So today I’m coming home at midday on the tube, wearing the sexiest outfit ever of jeans, trainers and long sleeved shirt, minding my own business – reading and listening to my headphones.
A bunch of five boys get on my carriage, probably about 18, all making a row and making sure everyone hears how ‘cool’ they are throughout the carriage. I’m aware they’re looking over and trying to get my attention so I continue reading and don’t make eye contact. As more people get off the carriage, I’m now the only person in that section of seating with them. They now start making loud comments about the girls they went out with last week, in graphic detail. Smooth. Clearly annoyed that I’m not paying any attention, they move on to making direct comments about me amongst themselves: “Can’t stop reading, look”; “It smells a bit musty in here” (and then, when I get up to get off at my stop, “Ugh – it smells worse now” (laughter)). Seriously – at 18?! This is akin to those boys who used to complain that it smelled ‘fishy’ whenever a girl walked past when we were in middle school. Unfortunately they get off at the same stop as me, so I pointedly walk past very briskly with my head high and looking straight ahead – cue more looks of consternation that I’m not interested in whatever they’re doing or saying.
I have to say there was some slight satisfaction in how thoroughly pissed off they were about a girl ignoring their desperate pleas for attention.
– Jen
Location: London, UK
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Golden Silence says
In this case ignoring them definitely worked. Boys like that are insecure and pick on weaker targets, but you carried yourself with confidence which I’m sure frustrated the mess out of them. Well done!
Boys (and the men who don’t seem to grow up) need to realize there are better ways to get attention.