Odd man who says hello

[Chilto]

I walk my year 6 child to school, crossing 3 roads. Sometimes we encounter a man who’s about 30s and he says hello. I mutter a hello back, but we don’t know him and tbh I get slightly bad vibes from him (hard to explain). But the man has obviously done nothing wrong.
To get ready for secondary school I am considering letting dc walk to school alone, but am worried they might encounter the man! I have explained to dc that we don’t actually know the man but that I respond to hello out of politeness and if it happens to them they can mutter hello but must keep walking, don’t stop. I also said that adults shouldn’t talk to kids on their own so if it happens they should let me know.
I am worried re letting dc walk alone. Grateful for any thoughts

Heaven forfend a man ever walks without purpose. Has, you know, a stroll.

Hello, is that 999? A man says hello to me each morning.

Man saying hello on regular walk = child trafficking paedo.

Of course. 🙄

Sounds like the man could be ND to me. because he says hello????????

I walk the same route to work and have for 3 years. I pass two people regularly and have more a conversation with one (we do the same job) and say good morning to the other (he is an older man).

The OP feels uncomfortable and gets a bad vibe from this man. It's not purely the fact that he says hello at all that she's referring to. And unfortunately creeps aren't only consigned to London or other big cities 🙄

Oh come, she gets a “bad vibe” BECAUSE !3 is saying hello. Because she thinks it’s odd and he must be a perve. When he is actually, most likely, totally normal. Her kid isn’t at any risk walking to school and giving the guy a nod hello.

How can you possibly know this without having seen or met this man?

It’s amazing that so many people on this thread know this man is harmless and only trying to be friendly. And it must be so because in their village/city “strangers all say hello to each other” so OP is being silly and paranoid. Ignore your instincts OP, MN has told you the guy is fine.

I’ll also remember to tell 11 yo DD that she must be sure to smile and chat to any man who engages with her when she’s on her way to school. Because obviously predators never start off by casually saying hello.

FML.

Sounds like the man could be ND to me.

Oh give over.

Trust your gut OP - ignore the naysayers on this thread.

Is he always on the same side off the road? Why don’t you swap sides and if he does too you know you might have a problem.

I don't know why people reference London on these threads - in my 'village' in London literally 60-70% of people say hello or good morning

Friendliest place I've ever lived

Chatting isn't required. You nod, mumble or say Good Morning to acknowledge them and continue walking without breaking your pace. It's not difficult.

I’ll also remember to tell 11 yo DD that she must be sure to smile and chat to any man who engages with her when she’s on her way to school.

Don't be ridiculous, no one is saying that. Just say hello back like a civilized human being and carry on walking.

If a stranger tries to engage in conversation beyond a conventional pleasantry, that's obviously a different matter .

And she should continue to say hello back even if he makes her feel uncomfortable? Because that is what everyone is telling the OP. To stop feeling uncomfortable respond to this man.

I distinctly remember friendly men saying hello to me and and my friends when we were 12/13/14, very clearly in school uniform, and acknowledging them led to further attempts at conversation and harassment.

But heaven forbid that we teach girls to ignore someone they don’t want to speak to. The main thing is they remain polite and civilised.

Are you also a person that scurries past a big issue seller, with your head down?

I don’t scurry past anyone with my head down. Why would I? Although many on this thread have advised the OP she should just scurry past this man like a scared hen and “mutter hello” to keep him happy. So bizarre.

How can you possibly know this without having seen or met this man?

It’s amazing that so many people on this thread know this man is harmless and only trying to be friendly. And it must be so because in their village/city “strangers all say hello to each other” so OP is being silly and paranoid. Ignore your instincts OP, MN has told you the guy is fine.

I’ll also remember to tell 11 yo DD that she must be sure to smile and chat to any man who engages with her when she’s on her way to school. Because obviously predators never start off by casually saying hello.

FML.”

Has OP said DE? Must have missed that, thought she said DC.

DD, not DC 🙄

How on earth did you teach that conclusion? All the OP said is that he says hello and she has a bad vibe about him. A bit insulting to us ND folk.