I would never harm anyone. But they don't know that.

[MineralMan]

Other people might harm people, though. I don't worry about that too much, because I'm a man. Women, on the other hand, worry about it frequently. They are the targets of some men who don't think twice about harming a woman. Men who would never assault a man, because that has risks.

I know that. I'm always aware of that. I do my very best not to make women fearful of me. But I also know that, even if I succeed in that, they will still be fearful of men. And they'll be justified in that fear.

That is the difference between how most men and most women view the world and plan their activities. That is not how things should be. But, that's how things are. So, I understand if someone who does know me is fearful of me. I'll try not to be in a position where I might be a threat. I'll avoid causing fear whenever I can, even if that means going in a different direction or avoiding a particular situation.

I know. I'm very sorry. If you know me, you'll know that I'm not a threat. If you don't know me, though, I'm just another guy you don't know who might be a threat. I'm very sorry.

[wasupaloopa]

1. You always say the most obvious things I think. We are both in our 70's I think and learned about

men assaulting women when we were kids.

I think today the difference is that more men are being held accountable then when we were young. More women are speaking out.


None of this is new to us.

[Cartoonist]

2. Perhaps this has happened to you

I'll be walking down the sidewalk when I spot an elderly woman approaching. My intent is to step off the narrow path to let her by. Long before we meet, she has already stepped off.

Always ruins my day.

[MineralMan]

3. That and similar things, yes.

It makes me sad and ashamed that someone feels afraid of me. I try very hard to avoid such situations.

One occasion stands out for me. I left a restaurant alone once, at night, and was walking toward the parking lot to get my car. As I got near the parking lot, I saw a woman, also heading for that parking lot. She looked at me and started to turn and walk away in another direction. I said, loudly enough for her to hear me, "I'm sorry. I'll just wait over here until you find your car and drive off." She turned back and went to her car. How sad. Really.