Pepper spray in your bag? Check. Keys between your fingers? Check. A friend who is tracking your location and waiting for a text letting her know you made it home safely? Check check check.
Ladies, we all know that feeling of being uneasy walking alone at night or encountering a man who makes us feel like we could potentially be in danger. Your brain says that it’s not likely anything will happen to you, but your gut knows better. It is an unfortunate part of being a woman that none of us should have to deal with, but sometimes, men just will not leave us alone. Unless they are confronted with another guy, that is.
Someone recently started a conversation on Reddit by asking what men would do if a woman approached them saying, “Pretend we’re friends. I’m being followed.” The post received thousands of comments sharing stories where men intervened or played along by pretending to know women to make them feel safer. Enjoy these stories that might restore a bit of your faith in humanity, knowing that a stranger might be around to help you out of a desperate situation, and be sure to upvote all of your favorites. Then if you’re interested in reading another Bored Panda piece where women explain how men can avoid coming off as creepy by accident, check out this story next.
#1
I remember being at a bar and telling this guy I had a boyfriend and still getting harassed, dude was all up in my personal space, like, right up in it, and some big Viking looking dude put his arm around me, looks the dude in the eye and goes “I’m the boyfriend.” I was left alone for the rest of the night haha. I don’t know who you are big Viking dude because you disappeared into the night, but I hope you’re living your best life.
Image source: u/foldbackclip, Toa Heftiba
#2
Back when I was 19 I was at a work Xmas party and noticed a girl I was good friends with getting harassed by a much older guy who was a manager. Not only was he a creep but I’d met his wife and child. I stepped in and asked her to dance and we spent the evening together. Didn’t deter him he kept getting in her face and trying to shoulder me aside. We decided to leave together and called a taxi and when it arrived he tried to leave with us. I managed to push him out and we got away safely.
Two kids and 4 grandchildren later we have been married for 39 blissful years.
Image source: Houseb**chhere, Eugene Zhyvchik
#3
I’m 6′ 3 ~250lb and I cannot count on both hands how many times a scared woman has joined my brothers and me or my friends and me, asking if we can pretend to know her because of some guy not taking no for an answer. We’ve walked people to cars, gotten people cabs, waited with them until they felt safer. I am always happy to help them, because I hope someone will do the same for my female friends, but it’s sad that the need is there.
Image source: Sagoingne, Tim Marshall
#4
Female here, and I’ve played that part.
My husband and I were walking in San Francisco, and hubs noticed a young girl (~18) looking very uncomfortable while a guy was talking to her. She wasn’t in any danger since we were still in public but obviously uneasy since it sounded like the other guy was trying to get her to go somewhere with her. Hubs suggested I intervene while he stood back as to not alarm her, so I swooped in with a hug and said “OMG why haven’t you been answering your phone?! Let’s go get some food!” I grabbed her, waved at the guy, and steered her away.
When we were out of earshot, we kept walking but I asked her if she was ok. She kept saying “thank you” over and over again, and realized she spoke limited English. Figured out she spoke Mandarin and was able to converse with her in my crappy Mandarin. Made sure she knew where to go meet back up with her friends, told her to be careful, and we parted ways.
Image source: half_sweet_less_ice, Piotr Musioł
#5
I used this and was so grateful to the guys who went along with it!
I was in a taxi queue to go home after a night out, my friend had gone home with a guy, the city I was in is super safe and it was a 20-minute cab ride so it was totally fine.
The guy behind me struck up conversation and I just got “off” vibes from him. After trying to shut down the conversation a few times and him not getting it, I tapped the shoulder of one of the guys in front of me “Hi, Paul right? I think we met at my friend Laura’s party a few weeks ago?” – he immediately got it and chatted to me while we waited, to the point where he asked what direction I was heading in – turns out he was going the same way and insisted on me getting in the cab with him and his pal so they could drop me off.
An absolute gem of a man who I am forever grateful for.
Image source: caca_milis_, Lexi Anderson
#6
One time in a bar years back, a girl came up behind me and said urgently “pretend to be my boyfriend. Please.”
I see an angry guy shoving his way through the crowd towards us. I causally put my arm over her shoulder, and made eye contact with him. She was trembling violently.
He slowed a bit. I’m 6’4, 240. I just glared at him. We’re standing at the bar; he’s approaching from behind, she’s on my left staring straight ahead, with her back to him, I’m looking at him over my left shoulder.
I kinda growled “what?” at him as he stopped. He mumbled something I couldn’t hear over the music, and cleared off. After a minute, she stopped shaking, said thanks, and left. And that was it.
Yes “r/thathappened” but this is an occasional part of being tall and big. More often though, you just get asked to lift heavy stuff, grab things from the top shelf, and stand in the back for every photo.
Image source: Obsidian-Thain
#7
Ooo… story time. Years ago I was at my favorite bar, ordering a drink and I see this guy kinda hanging on/around this girl. She just looked really uncomfortable. I kinda assessed the body language for some minutes longer trying to figure out if they were familiar like is this a “my boyfriend is drunk and I’m embarrassed” or a “this is a rando and I cannot politely excuse myself” situation. Figured out it was the latter. Drank my shot. Pretended to stumble upon her presence. Faked a big huge smile and said “Omg, I haven’t seen you in forever” and put my arms out for a hug. She looked hella confused (how many of us have made some bar friends that we couldn’t pick out a line up lol) but went in for the hug. At which point I whispered in her ear “you don’t know me but you look really uncomfortable are you okay”. I felt her body relax as she began to thank me profusely. Just told her to pretend we know each other and we proceeded to converse until the creep meandered away.
Moral of the story, they don’t always come up to you. Please practice situational awareness, it could really help someone.
Image source: shayetheleo
#8
“SOMEONE’S LATE!” Then head to nearest cafe, pub, coffee shop.
Only time this has ever happened to me was when I was 18 (37 now) down at Ozfest in Milton Keynes and a girl about my age (who looked like a proper rock chick who wouldn’t be scared of anything) asked if she could walk with us after the day had ended along a few dark paths. (3 of us) we said hell yeah and walked her 20 mins along the road and she said thank you so much and went on her way. We all felt pretty good that she asked us ha.
I get some men get offended by the whole “not all men” thing. But to women it is potentially every man. So I just do what I can and my friends are all the same. Gotta look out for each other man.
Image source: OriginalMarty
#9
This happened to me in Vegas…it was wild. Two girls walked up to me and a friend of mine at a bar with a creepy older guy hovering behind them. They started talking to us as if our parties were together. I was so confused but caught on, and awkwardly asked if they wanted to go get another round at the bar before realizing their drinks were full. I joking grabbed one of their cocktails and downed it to give us an excuse to go – it was one of the last things I remember from that night. The guy had roofied her drink.
I’m not a small dude (easily had the girl by 70lbs) and within 30 mins (I’m told) sh*t went sideways for me. Before I lost track of everything, I distinctly remember him watching us like he was waiting for something. To this day I’m grateful I picked her drink.
Image source: u/apolicywonk
#10
Happened to me last week. Just chatted to her as if I knew her then when my mate joined I introduced them and quietly explained the scenario.
Turned out a group of undesirable’s had been following her and she was a little drunk and scared of their intentions.
We helped pick her spirits up and make her laugh a little then walked her to the nearest taxi rank
Image source: ToastedCrumpet, Rich Smith
#11
Been there. On a day off was at the bar/club I worked at with having a smoke with my girlfriend, when another girl came up and started chatting to us and she lead with something like “are you trying to steal my man?!?” to my girlfriend.
First reaction from me was ‘huh’ then realised a guy was a couple steps behind her telling her she forgot her drink while trying to give her a glass.
Fortunately my girlfriend was also a bartender and recognised the situation and got a bouncers attention. Unfortunately, we had both seen what was going on more than a few times from the other side of the bar top.
I wrapped my arm around the girl, told the ‘home wrecker’ to p**s off, and grabbed the drink from the guy, thanking him for bringing it to me. Then poured it into a planter while staring at him since he’d most probably put something in it.
Bouncers kicked him out and the girl hung with us until she felt ok to leave and we walked her to a taxi.
Image source: kap_bid, Jan Wienand
#12
Been in a similar situation before, I was going home when I seen 2 teenage girls walking, behind them was 2 grown a*s men on push bikes wolf whistling to them an cat calling! I asked the girls if they wanted me to walk with them until they got where they were going! Men disappeared and one of the girls parents then accused me of hanging around with teenagers until there daughter stepped up and said what was happening, her dad then wrapped his arms around me and said “what a man, thank you for being a great bloke”
Image source: Lifelongfailure1
#13
Happened to me. Or close to it. She wasn’t being followed, but a creepy person was trying to intoxicate her in a packed bar. I noticed, approachd her and said “oh heey!! Long time no see, how are you doing?” (I’ve never seen her before)
She immediately reacted and started chatting with me. After a while the person tried to pull her back saying “hey, she’s with me” and I was like “oh not right now dude, we haven’t seen each other for a long time”.
We ended up dating.
Image source: chaoticcneutral
#14
Act like I’ve known her for years, offer to give her a hug and identify the person that’s following her so I can make sure the person leaves and she’s safe.
At least that’s what I did the last time it happened, and I was able to notify security at the convention I was at.
Image source: ionstorm20, Tim Mossholder
#15
This happened to me once. I was at Preston station and a girl approached me and said can we pretend to be friends and chat as there’s a creepy guy that keeps following me around the station.
I probably shouldn’t have said “how do you know I’m not a creepy guy too?”. But it did make her laugh. We chatted, and when the train got arrived we sat together. When we got to Lancaster she met a friend, said thanks, and we went our separate ways. And thankfully no problems with creepy guy.
God it must be s**t being female at times.
Image source: Gazebadly
#16
Back in the ’90s, I pulled up to the bank ATM on a Saturday. There was a guy at the ATM, and another lady in her car – I was third in line, so I just sat in my truck to wait.
The lady got out and walked up to the ATM booth about the time the guy was finishing up, and I heard her ask him if he would mind waiting there until she got done. It took me a few minutes to realize that it was me, unshaved, wearing my old field jacket, sitting in a 20 year-old project truck with different color cab and bed, that she was nervous about.
But the guy stayed there in his car until she got back into hers, so… you know… that dude was a good guy.
Image source: itdumbass
#17
Story time!
When I was about 19 years old I was at my favorite bar having a drink and waiting for a friend to show up. They had a warm smoking area you could drink in.
This dude who I know as a regular at this bar via my mom’s friend (who says he raped her, had the bruises and everything) kept trying to force me to heavily drink. Then he tried to convince me to go to his house to do coke. This guy was like 50 and “just wanted to have a good time”
Another man was sitting across from me, and after creeps left to go get a drink other dude made sure to look right at me and say “no matter what happens, I won’t leave you with him. Is someone coming for you?” Damn near cried into my beer and assured him someone was coming for me.
Image source: Rapidbetryal
#18
A guy was hitting on me at a party and I pointed to my brother next to me and said I’m with him, and this little douche stands next to him and goes “your sister is really cute” and my brother replied, “yeah, and she’ll kick your ass.” He looked very uncomfortable and left xD I love that my brother still gave me the power but made it clear enough that he’s my backup xP.
Image source: u/Sumoki_Kuma, Jacob Bentzinger
#19
I’ve had it happen a few times at bars. Just a girl sits next to me and says she’s freaked out by some guy and she just wants to sit and chat with me until she spots her friends. I walked one to a cab (yeah I’m old).
Image source: jerkITwithRIGHTYnewb, Alexander Popov
#20
I had a girl do this at a concert. She walked up to me hugged me and said something like pretend to be my boyfriend some guy is being creepy. We talked about the show for a little while I kept an eye on the guy until he walked away. She thanked me and went to find her friends.
I’d do it again.
Image source: Rallings
#21
pretend that we are friends then take her to a busy restaurant/store and stay with her there until she contacts her boyfriend or husband or friend, and I wait with her until they come.
Image source: SevenFallsCo, Rod Long
#22
woman here; I’ve done this before in the past. Was at a club, lost my friends and this creepy dude kept following/pestering me. It was so crowded I couldn’t get to the security guy at the back so I turned to another guy and said “there’s a creepy guy following me, can you pls help and pretend that we’re friends?” and without missing a beat, he said “don’t worry”, then he turned his back to creepy guy who was looking at me, blocked my body with his and stood there. When creepy guy got closer and tried to talk to me again, he kept blocking me until creepy guy said “excuse me” and tried to pass the guy; guy turned around and said “what do you want with my girlfriend?” and creepy guy said sorry and left.
Image source: rudebish
#23
Years ago, my friend and I (both 17 at the time and female) were walking in the evening in downtown Portland. I think we were walking to a gym our hotel had a partnership with.
My spidey senses went off and I noticed a very creepy dude behind us. After verifying he was following us, my friend was completely oblivious, I grabbed her and walked into a department store. Again, she was clueless and like , oh , why are we shopping? Creepy dude came into the store, walked a circle and then walked right back out.
I showed my friend the guy who was CLEARLY following us and had no business being in any department store, he was likely homeless and possibly mentally ill. Told the staff there, we stayed a bit and then hightailed it back to the hotel.
Doesn’t really apply here but as a woman, it’s always best to have your wits about you. You don’t have to walk up to a random man to ask for help. Can always just go into any available store and tell them what’s up. They will likely help you.
Image source: mbemom
#24
Happened to me before, I replied “okay, roll with it”
“hi sweetheart you’re late as always!” put my arm over, feigned a kiss, held her hand and walked her home. Creeper followed us the entire way so we carried on walking until we got to a house of a friend of hers, went in had coffee and waited for the utter wierdo to leave. Made some good friend that night though
Image source: Tevakh2312
#25
A few months ago after leaving a bar I watched as two girls dressed to go out (it was a Saturday) had a youngish, homeless guy stop them dead in their tracks and start getting extremely aggressive with them. I started shouting, got his attention, and jumped in between them. He was clearly high and wanted them, but I stayed in his face and thwarted his aggression by standing my ground and telling to back up and move along until he did and disappeared.
Image source: thenewmook, Jake Weirick
#26
pretend to be her friend, walk her to a public place with enough people around to make approaching us a bit harder, and preferbly a place with enough escape routes, and call the cops in the mean time
Image source: Saif_Horny_And_Mad, Diane Picchiottino
#27
A version of this actually happened to me. I was in a bar with my sister waiting on a table for dinner and two girls near us were being bothered by a somewhat drunk guy. My sister asked me to intervene so I went over and pretended to be an old friend for high school, luckily they picked up on it pretty quick and I situated myself in between them and the drunk guy and eventually he left. I ended up dating one of them for a few years and we are still good friend to this day.
Image source: Nightsounds1
#28
“Yo what the heck, why were you SO late I told you (time). Let’s go!” (and then go from there and try to move together to some coffee shop or boba shop.)
Image source: AZNDevil, No Revisions
#29
This has happened to me a few times. Different scenarios, but similar enough.
One time, a girl was being harassed at a bar and asked if in would pretend to be her boyfriend (or whatever) to get him away. I said yes in a heartbeat, got in the guys face and told him “politely” to stop, or he would regret it. Me and this girl hung out and had fun afterwards :) (no, we didn’t go home together or anything, just hung out at the bar)
Would do it again almost without thought.
Edit: i live in a relativaly safe country where ambushes, robberies amd murders are pretty low.
Image source: NotAnAlcoholicToday, Samantha Gades
#30
Engage in conversation, take mental notes of where we are, and get a description of the person they are referencing. From there, try to direct us to someplace public with security.
Image source: Agent_Orangina_, Jezael Melgoza
#31
Been in this situation. She’s probably being followed by a weirdo who doesn’t understand rejection or uncomfortable around someone. She trusts you, a stranger, so keep her safe until her normal safety arrives.
Image source: WillyNilly018, Ross Sneddon
#32
Hmmmmm. I have done this for many women in college, but I generally knew them from a class or something. I am 6’7″ tall, so a lot of times I think they came to me because I was the biggest guy they knew.
A woman I don’t know? First, identify the guy following her. Then tell her to follow me. If she insists on a different direction, then I will think it’s a setup. I will be heading to increasingly public and populated areas. A coffeeshop, club, mall, library, hospital or police station are all good options. Hotel lobbies can be good, but might freak her out. But any port in a storm.
Generally my presence will make the guy take a walk. Sometimes they may wait a few minutes. But if this person keeps following us, I am assuming he is armed and will act accordingly. If necessary, I will call for a police escort for her. At some point, the risk becomes great enough to involve actual authorities.
Image source: ScottdaDM, Viktor Bystrov
#33
Pretty we’re friends and take out my phone record a video selfie with my “friend” maybe capture an image of her stalker.
Image source: PizzaSandwich2020
#34
I did something similar for a girl at the bar once. Guy kept bugging her, she knew my friend’s wife, so we pretended to be a couple for the night. Eventually he left.
Image source: Marin013
#35
Pretend but at the same time be cautious in case she’s a honeypot. Take her somewhere open public and safe for me as well.
Image source: Chance815, Nat Weerawong
#36
Depends what country.
In the USA play along.
Hondiras – you’re about to wake up in an alley with a few less major organs.
Image source: HipHoppopotamus123, ben o’bro
#37
Pretend we’re friends, but not follow her to a second location.
That seems like a good way to lose a kidney.
Image source: Pavlock
#38
Calling the police and telling them there is a suspicious man following a woman who is asking for help.
That way, if is a robbery set up, I’m already on the phone with the police, and if she’s actually being followed, police will know about that behavior in that area.
I’d probably get her into a public building area and see what the next move would be.
Image source: Lazymanproductions, King’s Church International
#39
I’ll do my best to help but I’m keeping a close eye on her, could always be a setup for a robbery or pickpocketing
Image source: thefurpetrator
#40
Start a public live stream with my new friend and try and capture all ppl that are around us and talk loudly about our surroundings and all that
Image source: CarQuean
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