Did I handle this situation wrongly? Man at train station

I didn't say it was illegal.
I said it's disgusting.

True!

Back then if a man had a hand down his trousers it would be considered lewd or indecent behaviour and women wouldn’t be ‘karened’ for finding it obnoxious/intimidating or whatever.

Judging by some of the responses here it’s as if we’ve been conditioned to accept bad behaviour as normal!

The British transport police actually have had a huge campaign in recent years about the fact they exist and are available to call. You can text them and they’ll be on the next platform. They run adverts on the trains, Spotify, the television. For the safety of the public and staff and staff will be well aware of its ability to be used.

Since the 7/7 attacks and the fact that public transport is a breeding ground for sexual harassment, train staff are well aware that their job goes beyond tickets and ‘watery teas’.

Why are so many women choosing to be single??

Why is the birth rate declining??

What a mystery that noone wants these men to father their kids!

Calm down i typed an opinion let it go have good day.

Then what exactly is your point? Just felt the need to compare what women wear with men who touch themselves in public?

it's bloody disgusting, god knows what surfaces they're touching afterwards, yuck, which we then have to touch. why should we have to see them fiddling with themselves.

as if women dont lose half there clothes at the first hint of sunshine.
I really dont care what others wear or do its not something i would and i have my opinion like everyone else.
I dont mind seeing topless men in the summer im human.
And if women want to be half naked let them show it off more guts than me good for them.

So thrilled with the idea of having a penis, it's like a newly discovered toy to play with. They are so pathetic it's not real, and the worrying thing is that there are women out there having babies with these scrotes.

As if men aren't wandering around shirtless at the first hint of sunshine....

Yes because everything is on show.

Well at least we manage to keep our hands out of those "knickers"...

In the summer time i wonder if some women forget to put there clothes on and just walk out in knickers and sports bras.

I work in a prison and young guys often come and talk to us with their hands down their pants. God knows why they do it but we call them out on it. Its not respectful to have a conversation like that!

I don't think you did anything wrong... not nice in a public place.

I hate the hands down the pants. I had a parent complain because I asked her son to take his hands out of his underwear and wash his hands before using shared equipment in my classroom, I did it discreetly but he still felt embarrassed. Never mind how uncomfortable everyone else felt with him stood fiddling with his penis in front of them.

WTF do people think "train staff" are going to do? They are there to drive the train, inspect your ticket, and flog you overpriced watery tea and coffee. They aren't the "OMG that MAN might be touching his own body" police.

Well done OP, that was brave! I’m also sick and tired of seeing men snort and spit. I was in the town centre the other day and some guy just spat on the pavement! I mean how has this ever been acceptable? But it is among men and just common place.

YANBU, it is utterly revolting!

I think you could report him to the train staff. It is intimidating if you are there alone and someone is blocking the doorway with his hands in his pants. It could be construed as indecent if he has got hands in his pants in a room with a lone woman at a train station - the fact you can't see his willy doesn't mean he isn't touching it. He would probably end up on a list if there were kids about and the cctv footage showed him with his hands in his pants for a prolonged period of time.

Besides all that, he's going to be touching all the hand rails, door handles and door buttons with his horrible penis-germy hands. Barf. 🤮

@Polkadotbabushka trouble is that no one ever says anything, and before you know it - it's 'a thing' and seemingly acceptable in society.

I think the OP was brave to speak out - to be fair, not sure if I would have the balls 😅 excuse the pun there - awful

How did you think it would play out...? People behave worse than animals on public transport, it's depressing, women are just as bad as men! Feet and bags on the seats, vaping because they can't wait 5 minutes to taste their bubblegum lung vapour...music, conversations on speakerphone, tbh I let the turds get on with it because they're not the kind of people who will be reasonable if confronted.

@verv oh well I guess it is. Doesn't make it okay really.

Its gross and unacceptable, but it is also definitely a thing.
All the young men i see around town etc nowadays have their hands tucked into their waistband. Saw one literally yesterday walking a dog with his gf/partner, shes got the dog on the lead and hes got a hand in his pants.
Im often tempted to tell them if they carry on its likely to fall off but if i did it would be pretty much all i said on repeat when out in public.

Whilst I find this disgusting, the same as men with their trousers around their knees, I wouldn’t have said anything as you’re definitely going to get a mouthful. I’d have just moved away.

I would have done the same.

Again with the lack of awareness - a single woman does not want to be pressured by a group of 3 men ffs - 'we really really want to sit with you' is creepy coming from 3 strangers. They should have just left you to it.

What is wrong with you?

No - it's not 'a thing'