AIBU for being mad at my little sister for telling three hoodies where she's from when they asked her "You from around here?"?

[concernedbigsis]

My little sis is 23 and does vlogs when she goes out because it's her hobby.

A few days ago I found a new video where she was out shopping, alone, and three white males, all capped, hooded and around her age, approach her to talk to her.

In the video one of them asks her if she's from around here, the other two are like "yeah where are you from" while squinting a little when they asked, and she mentioned the street she lives on.

She began to have a friendly conversation with them after and thankfully nothing happened to her. We live on a small street so I'm freaking out.

For those who are unaware, I'm worried this might've been g checking which from what I've looked into is asked with malicious intentions.

Told her they probably went easy on her because they assumed she was one of them/in their gang because she wears a full track suit to stay warm (she's got circulation issues) but she really should not have answered that question or at least gave a bs answer.

Am I overreacting? I'm her older sis we live together and I'm worried and can't sleep because I'm worrying over this so much

she is an adult. Stop being so controlling

Why do you need to point out they were white?

For those who are unaware, I'm worried this might've been g checking which from what I've looked into is asked with malicious intentions.
Told her they probably went easy on her because they assumed she was one of them/in their gang because she wears a full track suit to stay warm (she's got circulation issues)
This makes no sense. At all. Are you really up at 4am UK time obsessing over this? I think you need help for your anxiety tbh. You’re treating her like she has LDs but you haven’t said she does.

We live together, so if she tells someone where she lives she's telling them where both of us live.

I had a friend who fell victim to g checking when he was 19. It's a popular thing among hoodies, to ask random people "Where are you from?"

and if they don't answer "correctly", it's immediately followed through with a beating. My friend ended up with a concussion when he didn't give the "right" answer so because of that I'm especially wary

I thought from your thread title you were talking about someone much younger than 23. And she does sound immature.

Yes I think telling complete strangers you meet very casually details such as where you live is very unsafe behaviour. For her personally as well as for the home you both live .
I think you are right to be concerned and should be discussing with her how potentially dangerous being so free with personal details can be.

I’d be more concerned that she kept this information in a vlog, presumably posted on the internet.

She is immature in some aspects yes. When I confronted her about the video she was like "they're just my new friends" half jokingly

She's really mature if you talk to her about the economy, politics, etc but sometimes it's like she just lacks common sense and I'm afraid she'll get seriously hurt someday

Do you live in an area that’s known for gangs/post code wars?

What's g checking?

If by "gangs" you mean baseball capped hoodies of all ages everywhere that tend to loiter around corner shops then yes.

They cause most crime and this city is one of the most dangerous in the country because it's swarming with them

So you’re saying if she gave the wrong answer, she could have been assaulted?

Telling strangers which street you live in isn't very wise.
However, you say you know people who have been beaten up when they were asked this. Your sister wasn't beaten up, so what exactly are you so worried about now? What do you think they're going to do now that they know which street she lives in?

That's what I'm saying.

It's very popular among the baseball capped hoodie crowd to ask random people "where are you from?" "you from around here?" etc

And if those people don't answer correctly they get assaulted

Had a friend who had this exact thing happen to him at 19, he didn't give a correct answer so they gave him a concussion

I can see why you’re worried, I wouldn’t like a group of men knowing where I live.

I think just ask her to please not tell anyone where she lives again.

I’ve been burgled so I’m extra cautious now.

What did you want her to do? It sounds like she could either tell the truth and be fine. Or lie and get assaulted.

And you are mad at her that she chose the option where she doesn't get harmed?

You're not wrong to be worried this happened, it sounds intentionally threatening.

I don't think it's your sister's fault, I think you're being unsupportive - she was likely intimidated and mindful that the 'wrong' answer could cause trouble.

Yeah that's what I told her, that question isn't asked with good intent

Her answer to this was "but they were friendly to me for a long time after they asked it like they just wanted a friend or something"

She assumes good in people to an unhealthy degree and I've told her to never tell strangers personal info like that ever again, that could've went extremely bad

Checking which gang you belong to.

although this sounds like 3 lads trying to chat up your sister

I don't think they were chatting her up.

First they were like "hey ya alright?" asked her about what she was recording, and then they asked her the "you from around here?" question

When the question was asked it was in monotone which unsettled me

They never asked for her number or her socials

Right after she answered the question they went straight to having a normal conversation and it wasn't brought up again

This doesn't really make sense. As you said yourself, the risk is immediate, so nothing to do with you as you weren't there.

If they wanted to know who lived on your street, they would just go to there.

Did she say which street or just the town?

1. it could've gone very badly.
2. the three men know what tiny little street we both live in
3. generally if you see a group of men in hoodies/full trackies and baseball caps you stay well away from them

The actual street.

Does this happen to women as well as men?

I've seen videos online where these people (hoodie/trackie baseball capped crowd) have beaten women too. Not sure if it was because of the question though. But the fact they asked it while squinting and speaking monotone to me shows the 3 lads' intentions would've turned malicious if she gave them the wrong answer