Sad encounter

[VittysCardigan]

Been out for drinks with friends this eve. Walking through High St for a cab (alone) young lad on bike stopped me & asked for a hug. I was naturally v wary. Told him it was a strange request. Turns out he was only 18, Turkish & i reminded him of his mum. Has little contact with her & has been here since he was 14. He is living at ymca & at local college studying engineering. Didn't ask for anything other than a hug, chatted to him for about 10 mins, advised speaking to college Councillor & gp as he seemed so low. There was no bad vibes to this at all. No trying to get anything from me in the way of money or anything else. Tried to advise & boost him. Not sure why i'm posting. Just hope someone would talk to my DS in the same way i guess.

I am sure you made his day OP.

What? You, a woman, were walking alone, late at night, and random man on a bike stopped you for a hug, because he reminded you of his mum? That’s sounds like it’s very much made up and a weird randything to do and say, and very inappropriate, potentially dangerous.

Oh bless his heart. I hope he gets to see his mum soon.

@Dizzybelle oh do shut up.

@VittysCardigan I think it’s lovely- I’d hope someone would do that for my DS too 💕

Random not randything.

@VittysCardigan

that was sweet of you. I'm glad a hug was all he wanted.

@Dizzybelle

technically a man, but in reality still a boy.

Please don’t tell people to shut up if you don’t agree with them.

I don't hug strange men even "if I remind them of their mum".

FFS. Leave me to walk home in peace.

What was that Julia Roberts saying again?

We women are not men's therapists or something.

@Dizzybelle ok. Shhhhhhhhhhh please.

I would have assumed he was making an excuse to get close enough to pick my pocket. Either that or he was a perv. Don’t let randoms touch you OP, it’s never for a good reason.

This is really weird. Literally nobody asks to hug a complete stranger, walking down the street because they remind them of their mum.

Have you checked your pockets, OP?

Odd. I have a lot of sympathy for people who are struggling, but you wouldn’t be able to pay me to hug a totally random guy who asked for a hug. Everything else you did to help was kind.

i would think of pick pockets too and i wouldnt do it

That’s really sad OP. I know a lot of people are struggling now. I work with young people and I try to be mindful that they might be going through things and be positive and uplifting. Young people are human beings too. I’ve found I get 10x better results from kindness, support and giving them the skills they need than from telling off.

Great typo, because actually, my first thought was that it was a randy thing to do.

He sounds vulnerable but could have been a con.

Have better boundaries, OP. You’re not passing strangers’ therapist.

Thats more than I would do

Did he pick your pockets op?

Answer A: He was probably homesick and stuck in this country full of frosties where we regard everyone with mistrust and ill intentions.
Answer B: He was probably a rapist don't even engage.

🤷‍♀️

It was in a very public place with other people around. I didn't immediately hug him, i talked to him first. No, my pockets were not picked.

I am most surprised that 'randything' is a legitimate word on smart phones.

I would say pick pocket too. You're very lucky if nothing was taken etc. I would really not be doing that in the future, most people who stop you are not innocent. Sadly that's the world we live in

He was very lucky in his choice of 'mumalike'. A lot of very motherly looking women would have maced him.