Pepper spray in your bag? Check. Keys between your fingers? Check. A friend who is tracking your location and waiting for a text letting her know you made it home safely? Check check check.

Ladies, we all know that feeling of being uneasy walking alone at night or encountering a man who makes us feel like we could potentially be in danger. Your brain says that it’s not likely anything will happen to you, but your gut knows better. It is an unfortunate part of being a woman that none of us should have to deal with, but sometimes, men just will not leave us alone. Unless they are confronted with another guy, that is.

Someone recently started a conversation on Reddit by asking what men would do if a woman approached them saying, “Pretend we’re friends. I’m being followed.” The post received thousands of comments sharing stories where men intervened or played along by pretending to know women to make them feel safer. Enjoy these stories that might restore a bit of your faith in humanity, knowing that a stranger might be around to help you out of a desperate situation, and be sure to upvote all of your favorites. Then if you’re interested in reading another Bored Panda piece where women explain how men can avoid coming off as creepy by accident, check out this story next.Read More: Someone Asked “A Girl Approaches You And Says, ‘Pretend We’re Friends. I’m Being Followed,’ What Would You Do?”, 40 Men Gave Honest Responses

#1

I remember being at a bar and telling this guy I had a boyfriend and still getting harassed, dude was all up in my personal space, like, right up in it, and some big Viking looking dude put his arm around me, looks the dude in the eye and goes “I’m the boyfriend.” I was left alone for the rest of the night haha. I don’t know who you are big Viking dude because you disappeared into the night, but I hope you’re living your best life.

Image credits: u/foldbackclip

#2

I’m 6′ 3 ~250lb and I cannot count on both hands how many times a scared woman has joined my brothers and me or my friends and me, asking if we can pretend to know her because of some guy not taking no for an answer. We’ve walked people to cars, gotten people cabs, waited with them until they felt safer. I am always happy to help them, because I hope someone will do the same for my female friends, but it’s sad that the need is there.

Image credits: Sagoingne

#3

Female here, and I’ve played that part.

My husband and I were walking in San Francisco, and hubs noticed a young girl (~18) looking very uncomfortable while a guy was talking to her. She wasn’t in any danger since we were still in public but obviously uneasy since it sounded like the other guy was trying to get her to go somewhere with her. Hubs suggested I intervene while he stood back as to not alarm her, so I swooped in with a hug and said “OMG why haven’t you been answering your phone?! Let’s go get some food!” I grabbed her, waved at the guy, and steered her away.

When we were out of earshot, we kept walking but I asked her if she was ok. She kept saying “thank you” over and over again, and realized she spoke limited English. Figured out she spoke Mandarin and was able to converse with her in my crappy Mandarin. Made sure she knew where to go meet back up with her friends, told her to be careful, and we parted ways.

Image credits: half_sweet_less_ice

#4

I used this and was so grateful to the guys who went along with it!

I was in a taxi queue to go home after a night out, my friend had gone home with a guy, the city I was in is super safe and it was a 20-minute cab ride so it was totally fine.

The guy behind me struck up conversation and I just got “off” vibes from him. After trying to shut down the conversation a few times and him not getting it, I tapped the shoulder of one of the guys in front of me “Hi, Paul right? I think we met at my friend Laura’s party a few weeks ago?” – he immediately got it and chatted to me while we waited, to the point where he asked what direction I was heading in – turns out he was going the same way and insisted on me getting in the cab with him and his pal so they could drop me off.

An absolute gem of a man who I am forever grateful for.

Image credits: caca_milis_

#5

Happened to me last week. Just chatted to her as if I knew her then when my mate joined I introduced them and quietly explained the scenario.

Turned out a group of undesirable’s had been following her and she was a little drunk and scared of their intentions.

We helped pick her spirits up and make her laugh a little then walked her to the nearest taxi rank

Image credits: ToastedCrumpet

#6

Act like I’ve known her for years, offer to give her a hug and identify the person that’s following her so I can make sure the person leaves and she’s safe.

At least that’s what I did the last time it happened, and I was able to notify security at the convention I was at.

Image credits: ionstorm20

#7

I’ve had it happen a few times at bars. Just a girl sits next to me and says she’s freaked out by some guy and she just wants to sit and chat with me until she spots her friends. I walked one to a cab (yeah I’m old).

Image credits: jerkITwithRIGHTYnewb

#8

pretend that we are friends then take her to a busy restaurant/store and stay with her there until she contacts her boyfriend or husband or friend, and I wait with her until they come.

Image credits: SevenFallsCo

#9

A few months ago after leaving a bar I watched as two girls dressed to go out (it was a Saturday) had a youngish, homeless guy stop them dead in their tracks and start getting extremely aggressive with them. I started shouting, got his attention, and jumped in between them. He was clearly high and wanted them, but I stayed in his face and thwarted his aggression by standing my ground and telling to back up and move along until he did and disappeared.

Image credits: thenewmook

#10

“Yo what the heck, why were you SO late I told you (time). Let’s go!” (and then go from there and try to move together to some coffee shop or boba shop.)

Image credits: AZNDevil

#11

This has happened to me a few times. Different scenarios, but similar enough.

One time, a girl was being harassed at a bar and asked if in would pretend to be her boyfriend (or whatever) to get him away. I said yes in a heartbeat, got in the guys face and told him “politely” to stop, or he would regret it. Me and this girl hung out and had fun afterwards 🙂 (no, we didn’t go home together or anything, just hung out at the bar)

Would do it again almost without thought.

Edit: i live in a relativaly safe country where ambushes, robberies amd murders are pretty low.

Image credits: NotAnAlcoholicToday

#12

Engage in conversation, take mental notes of where we are, and get a description of the person they are referencing. From there, try to direct us to someplace public with security.

Image credits: Agent_Orangina_

#13

Been in this situation. She’s probably being followed by a weirdo who doesn’t understand rejection or uncomfortable around someone. She trusts you, a stranger, so keep her safe until her normal safety arrives.

Image credits: WillyNilly018

#14

Hmmmmm. I have done this for many women in college, but I generally knew them from a class or something. I am 6’7″ tall, so a lot of times I think they came to me because I was the biggest guy they knew.

A woman I don’t know? First, identify the guy following her. Then tell her to follow me. If she insists on a different direction, then I will think it’s a setup. I will be heading to increasingly public and populated areas. A coffeeshop, club, mall, library, hospital or police station are all good options. Hotel lobbies can be good, but might freak her out. But any port in a storm.

Generally my presence will make the guy take a walk. Sometimes they may wait a few minutes. But if this person keeps following us, I am assuming he is armed and will act accordingly. If necessary, I will call for a police escort for her. At some point, the risk becomes great enough to involve actual authorities.

Image credits: ScottdaDM

#15

Pretend but at the same time be cautious in case she’s a honeypot. Take her somewhere open public and safe for me as well.

Image credits: Chance815

#16

Depends what country.

In the USA play along.

Hondiras – you’re about to wake up in an alley with a few less major organs.

Image credits: HipHoppopotamus123

#17

Calling the police and telling them there is a suspicious man following a woman who is asking for help. That way, if is a robbery set up, I’m already on the phone with the police, and if she’s actually being followed, police will know about that behavior in that area. I’d probably get her into a public building area and see what the next move would be.

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Image credits: Lazymanproductions