I like to take pictures of street art. Leaving Desert Hot Springs, I spotted an electrical box with a sunset painted on it and decided to stop. I waited at the light for the crosswalk to turn to walk across the street, so I could stand on the median. As I approached the median, a car full of men yelled, “Hey, Baby” and, “What you doin?”

I kept walking all the way across and waited again, hoping this time friendly drivers would be there. I made my way to the median and a car with two men and two women were there. “Hey, girl. You look good.” There is no way I was going to stand there with my camera and take a few pictures. I just want to take pictures without being harassed.

Do you have any suggestions for dealing with harassers and/or ending street harassment in general?

I don’t know…ignore them? Though sometimes it can be uncomfortable to totally ignore someone because you never know if it will piss them off and make them do something more. It can be intimidating to say something, especially when you are alone, which is when it happens most often.

– Anonymous

Location: Desert Hot Springs, CA

I was waiting for my bus home at McPherson Square today (6/6/14 around 5:20 p.m.), and this bus, number 6569, pulls up. I believe it was an out of service A9. The driver, this guy who appears to be in his mid-30s and is snacking on what appears to be a SlimJim, comes too close to me. He also stares at me for longer than I’d like.

“How ya doin’?” he says.

I pointed to my headphones and said that I wasn’t in the mood to talk to anyone and that I wanted to listen to my music. And I didn’t apologize for not wanting to talk either because I had no reason to. I had a very long day and was looking forward to my weekend. I just wanted to be in my headspace.

He then points to his bus and asks me to board.

“That’s not mine,” I say.

I reiterated that I wasn’t in the mood to chat and then he says, “I don’t mean anything by it, baby.”

I tell him not to call me “baby,” then said, “Didn’t you take WMATA harassment training? Don’t call women ‘baby’.”

He scoffs, says, “Good god,” then walks onto his bus.

This is not the first time that a Metrobus driver has attempted to flirt with me, and this is not the first time that one has called me “baby.” I wish that these men would pay more attention to their jobs and stop trying to hit on women. It’s not a dating service. The only thing I want from these drivers is to get me to my destination.

I’ve filed this report with WMATA’s harassment site as well.

– D.

Location: McPherson Square (Washington, DC)

I was walking with my 14-years-old daughter, and some guys started to say that they’d “Do us both”, that they’d first take the mother and then the daughter, stuff like that. If they say those things with an adult present (me), I don’t want to think about what they say to my daughter when she is alone.

Do you have any suggestions for dealing with harassers and/or ending street harassment in general?

More education to respect people, it doesn’t matter how they’re dressed, everyone deserves respect

– EC

Location: Medellin, Colombia

I shut them both up. I was 21, and me and my girlfriend were going to go out on the town. First we needed some wine to have whilst we got ready. We walk down to the shops, and outside were three males. Two of them comment to each other “they’re sexy” bla bla, as we walk past, I hear the third say, “I’ve seen better.”

Charming. Like our whole purpose in life is to look pretty for you ummmm no. But my friend and I say nothing. As we exit the store the same guy mutters “sluts” just loud enough for us to hear. OK, that’s it.

I whirl round and demand aggressively, “WHAT was that?” This idiot stutters and stammers, he can’t believe I’ve had the guts to say something to him and then replies, “Oh nothing.”

I give him a death stare and snap, “Yeah that’s what I thought.”

My friend and I carry in our journey home, the laughter of this guys’ friends wetting themselves at his humiliation ringing in our ears.

Same night friend and I leave the pub, and a guy shouts, “Show us your tits,” and I shout back “Why don’t you show me yours you fat b***tard.” People around us fall over themselves laughing. If your big enough to dish it out, be big enough to take it back.

Do you have any suggestions for dealing with harassers and/or ending street harassment in general?

If you’re a woman in public, in a crowd/with someone, say something. And make sure it’s nasty and humiliating for the person trying to humiliate you. They won’t do it again. Men, if you see a woman being harassed, stand up for her, tell the guy, “Look, bro, that’s not ok and makes you look like an idiot.” Cat calling and harassing strangers on the street shouldn’t be socially acceptable.

– LM

Location: Queensland, Australia