25 Times Men Forgot Basic Decency In Public Spaces
Article created by: Mantas KaÄŤerauskas
Being a woman can still be incredibly difficulteven in 2025. There are still men out there who feel entitled to say the most vile, inappropriate things to women in public spaces. And the worst part? It happens far too often.
This reality becomes even clearer as girls on Reddit answered the question: “What’s the creepiest thing a man has ever said to you in public?” From grocery aisles to restaurants, these stories range from awkward to outright chilling. These true stories highlight how uncomfortable and unsafe everyday spaces can feel, just for existing. It’s real, raw, and deeply eye-opening.
“You don’t get a view like that every day!”
I was ten, and bending down to get something off a lower shelf at the grocery store. I was wearing a new lower cut shirt but forgot to wear my training bra that day.
The guy was mid 40s probably. His wife was with him, she looked like she was about to cry. I never wore that shirt again.
I did tell my dad after we left the store. He told me what they guy did was sick and wrong, and that next time something like that happened, tell him immediately.
Had an older man ask me to stir his mixed drink with my finger to make it sweeter. This was at a fancy-ish dinner party my family attended. I was 13, this guy was around 50. He went on to make a joke about me eating a sucker later on, something about “blowing pop”. Still makes me nauseous after 20 years.
Strange dude walks up to me and asks me if I use ugly cream. I said no but you obviously do.
At work, was taking off my sweater cause it was too hot in the office. By the time I’d hung my sweater over the back of my chair, a colleague (middle aged, I’m 26) whom I’d only seen a few times and had only said ‘good morning’ to so far, was standing next to my desk and said, “I’ll just wait here to see if she continues.” (He was talking to my mentor but looking at me.)
When I, shocked, said, “Excuse me?”
Him: “You’re not going to continue?”
Me, incredulous at this point: “No.”
Him, smiling: “That’s too bad.”
After watching him exchange smiles with my mentor, I politely told him that he was very inappropriate and I’d appreciate him not saying things like that again. He said he wouldn’t, but that small smile was still on his face like he didn’t take it seriously…
The creepiest thing about it was how unfazed both him and my mentor seemed by the whole interaction.
I was in Paris at a Christmas market and a guy came up to me and told me I was very beautiful. Before I could say anything back, he said, “You know, I’ve been following you for awhile and saw your friends walk away from you. I could kidnap you so quick, they would never see you again.” Then he laughs, and my friend, who was only like eight feet away and heard this exchange, pulls my arm and we start fast-walking away. We cut down so many alleys, popped in and out of shops, and got on different trains since it was nearly impossible to know if he was still following us.
ETA: there were three of us and while we really have no idea if he had actually been following us for awhile, we assume he had been around long enough to know we spoke English, since he didn’t approach me speaking French.
“You’re gonna get spanking” in a sing song tone. I was working at a mom and pop burger joint and made a silly mistake. I was 19 at the time, the dude in question was 60/70. When I got embarrassed he acted proud of himself and stated “look how red she’s turning!”.
“If I was in my twenties, you’d be in trouble!” Said a creepy elderly man to me at a gas station after asking my age.
I was very, very, VERY uncomfortable.
ETA: I just want to say I’m so sorry for all of you who commented experiencing something similar or worse (from a family member and at a young age). It’s disgusting the things some grown men say/do to children and women. I’m glad all of you have the courage to open up about these experiences. ❤️.
I was on a tram once, a man (who looked like he was either high or drunk) came over to me and looked at my feet (I was wearing sandals) he then said “can I please hold your foot” and after I said no he quickly grabbed hold of my foot. It was horrifying.
I was once stalked by a man who worked in the store that was next to mine and he had told me that he made his Skyrim character to look like me.
I got followed through Walmart and the guy kept passing by me and every time he would whisper “god you’re* so beautiful. I love you”
Edit: spelling
Edit 2: he followed me to check out, and circled the parking lot to see what car I got in. I flashed my gun while loading my groceries and then he left. I went a different way home and was so paranoid of being followed, but I wasn’t. I was also 20weeks pregnant. Scariest moment of my life.
I was working, doing the whole “how are you” bit to a customer. He said
“If I was any better I’d be twins.”
Normal so far.
“And they’d be female. And hot like you.”
Sir, do you mean to tell me you’d want to bang your twin sister?
I had rainbow colored hair as a teenager. One time at work a 60+ year old customer said to me, “Does the carpet match the drapes? Never mind, you probably don’t have any down there.” I’ve never been so uncomfortable.
Was walking with my friend and a random dude said to her, “hey cutie, I like the way you walk”. When we ignored him he said, “I see how it is.”
We’re high school kids, barely 5ft tall. He followed us for two blocks before we made it to a crowded crosswalk.
“Hey girl, you need a sugar daddy?” The man was old enough to be my father, if not my grandfather. And was by no means appealing in any way, so I of course, gave him a very polite “No, thank you!” as I exit the gas station we were in.
I was 14, out shopping at an Aeropostale when these two dudes approached me. They had to be in their mid to late twenties. They followed me around the store and kept asking me to try on the mini skirt I had picked out, asked me where I lived, my name, and just generally kept following and harassing me. I was super freaked out, hoping that my mom and brother would come back to the store soon to get me out of there.
I’m Chinese. This old guy next to me at a wine bar started a conversation and told me how he used to be stationed in Korea and how much “they” loved him there. Then proceeded to ask if I “liked to kiss.” I tried to play it cool by saying, “You mean the band? I guess they’re okay.” I was giving him an out but he barrelled ahead and clarified+repeated himself. Asked for the check and paid so fast I knocked the bar stool over.
It really sucked because I was a regular there and saw him a few more times after that. I wasn’t alone, thankfully. I just pretended not to notice or remember him.
