This is part of the Monday series “Street Respect. “Street respect” is the term for respectful, polite, and consensual interactions that happen between strangers in public spaces. It’s the opposite of “street harassment.” Share your street respect story and show the kind of interactions you’d like to have in public in place of street harassment.
I was waiting at a bus stop (a layover en route to university) near a hospital in a nice enough part of town. Two gentlemen joined me at some point. Based on their conversation and demeanor, it seemed they had some recent experience in jail or maybe prison. At one point, one of them cursed and his companion responded, “Watch your mouth. There’s a lady present.”
As a sociologist, I know that social decorum is sometimes lost (if not simply rusty) after time spent “inside.” I was warmed in that regard . . .
– MCM
Location: 1201 West 38th Street, Austin, TX 78705
