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Original poster

Sexual comment at soft play area - is this harassment?

35 replies

GemmaJ95 · 11/04/2025 10:45

Would you consider this harassment/offensive? At soft play with my young DS yesterday, I was helping him navigate an area so was more or less on all fours in an unflattering position. I sensed someone had been waiting behind me for a short while, so once he was through I got up and said sorry a bit flustered.

It was a man with his (I assume) daughter and he just said to me ‘ don’t worry, I could admire that view all day ‘, I awkwardly moved away.

I have been thinking about it since and am kicking myself for not saying something!

OP posts:
CandidExpert · 11/04/2025 11:33

I'd report it to staff. It's inappropriate and creepy.

I had similar from two men at a gym and left in tears and didn't go back for ages. I shared the story on a Fitness Forum I was part of at the time and was really surprised by the amount of women who responded by saying that I should have reported it to the gym management as when they had been in the same situation, the managers had taken it very seriously and either given a warning or terminated the creeps' memberships as they had a zero tolerence policy to sexual harrassment of members. It was a good 10 or 11 women who had reported and had good action taken by the management. Soft play most likely have a policy with regard verbal and physical aggression or abuse of staff and clients. Ask what you should do if you've been sexually harrassed by another parent. Give a description of the man and a factual account of what happened so they can keep an eye on him in case he's creepy with any other women.

TakemedowntoPotatoCity · 11/04/2025 11:30

Sadly I would file this under 'men are fucking idiots' and let it go. It's not acceptable and I'm sorry you felt humiliated. It happened to me the other week too when I backed into a man by accident at the supermarket and he insinuated I 'enjoyed'' it. Dickhead. X

LeaveTaking · 11/04/2025 11:28

Awful, hope you’re ok OP.

AquaPeer · 11/04/2025 11:27

Yes 100% creep. I don’t think that people who work in a soft play centre would be able to do anything but I would’ve told him to F off and called him a perv

tygertygers · 11/04/2025 11:26

Ewww that’s awful. What a creep.

Loubylie · 11/04/2025 11:25

Yuck. Don't feel bad about not saying anything. It's instinctive (and probably sensible) to just remove yourself quietly when confronted by a creepy threatening man.

Lilacmonster · 11/04/2025 11:22

GemmaJ95 · 11/04/2025 10:54

I’m annoyed at myself that I didn’t say anything - I wouldn’t want someone else to be made to feel that uncomfortable by him.

Show quote history

Yes this is why I would have told staff but don’t beat yourself up about it, it’s easier in hindsight and you were probably flustered.

Maybe if you go to that soft play again just mention it, I know it’s probably hard because you don’t know his name so there might not be much they can do about it now. Although if the soft play was quiet and they take names down they might be able to look at records x

Original poster
GemmaJ95 · 11/04/2025 10:54

Lilacmonster · 11/04/2025 10:48

What an absolute creep. Yes, this comment would probably make me feel uncomfortable and I would have mentioned something to staff. But I know it’s easier said when you’re not in that moment yourself

I’m annoyed at myself that I didn’t say anything - I wouldn’t want someone else to be made to feel that uncomfortable by him.

OP posts:
JoeyJoeyJoeyJoey · 11/04/2025 10:53

Eeew why do men think that’s acceptable, I would have told the mother to keep an eye on her pervy husband while in a children’s setting.

Lilacmonster · 11/04/2025 10:48

What an absolute creep. Yes, this comment would probably make me feel uncomfortable and I would have mentioned something to staff. But I know it’s easier said when you’re not in that moment yourself