I appreciate it!

I know I have watched videos about this also, that people say they are not approached or feel like they can't approach others. My thing is body language and eye contact, if I'm out walking around making eye contact and we exchange a hello and see if more occurs fine. But if someone is totally closed off looking away.... take the hint. And like dear lord don't sit down without being invited to ! Chat a minute and ask first.

Very good excerpt! I'll say I want to be gentle with men in these situations for my own safety as well.... don't want to be antagonistic....I agree with you though!

In retrospect I think it was the sitting down near me thing, like we were old friends, that made me react more strongly than I would have

Being in line together is different. I'm curious though, if someone is giving you one word answers and seems like you don't wish to continue the conversation do you back off ?

I talk to people in public a lot but if they seem closed off I'll end it

That's good phrasing, thank you!

I would never approach someone who was not looking up at me unless I really had to, like they had dropped something. I can't think of a time a woman has approached me in this way.

Thank you for your thoughtful reply! I've worked in some dangerous settings and had to be a bit firmer and these suggestions have been helpful while still being clear!

I was afraid of men long before social media existed based on personal experiences receiving unwanted and inappropriate attention and comments. Note I'm not saying ALL men but this is based on personal experience, nothing to do with social media, what a stretch.

Wow that's really good advice, thank you!

I suspect they meant FB, although Facebook feels like tb sometimes lol

Good point , for some reason I don't love the term "woman" but I am aware people use female pejoratively probably more often.

Of course I have.

That's fine, thank you.

Weird to sit down close to someone you don't know