:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Going opposite directions at night, what should men do if approaching a woman? on Mon, 24 Aug 2026 20:02:50 GMT]]>All I know from doing runs at night is create a solid pepper spray buffer if coming from behind.

]]>https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://reddthat.com/comment/28667712https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://reddthat.com/comment/28667712Mon, 24 Aug 2026 20:02:50 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Going opposite directions at night, what should men do if approaching a woman? on Mon, 24 Aug 2026 20:02:16 GMT]]>Or just call your mother. She worries about you.

]]>https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://lemmy.world/comment/25465958https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://lemmy.world/comment/25465958Mon, 24 Aug 2026 20:02:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Going opposite directions at night, what should men do if approaching a woman? on Mon, 24 Aug 2026 19:59:20 GMT]]>I find putting a boundary between helps a lot. Even a basically meaningless one. Like walking on the grass while she takes the sidewalk. If you can’t cross the road.

If your really concerned call your mom or sister on speaker phone and chat with them for a min while you pass.

]]>https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://lemmy.world/comment/25465906https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://lemmy.world/comment/25465906Mon, 24 Aug 2026 19:59:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Going opposite directions at night, what should men do if approaching a woman? on Mon, 24 Aug 2026 19:57:59 GMT]]>Pull out your phone and pretend to be talking to you mother on it.

]]>https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://lemmy.sdf.org/comment/24311194https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://lemmy.sdf.org/comment/24311194Mon, 24 Aug 2026 19:57:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Going opposite directions at night, what should men do if approaching a woman? on Mon, 24 Aug 2026 19:57:14 GMT]]>What with the growing population world-wide it is not unusual to meet a human when you're out walking. Remember it's probably just as scared as you are. Try to keep your cool. Don't try to feed them, don't stare at them, don't photograph them. Don't run, or they might think you're prey. It's often best to just keep going and pretend you don't see them.

]]>https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://fedia.io/m/asklemmy@lemmy.world/t/4292117/-/comment/16087640https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://fedia.io/m/asklemmy@lemmy.world/t/4292117/-/comment/16087640Mon, 24 Aug 2026 19:57:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Going opposite directions at night, what should men do if approaching a woman? on Mon, 24 Aug 2026 19:51:25 GMT]]>Sometimes I’ll cross the street if it’s safe and won’t have to immediately recross to get where I’m going. If not I just keep walking and keep my eyes to myself, as long as you’re not being a staring creepass or looking her up and down you’re fine.

]]>https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://lemmy.blahaj.zone/comment/21884334https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://lemmy.blahaj.zone/comment/21884334Mon, 24 Aug 2026 19:51:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Going opposite directions at night, what should men do if approaching a woman? on Mon, 24 Aug 2026 19:47:56 GMT]]>Play dead, women are like bears.

]]>https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/comment/27761093https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/comment/27761093Mon, 24 Aug 2026 19:47:56 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Going opposite directions at night, what should men do if approaching a woman? on Mon, 24 Aug 2026 19:45:46 GMT]]>wave your arms is the air and yell "I am not a threat!" Seriously though, probably make a fake phone call, or look at my phone if she looks visibly nervous. I walk in the evening sometimes and have encountered other folks. I usually just walk straight ahead and don't make eye contact.

]]>https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://feddit.online/comment/9469064https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://feddit.online/comment/9469064Mon, 24 Aug 2026 19:45:46 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Going opposite directions at night, what should men do if approaching a woman? on Mon, 24 Aug 2026 19:45:04 GMT]]>I used to jog really late in the evening for many years and had this experience more than once.

My solution: Put my hands palm out flat in front of me as if to gesture I wasn't a threat.

If walking, doing something similar and not making it weird is probably equally good.

]]>https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://lemmy.world/comment/25465635https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://lemmy.world/comment/25465635Mon, 24 Aug 2026 19:45:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Going opposite directions at night, what should men do if approaching a woman? on Mon, 24 Aug 2026 19:44:07 GMT]]>Ah, so that's how you get them into the van.

]]>https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://lemmy.world/comment/25465612https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://lemmy.world/comment/25465612Mon, 24 Aug 2026 19:44:07 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Going opposite directions at night, what should men do if approaching a woman? on Mon, 24 Aug 2026 19:43:38 GMT]]>You are already so far past being fuckin normal to make anything normal in any scenario so stop trying. The more you try to act normal the weirder you seem to everyone around you. Who the fuck puts this much thought into walking past someone. If you are really this nervous about it. Burry your head into your phone and be oblivious to anyone you walk past and accept the risk you might walk into traffic if there are no headlights on a vehicle.

]]>https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://lemmy.world/comment/25465606https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://lemmy.world/comment/25465606Mon, 24 Aug 2026 19:43:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Going opposite directions at night, what should men do if approaching a woman? on Mon, 24 Aug 2026 19:42:32 GMT]]>Say hi and keep walking.

]]>https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://sh.itjust.works/comment/27067598https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://sh.itjust.works/comment/27067598Mon, 24 Aug 2026 19:42:32 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Going opposite directions at night, what should men do if approaching a woman? on Mon, 24 Aug 2026 19:42:04 GMT]]>Nothing will help this scenario with just 2 people.

You have to add a third party. The man needs to have a female companion, or a happy friendly dog.

If I walk alone, my 250 pound, six foot talk frame is viewed as a threat. If I take my brother's highly animated German spotted pointer with me, people approach me and want to pet the puppy.

]]>https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://piefed.social/comment/12639049https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://piefed.social/comment/12639049Mon, 24 Aug 2026 19:42:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Going opposite directions at night, what should men do if approaching a woman? on Mon, 24 Aug 2026 19:39:32 GMT]]>Just don't be weird man, that's all you gotta do.

]]>https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://lemmy.world/comment/25465530https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://lemmy.world/comment/25465530Mon, 24 Aug 2026 19:39:32 GMT