Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To complain about being squawked at?

67 replies

Jenni2legs · 08/07/2014 12:09

I was walking into work this morning and a branded (with a company logo) white van got about a foot behind me and the bloke in the passenger side leaned out and just screeched at me...What do you do with that? I don't get it... I jumped out of my skin, but I don't know if it's something to complain about or just laugh off?

OP posts:
Jenni2legs · 08/07/2014 16:19

I'd complain if it was a wolf whistle definitely - I see a company van as 'the workplace' and if someone was hanging out of their office window or at a supermarket checkout and wolf whistled at me I'd complain.

OP posts:
Dontgotosleep · 08/07/2014 16:22

Topaz. R.E people with heart condition and aniexty. I never thought of that

peggyundercrackers · 08/07/2014 16:31

I think I would have shouted something back to him/them. too many uptight people with too much time on their hands on here if they are spending their time reporting people...

CaptainTripps · 08/07/2014 16:38

Am stunned at the posters on here who think it is uptight to want to report intimidating and threatening behaviour. Are they being deliberately dense and disingenuous?

AdamLambsbreath · 08/07/2014 16:43

Well, this is getting fucking depressing.

MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 08/07/2014 16:45

I had this while riding my bike, a van came up from behind, passed very close and the guy yelled right in my ear really loud (and definitely deliberately for "fun"). It was horrible, especially as the van passed really close and there was a railing the other side too, so no way to move away; and it was on a quite busy road, so if it had made me fall off or something (which it easily could have, it was a big shock) it would have been very dangerous.

Thankfully it was a while ago and hasn't happened since but I'm definitely a bit more wary/nervous cycling now than I was before. I'm sure the "you're so uptight" brigade wouldn't have been too pleased if the same thing happened to them...

AdamLambsbreath · 08/07/2014 17:01

No, intigo. They wouldn't.

I knew I shouldn't have posted in AIBU. But, just to be clear, and before I hide this topic:

My body and I are not public property. I don't expect to be shouted at, groped, commented on, and intimidated for lulz when I'm out in the world, doing what I do. The men doing so are not doing it because they are expressing 'approval' of the victim (as some people here think they are): it's a power play, to show off to their mates, or to take out aggression.

If you think it's 'uptight' to think this is wrong, then you've clearly never been subjected to some comment or action you didn't like. But trust me, as long as this continues to be seen as OK, then at some point it will happen to you. Because it's all part of the same parcel: the wolf-whistles, the screaming in girls' faces, the shouting at women cyclists.

Get back to me when some cunt shouts 'SLAG' at you, or your mum, or your teenage daughter, and then we can have a conversation about why you just need to relax.

I bid you adieu.

IrianofWay · 08/07/2014 17:11

DD, DS2 and I were walking home through town last Sunday after watching How to Train your dragon 2. The children were happily discussing the film. Some of the pubs were still open and there were some drinkers hanging about round the doorways in the sunshine. One of them, a big bloke with his shirt off yelled at me 'Hey mum! I like your daughter, but I'd rather fuck you!!!' Cue drunken laughter and yells.

DD is 15.

Just a bit of a laugh, just harmless fun?

IrianofWay · 08/07/2014 17:12

BTW I am with you 100% adams.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 08/07/2014 17:14

All these men probably have mothers like Dontgotosleep, telling their little darlings it's perfectly acceptable.

wink1970 · 08/07/2014 17:14

the 'squarking' seems to be a thing, see also:

random shouting from the white van passenger
pulling in front & slowing down, repeatedly, then driving off howling when you finally go to ram them react
chucking stuff at you if you're in a soft top/have a sun roof.

On the good side, I have noticed a few lorry drivers recently getting all chivalrous when they see white vans intimidating women drivers.

Pumpkinpositive · 08/07/2014 17:16

Happens all the time where I live. Been happening since I was a teenager. Perhaps not quite so much now. gittin' old Sad

MrsMogginsMinge · 08/07/2014 21:20

I really wish we were allowed to carry tasers for this purpose.

"Show us your..." ZAP
"Cheer up love, it might never..." ZAP

"Guess what, love?" I would say, leaning over his twitching body. "It just fucking did."

MrsMogginsMinge · 08/07/2014 21:23

And squawkers would get a double dose. ZAP FUCKING ZAP.

Icelollycraving · 08/07/2014 21:32

I couldn't be arsed to report someone for being an idiot. Being them is punishment enough.

Bifauxnen · 08/07/2014 21:33

yy to both AdamLambsbreath and MrsMoggins

MsVenus · 08/07/2014 21:34

Yes I have had this done to me on my way home by a white branded van driver. The company which owns the van also run several transport companies and I was too stressed at the time to complain. I now regret not having done so.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page