Gosh, so many responses! If I were posting again now I would say ‘inconsiderate’ rather than ‘ridiculous’. I was approached three times today in a short space of time and posted after that.
For clarity, I live in a large city, rather than a smaller community, and get approached several times a week while out and about. Usually by men - asking for directions then trying to continue the conversation, or asking for help with something (self-service checkouts at Boots today, for example - and no, I don’t work there).
Sometimes women - a young woman asked me at a bus stop this week what I thought of what she was wearing, for example. And then she told me about her life in the care system, which was incredibly sad. I’m glad I was there for her in that moment, but if I were feeling fragile… well, it’s a lot to take on, as a stranger.
On each occasion I was wearing very visible headphones, and there were others nearby who weren’t. And each time, I took my headphones off and responded because to do otherwise would feel rude. But I work full-time, study part time and am a carer - like many people, I have a lot on my plate. I don’t always have the bandwidth to help an older person feel less lonely, or support a vulnerable young woman, or shore up the ego of a man who has chosen to focus his attentions on me.
My ex-husband used to tell me I smiled too much - maybe he was right.