to want to just go for a quiet run without

[MissM]

... some bloke passing comment? Tonight it was 'My tits are bigger than yours sweetheart'.

Do you not see that wishing a mate Good luck before running a marathon differs from saying it to a random stranger?

What would you think if you were about to get into your car, and a random person shouted "Good luck" to you?

Or you were heading towards the supermarket with a shopping list, and a random person says "Good luck" as you enter.

Does it not indicate you need luck to get to your destination in your car, or to complete your shopping mission?

Quint,

It is just a recognition that running is hard and someone is showing some empathy. Of course, when deconstructed it seems a little silly but I am sure it is meant as encouragement.

If someone shouted "good luck" to me when out running, I would smile at them and say thank you and assume the above. Why assume everyone is trying to be snide? It makes life terribly depressing.

It's true, quintessentialist - I've never felt the temptation to stare at some chap's crotch and remark cheerfully 'Oooh lookit there, you're swinging like the clapper in a bell, wahey!' as he jogs past in lycra.

larry Surely a comment like that would make you a bit ?

I would probably smile if a random person wished me good luck but I would probably take it as being patronising too. If you wish to invoke empathy something like "Have a good one" or "Enjoy your run" would be more suitable?

I am normally so relieved to have something to distract me from the pain of running, even a tramp saying "slow down mate, there ain't no fire"! I have no idea how I would react if some random female made a comment on my crotch; never happened, unlikely to ever happen. I imagine I would probably find it amusing though.

Do you not see that wishing a mate Good luck before running a marathon differs from saying it to a random stranger?

Yes, it's different. A marathon (you mean a race, yes) is an acceptance that it's a public event with supporters.

Come to think of it, If I were to run a marathon, rather than across my local park, I would be very happy if random strangers wished me luck!

Hehehehehe.

You're on form today, larry.

larry: Would you find it amusing if a random male made reference to your crotch?

Roller,

That is such a bizarre question. Unless he was much bigger than me and alone at night, I would find it amusing, yes. Why not? Looks and speech are free and I am not a homophobe.

I am a keen runner. I rarely get comments! Perhaps I look too scary.

The only time I want to yell at runners is when I see a woman with an ill-fitting running bra!

I did get beeped at twice today, but that was certainly out of anger (I must have held them up for 15 seconds at most) as I did not jump in the verge to let them by.

Hmmm....I wonder who many male joggers get raped/sexually assaulted/ murdered by women. Because that's the context in which sexual comments are made when men feel the need to comment on a woman running.

So I guess Larry if more male joggers were getting raped/sexually assaulted/murdered by other men you might not find it quite soooo amusing. In fact you might find it quite intimidating, even if it were broad daylight.

He,

Most violence is young male on young male (sadly a category I no longer fit into). As all the rape threads are keen to point out, most rape is not "stranger" rape. In fact the number of women who get raped by strangers whilst out running is terribly small.

Of course, if the situation is intimidating (getting dark, very empty) then a sensitive guy would not make any comment to a female jogger and would jog a fair way away (which is what I would do in those circumstances). But, in full daylight, in a crowded park, it is only intimidating if you want it to be. The comment to the OP was a bit crass, but hardly threatening.

The only time I want to yell at runners is when I see a woman with an ill-fitting running bra!

"Oi, you there! Your tits are flapping around so much you're going to give yourself a black eye" kind of thing?

Or rather she would say "Oi there, your tits are flapping about so much, you are going to give yourself stretchmarks and a droopy cleavage, get a bra!"

Quint Good luck is rather different from what you posit!

disparatefishwife All runners. Obviously and regardless of the runners' gender only if I am alone.

re: running bra

As well as the physical problems not wearing a good bra can cause I wonder whether those women realise how much attention they're drawing to themselves.

I just think it looks terribly painful when you see a woman running without a decent bra.

Mine are always squished down (and there isn't muh to squish anyway!)

But larry whilst entirely with you about enjoying friendly interaction whilst running I am entirely against your assertion comments about tits are trite and something that a grown up can cope with. You might find a crotch comment amusing if directed at you, as you say it would be unusual but rather as the op implies sexist disparaging hostile comments about breasts are not rare. Beyond that most rapists may be well known but that stat doesn't work so well for sexual assaults and it would be unusual if woman heckled had never experienced an assault of some sort. And if not then definitely repeated verbal commentary about tits and crotches as soon as puberty commenced. Shouting about a woman's body is hateful and the men who do it worry me. When I shout back it is interesting to note how instantly they become aggressive. in daylight in busy areas it just reminds us of how acceptable it is to behave that way.

Mrs m the man was a misogynist with issues, Arsehole.

I don't believe for one second that any man would be pleased with regular comments about the size of their penis/arse/stomach/pecs/nose/whatever if they were mostly coming from Waynetta Slob-a-likes. In their little dreams, men who would welcome comments think that they are going to come from models or something.

Who the fuck appraises strangers out loud and to their face (or breasts), anyway? Who do they think they are?

well this is a load of posturing bollocks.

The blokes on this thread know that passing comment on a woman as she is runnnig is being invasive and personal. I wouldn't dream of doing it.

so a big fat !!

Andrewofogg, I have already explained my position regards the "innocent" Good Luck. ...

Why do you by the way feel you have to say it?

Because I admire people who knock themselves out running!

I've never had a bad reaction. Occasionally none, usually a smile, a Thank you or a wave.

Hope you're not out & about in about half an hour then! I just cycled home and was heckled, I rarely swear normally but my reply made the aged Chav blush.

I hate it, IME if you allow men (some) to make disparaging remarks about you, they see you as an easy target. It disgusts me.