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When you are walking outside, do you often look around to make sure no one is following you? Do people normally do this, or am I just paranoid? (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 1 day ago by throwawayacc0430@sh.itjust.works to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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Like usually every minute I'd quickly look around to make sure there aren't weirdos following me.

For context: I'm a young-adult male, but I don't exactly have training in martial arts or anything, so I'm every time I see anyone that looks "tough" I don't feel safe.

When I was a kid, my parents told me the usual "stranger danger" talk. Also in movies and tv, there are usualy a lot of plot involving peoppe getting followed, and the victim never looks back. In crime stories, and in the news, people usually become a victim if a bad person follows them home.

So when I went to school as a kid/teen, I'd always be scanning my surroundings like very often, especially when nearing home, I'd be like looking around every 20 seconds to see if there's weirdos following.

Even as a young adult, I kinda still have this instinct. I mean, we hear about crime everywhere. I don't exactly live in a "slum", but I live in a big city, and more people generally means more crime, and statistically, crime is sort of an issue where I live, I mean, it'a a city, you know how it is. This is in the US btw.

I don't carry a gun, don't wanna have intrusive thoughts about killing myself so I don't want that, so I carry pepper spray just in case.

I mean, I'm probably not gonna change my behavior, I think its good to be cautious, this question is just me trying to see if there's anyone else out there think thinks like me.

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[-] thebestaquaman@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago

I usually make a point to take off my hood if I have one on, and generally lift my head and maybe give them a nod/smile, or otherwise indicate that "I've seen you, and I'm letting you see my face clearly". If we're alone in a dark, empty place at night, I'll also make a point to cross the street away from them.

I've talked to some women about how they prefer men to act, and they generally said they think what I do is decent. Of course, that's reliant on the whole "make eye-contact, nod, smile, and wave"-thing being done in a disarming and "I'm friendly and I see you, and I'm going to mind my own business"-way, and not a creepy way.

this post was submitted on 16 May 2025

118 points (100.0% liked)

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