Your life and safety are no joke, so it’s always best to err on the side of caution. One study shows that nearly two-thirds of women have experienced street harassment. So, first impressions are certainly important when it comes to staying vigilant. Nobody’s denying that. However, they’re not always accurate. In some cases, you can wildly misinterpret a stranger’s character and intent just because they happen to be in your vicinity.
To that end, some of the men on the internet took to r/AskReddit and spilled the beans about the biggest misunderstandings they’ve been in, where someone wrongly labeled them as creeps. Scroll down to read all about their awkward and embarrassing stories.
Read More: “I Was Known As A Creep For Years”: 30 Men Reveal The Times They Undeservingly Were Called Creepy
#1
Teacher here. Went to a retail store and was standing in line. There was an 8th/9th grader a few people ahead of me paying for school supplies with *coins* and she had to make a decision of what to keep and what to put away because she didn’t have enough money
Walked up and said I would pay because I taught at a local school (I still had my badge on.) The girl was happy and said thank you, but the looks the cashier and other people gave me in line were like daggers
I heard murmurs about how it was weird and the cashier said nothing to me when she rang me out.
I was mad at first, but I’d do it again. If kids can’t afford what they need to not fall behind I don’t care what random people think.
Image credits: lowtoiletsitter
#2
I “followed” some girls my age. They were driving and so was I. They took random turns for a while to confirm that I was following them however they drove right to my cul de sac.
When I stopped and they confronted me, I just opened my garage door and went inside. Kinda understandable, but if a stranger really is following you, don’t stop and talk to them.
Image credits: TalksSh*tAboutTotal
#3
I was in the dorm elevator riding down from floor 12 and the elevator stopped at floor 8. Two girls were waiting for the elevator and one looked at me and said to the other “uh, that’s creepy. There’s some guy in there.”
Pretty weird that someone else would ride an elevator, eh?
Image credits: ThrowingTheRinger
#4
Standing quietly behind someone in a grocery store, reading a book on my phone and listening to music in my earbuds. She eventually taps my arm and tells that “you’re not fooling anybody so stop staring at her!” Apparently asking why would I be staring at her was the wrong thing to ask and she went off on one, fortunately the cashier and the two older ladies stepped up for me. Shout out for the one saying ” no he’s got a point why would any one waste a second glance on you, your so bland your just background like furniture in a chip shop” which I don’t truly get but sent her nuclear before a manager asked her to leave.
Image credits: Lostboxoangst
#5
I had a professional quality camera (this was back before cameras were on cellphones) and was seemingly taking pictures of kids at a playground. Thankfully it was a digital camera and I could show the police that were called that I was taking pictures of my own son for his grandparents.
Image credits: ComesInAnOldBox
#6
I was a professional touring musician. I was on a flight (which I often was) and this maybe 9 or 10 year old girl was in the seat next to me flying alone and she had a violin with her.
SHE initiated a conversation with me because she saw me put my guitar in the over head. She asked me what kind of guitar and what i played etc. We had a nice conversation about composers we like and she was telling me about a piece she was composing herself! Really cool kid.
This goes on for about 10 minutes and the flight attendant comes by and tells the girl if she wants she can sit “up front” in first class! The kid actually looked at me like, “what do I do?” I was like, ‘wow thats awesome go!”
Now keep in mind, Im not a long hair freaky looking music type, Im totally clean cut and normal…
Anyway, a few min later another flight attendant goes over and I hear her ask the one that moved the girl why and I heard her say she didn’t feel comfortable with “that man” talking to her.
I was really hurt.
I mean I get it, people are nuts and you never know but it really bothered me.
Image credits: Raspberries-Are-Evil
#7
I was sitting on a chair in the hallway, head in my hands staring at the floor, just found out my Aunt died. Just thousand yard staring stuck in thought eyes unfocused.
girl in class walks over standing in front of me while on her phone. Notices me and freaks out accusing me of staring at her feet.
was known as the creepy feet guy for a few months after that…..
Image credits: -retaliation-
#8
I struggle to speak and that used to get me labelled creepy. then i lost a bunch of weight and now it’s just considered shyness. crazy how that works.
Image credits: thanks_breastie
#9
I’m a lifeguard, someone got mad I looked at them when there in the water, it felt like I was in a onion article.
Image credits: 20k_dollar_lunchbox
#10
Changing my daughter in the women’s restroom because it was the only one with a changing table.
Image credits: Ubermassive
#11
I smiled and waved at a toddler (who waved at me) in target, the toddler was immediately scooped up and the the mom mumbled “what a creep”, for context I’m a father of two an had diapers and a paw patrol player in my cart.
Image credits: PsychologicalAsk2668
#12
I took my younger brother to a trampoline park (I’m in my 20s and he’s 8). He accidentally jumped near one of the younger kids and they started crying. This kids mother was nowhere near him and I went over to ask if he needed any help, if he was ok and where his parents / guardian was. He was very distraught and didn’t answer but when his mom finally did show up, she gave me this look that just screamed “get away from my child” and snapped at me saying “I can handle it.” Mind you she didn’t show up for at least a minute while this kid was screaming and I was trying to find who this kids guardian was.
I totally understand stranger danger as a young child and being careful, and I know parents can be protective of their children. However, I was leaning down next to him with my younger brother with me making sure he was ok. If I was a woman, this probably would have gone differently. It is what it is I guess.
Image credits: thebum2000
#13
When I was in high school at a fair I had a middle school girl “hit” on me and ask me out, my simple response was “you’re too young to date and I’m too old for you.” An older lady at the fair tapped me on the shoulder to tell me I’m a creep for talking to a young girl.
Image credits: behannrp
#14
I got called out as a creep because I walked with my dog near a kindergarten, I was just out walking with the dog and the kids ran to the gate (they couldn’t get out to me and the dog) and wanted to pet my dog through the fence, my dog loves kids so I let them, after a few minutes one of the teachers or what they are called came and told the kids to get away and told me that it was inappropriate and creepish behavior.
Since then I never go near kids or kindergartens.
Image credits: anon
#15
I was about 15 at a house party I once helped an extremely drunk girl same age as me get picked up safely by her parents, only people thought I was trying to sleep with her and get her to come home with me, so they wouldn’t let us leave the house together.
I had to ring her dad to come into the house to get her and I helped them out to the car.
Her friends where more concerned that they thought I was trying to sleep with her than the actual wellbeing of their friend. They where useless.
Anyway, even though the girl in question told everyone to stop and couldn’t stick up for me anymore than she did, I was known as a creep for years.
It Destroyed my self confidence at the time and I didn’t go out again in that manner until I was almost 20.
Image credits: Ok_Bottle_8796
#16
I worked in a childcare. That was enough for some people.
I told people I was an education major.
Having a beard and wearing. Glasses.
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Image credits: mrsnowplow