That creepy feeling…

[Downunderduchess]

Ever get that creepy feeling about a person without any solid reason? I was out shopping this morning & was getting a taxi home. I know most of the taxi drivers around my way, but at first glance didn’t recognise this one. It was the only cab there so I decided to just get in & not call for another. Even before I’d sat down I was getting a really bad vibe from the driver. I almost can’t even put into words how I felt. I went to put the window down for some fresh air & it didn’t work, I felt a little rise of panic, but just said oh it’s not working. The driver then lowered my window from his side. It’s not a long trip home so I just tried to stay calm, all the time thinking I am scared of this man for some reason. When we got to my house he said I drove you home here before about five years ago. I just said possibly as I’ve lived here a long time. It sounds like a benign comment but it felt creepy.

Couldn’t wait to be away from him. Just a really heavy feeling of badness.

Anyone had anything similar?

Years ago I met a man for a lunch date, he asked me for a lift home and invited me in for coffee. I had no reason to think he was predatory so didn't think coffee was a euphemism. I'd been in the house about 30 seconds before I had an overwhelming sense I was in danger and literally ran out of the house in a panic as if I was being chased. It was one of the scariest experiences of my life where literally nothing actually happened but I don't regret trusting my gut. I always expected to see a photofit of him on the news despite having nothing more than a feeling to support that expectation.

@Afterallsbeensaidanddone

we walked down onto a lane that we thought we would walk along before turning around

To you it's a lane. To him it's probably trespassing. I wouldn't worry about that one.

Sorry I wasn't clear; it was a country lane but a public one with a fair amount of houses on it, albeit spaced out. We wouldn't have been trespassing to walk down it, people do with relative frequency. He probably had just stopped at the entrance to the farm preserve for a lunch break or similar but at the time, something felt very scary about him.

The taxi driver who 'couldn't' find his way to the station is off the scale creepy - fits into unsolicited promise criterion of pre incident red flag - "I promise I'll leave you alone after this," usually means the chosen victim will not be left alone. Similarly, an unsolicited "I promise I won't hurt you" usually means the person intends to hurt their chosen victim.

I'm a big believer in the gift of fear, better to be safe and thought rude/weird than squish those warnings down deep for politeness and risk the consequences.

I bought a book recommended on here called "The Gift of Fear". It's shitty that women have to be so cautious of men but certainly do trust your instincts.

Came on to recommend the same book. By Gavin de Becker. It boils down to TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS

I had a really creepy taxi driver once too. Seemed pleasant enough at first but there was a a definite weird vibe.

He was Asian and started to ask if I had a boyfriend or husband. I politely told him I was married and ended the conversation. He continued to tell me that as a good wife I shouldn't be out alone and I needed to ensure I obeyed him.

Then he told me his wife was from Pakistan and she was "uncouth and uneducated". He much preferred white British ladies especially the redheads. (I'm a redhead).

I called DH after texting to say he was really unsettling me and he came and waited out on the street until the taxi arrived.

The creepy fucker.

Years back a guy at work really creeped me out. No-one else felt the same, but it was so strong I couldn't stand to be in the same room. He is currently in prison for murdering his wife