Out on a run and...WWCOJD? (Page 2)

I made sure at me before I walked over. BUT...does it really matter? If I'm walking along and hear children talking like that and it COULD BE directed at me, shouldn't I say something? At some point the "practice" will be directed at someone unless people make it clear that it's not appropriate.

Do you think it's ok to practice yelling it across the street to "no one in particular" even though there is clearly a woman walking along?

Ha! I actually thought about asking the mom if they have a cat... and if her kids ever threaten to eat it.  BUT I decided against it. Some people don't get my humor.

bwaaaahahahahhaaa!! 

You and Switch are my heroes!  As the father of 4 daughters I say hell yeah!  The only way to make this thread better is if you gals would have broke some windows.

The town I grew up in has obscenity laws.  Rarely enforced.  But there was a big hub bub about a decade ago, a canoer let some colourful language fly on the river for some reason (I think he dropped a paddle or broke one).  He was fined.

When I went to the police after my little incident, they were supportive, but they said there wasn't a law that the guys broke.  They did go over and talk to them though, which I really appreciated and seemed to be effective. 

They also reminded me that I couldn't say "You're lucky I don't kick your a$$" to the guys--threatening assault isn't OK either;)

I didn't say it was "ok" I was just asking. If someone is talking to themselves no I personally wouldn't intervene. But I avoid confrontation in general...

Next time, LB?

Besides my little boy, I have a 2y/o daughter that I have to practice setting an example for... so I need to start speaking up.

hahaha...my students used to call it "The Look". Yes, very effective out of classroom as well. I try not to use it when the parents are around..."not my job" and all that.

I hear you there. I think my husband was shocked when I called to tell him why my run was taking longer. But there are things that cross a line and need to be dealt with, I thought this was one.

Would you say something if it was directed at you?

Me, probably not. I get whistled at, cat called, yelled at, screamed at, "hey baby"d at, honked at, etc. every time I go on a run or ride. I don't respond to those and wouldn't consider this circumstance any different.

It's interesting that you put them in the same category. So I'm hearing you say that you would never find anything offensive enough to put a stop to it.

Bet she'd skip the mom part and head straight for the backyard to give him a "talking to".

Totally understand not responding in those situations--my mom always said 'good girls don't look:), but I think there are some that are different.  I think having a group of young kids say stuff of that nature is one of those times. 

4agoodlife made a point of feeling like she needs to start speaking up as she now has a 2yo girl.  I really understand that.  I have always been very outspoken about things that I feel are "wrong"--lots of things, not just things against women.  Now that I have kids I am much more inclined to say something than ever before.  It has definitely gotten me in some hot water sometimes, and I TOTALLY understand how that just doesn't jive with some people's personalities.  I get that--I really do.

I guess the thing that motivates me to say something isn't even so much that it's for me, but it's in thinking what it might prevent for another person/animal (confronted a few people who have left their dogs in cars on hot days with the windows up no air on) in that situation down the line. I'm not always a jerk, actually, I try pretty hard to approach those situations with civility and to keep it respectful. 

In this situation, I think the age of the boys and that they were in a group are both important factors.  Boys in packs often take on a bravado that they don't when they're solo, and when that pack mentality takes on harassing women in a sexual nature, well, that crap needs to get shut down right away.

Again, 4agoodlife, I hope you're feeling good about calling them out.  I hope their mother and father, and the parents of the other kids sit them down and take care of business.

True.

If you are a woman and you run, you know that cat calls are just a part of the deal, especially in a college town:/  I don't say something to those guys unless, it's from a work-site that is on a regular route of mine (no guys are going to make me change my route).  I will always say something to kids or teenagers being inappropriate in any way (it's the teacher in me).

Other instances when I will say/do something:

Drivers not looking at me in an intersection before they pull-out and proceed with a turn.  Unfortunately, this one happens all of the time, and after getting hit last fall, I just anticipate it.  When it happens (~75% of the time) I rap the hood, make eye contact, and depending on their reaction let them no with a look or a conversation that they need to be more careful.

If someone litters out of their car--especially a cigarette--I will say/or do something, if at all possible.  If it happens at an intersection, I have been known to pick up the butt and tuck it under their windshield wiperblade (I have done this twice now).  Wasn't received well by the driver, but the rest of the cars in the intersection seemed to approve.  I don't know if you can really reach people who still feel like it is OK to do stuff like that, but it makes me so angry that I feel compelled to do something.

Again, I train in a relatively small city in Iowa.  The chances of a confrontation going really wrong are low.  When I lived in DC, I didn't usually do stuff like that.