"Pick-Up Artists" in the street - AIBU?

[nadan]

Has anyone ever been targeted by one of these so-called "PUA" because I think I might have been today. This was in High St, Kensington, but also a similar thing happened here a few months ago and possibly also in Hammersmith. Bearing in mind I am 47! They come up and ask if you live locally, so you expect they're going to ask directions or something. But then they start walking with you and it's hard to explain why, but it's hard to get away from them. A 'technique' seems to be to try to find something in common - "like, oh I've just moved to this area too." Then it's waffle to try and strike a rapport.

I just said "sorry I'm late for work' (god knows why I said this because I don't even work). Then they ask what you do... then they do something similar. .. then it's "shall we go for lunch, have you got time?" I just looked at the guy and said "I am 47 years old." I swear to god he was not a day over 35, possibly younger. But he didn't seem at all phased.

AIBU to think this was a PUA and he was 'training?' And maybe someone was filming him? The other alternative was that he was trying to find a desperate local woman who would be delighted to take him home and then he could rob her? There are so many crazy people on the streets and it's getting worse. Anyone else been mystified by this?

OT, not OP. Bloody autocorrect

these PUA men have paid a lot of money to go on training courses which claim to give them the skills to bamboozle women (who wouldn't normally give them the time if day) so as you get what they want from them

So the only men who’ve come up with the idea of ‘bamboozling’ women into getting what they want have been on a training course? 🤔

For instance, what @MimosasInFrance describes above with the man shaking her hand and then 'joking' he was not going to to let go unless she told him something she liked about him. It's unlikely he's thought of that himself

Are men incapable of coming up with their own bizarre incompetent chatup strategies? Of course he thought of that one himself! It’s crap.

Not disputing that there are weird men who go on these courses to help them pull but I don’t think peculiar chatups identify them the way posters here think they do.

…so I just yelled ‘fuck off’ at his departing back then everyone stared at me like I was some kind of mad woman. it was quite disconcerting

I have no problem with shouting “Fuck off” in public if the situation requires it. In fact, it’s quite cathartic

I couldn’t give one shiny shit what we call them but “PUA” is a handy term as we all then know what kind of nonsense we’re dealing with - that being the sort of sad sacks who are trying to use “tricks” to undermine women’s right to consent, and that such behaviour is as deliberate as it is harmful.

…so I just yelled ‘fuck off’ at his departing back then everyone stared at me like I was some kind of mad woman. it was quite disconcerting

If I'd heard that I'd assume he'd done something to warrant it, TBH, rather than judge you.

Yes. In NE London, a lot. They're always half my age & i find it really odd & creepy. I just say firmly that I have a partner & keep walking.

Saturday evening. 18:45 hrs approx.
Walking up the street to the shop. Dressed casually (Lucy&Yaks, puffa jacket, trainers. hair in ponytail, carrying school bag type backpack.

Scooter with takeaway driver slows down and has a good smiley look at me. Ask me out.
I told him no i was old enough to be his mother. He said I don't mind he'd vlue my experience. He offered me his number and 'kerb crawled' as I stoped along.

Do I report this to the takeaway delivery service or the police or something?

I feel that the man approached me because I was a woman walking alone. It was not flattering or pleasant.

This was in High St, Kensington, but also a similar thing happened here a few months ago and possibly also in Hammersmith.

Both places are notorious for 'chuggers', they operate in packs so when you cross the road to avoid one you invariably end up bumping into another. Their tactics have evolved over the years from a cheery hello to more intrusive techniques such as asking what is for dinner tonight if they see you carrying a bag of food shopping or what sport you play when they see a kit bag. I used to be naïve insofar as being polite to these folk, but politeness and firm refusals often don't work as they continue to be all matey, ask personal questions and try to draw you in to conversations you don't want to be party to. After careful consideration and years of dealing with such approaches I have come to the conclusion that a direct "can you just fuck off please" removes any confusion as to how I feel about their continued presence.

I have no problem with shouting “Fuck off” in public if the situation requires it. In fact, it’s quite cathartic

Indeed, sometimes it does not even have to be aimed at anyone.

After careful consideration and years of dealing with such approaches I have come to the conclusion that a direct "can you just fuck off please" removes any confusion as to how I feel about their continued presence.

I love a chugger. I have a pretty good thousand-yard stare so after a brief “Not interested” I enjoy completely ignoring them while they try their very best to engage me about homeless kumquats, or whatever today’s cause is.

Ugh this is such depressing reading. Yet another thing to warn the DDs about when they are a bit older. Why are some men such fucking dickheads?