Don't watch street harassment in silence - ask 'Are you Okay?'

In my opinion, when you see bullying, you stand by the victim silently.

It would depend on the circumstances. If a man were harassing someone, I confess I would think twice. Things could turn very nasty.

It's not that easy. I once saw a woman being pushed and shouted at by a man. I was in my car so was able to pull over and ask if she was ok. She made her escape when I spoke to her. But I was in the relative safety of my car. The man was aggressive and told me to f off so I dont know what I would have done if I was walking down the street.

It's a difficult one isn't it?

I like to think I would ask someone if they were ok but don't know if I would when confronted with it

I saw a lady sitting with her legs out of her car and her head almost down to her knees and her shoulders heaving. As I walked past, I asked if she was ok and we laughed when she said she’d been eating a Gregg’s sausage roll and didn’t want to get flakes of pastry in her car!
At least I asked?

My confidence would certainly be influenced by the size and mood of the harrasser.

A close family member helped a lady getting abused by a man and the woman told her to mind her own business ?

I once did just that. A man was intimidating a woman. Refusing to move so she could drive off and shouting at her. He was quite taken aback at a passer by asking her if she was OK. I think it sunk in as he stormed off and she drove away.

Georgesgran

I saw a lady sitting with her legs out of her car and her head almost down to her knees and her shoulders heaving. As I walked past, I asked if she was ok and we laughed when she said she’d been eating a Gregg’s sausage roll and didn’t want to get flakes of pastry in her car!
At least I asked?

This did make me laugh, Georgesgran

I saw a very unpleasant situation escalating outside my house some years ago. A young couple were arguing - he was waving his arms about, shouting in her face, and then to my alarm he tried to push her into his car. I rang 999, as I was alone in the house, kept watching and gave them the car number and descriptions. The argument continued, and then the police arrived fortunately. They sat him in their car and a policewoman talked to the girl. I like to think I would have gone out to help her, however angry the other person, had the police not arrived. They later rang and said it was a 'domestic' and that he had been given some useful advice. I do hope so.

I would always ask even if I shouted it from a distance. So they could shout back no ring the police.

Once on a train a young girl was being harassed by a couple to give up her seat. She looked terrified but stayed where she was. They became very aggressive and menacing but other passengers, although staring, did nothing. I became quite concerned so I told them to leave her alone or I would call the train manager. They went through to the next carriage in the end. The girl didn't so much as look at me let alone say thank you. Don't think I would bother again.

Yes, I once witnessed two cars reverse out of parking bays and hit each other. One was an elderly gentleman the other a young man. The elderly one gave him a real tongue lashing so a friend and I went over and said we would be witnesses they were both at fault. He soon quietened down.
I also witnessed a road accident when one driver jumped out and started on the other when the first had clearly come out of a side road without looking. The poor chap's wife was hysterical. I gave them my name and address and the police came and I had to give a statement luckily it never went to court.
These days if I saw someone being attacked I think I would think twice but shout from a distance. Or knock on a door if we were among houses and ask them to phone the police.

Good advice, Yammy.

Some years ago my uncle intervened when a man worse the wear for drink was being very abusive to his girlfriend on a late night bus from town. He ended up being punched by the man & had bruising to his face and a black eye. The girl got up and walked off the bus with the man in question and never said a word.

Not harrassment but we once spent half an hour watching a massive row between our neighbour and her fiance. it was confined to yelling so we didn't interfere and it culminated in her hurling her engagement ring into the bushes. A couple of days later the fiance turned up with a metal detector. He found the ring but, as far as I remember the relationship didn't survive.

I wouldnt expect any woman being threatened to behave in a particular way. It's very dangerous to leave an abusive man.

i don't know. i remember a few years ago a man on a bus was throwing chips at another passenger's GF.
BF protested and told him to stop doing so.
whereupon the thrower got up and fatally stabbed the BF.
metro.co.uk/2007/11/22/chip-thrower-admits-bus-knife-killing-546509/

Lyng17

The poor thing could have been terrified and I am sure she appreciated it.

I think you do have to be careful, particularly now we are older and not so fit as we once were. If it is bad the best thing to do is to ring the emergency services and report it. These people who shout and carry on are often not rational and are just as likely to pull a knife or gun on you which wouldn’t help anyone.

My daughter was on the train home from her school today and noticed a man talking to the young women. She decided to try to make eye contact with the girl and, if the girl DID make eye contact, DD was going to pretend to know her and interrupt the interaction.

Turns out this man was harmless and wanted to pray and share his message of the lord.

It is difficult to make the decision on when to help, but if you can then you should.

And by "if you can" I mean, if you feel safe or comfortable doing so.

Good for your dd!

Unpopular opinion - I personally do not like being talked about religion in public by a person I do not know
I do not feel it is as harmless as it seems.

It could be a very dangerous situation or nothing- what if you tell the person you are not interested and they become agitated?

I agree hithere and here in the US, it can get rather interesting. My DD was reading her book and had her ear phones in, but was not unaware of her surroundings because girls learn early, and he still interrupted her. People can be rather forceful about religion.

Luckily all turned out well. I am proud of her for being willing to stand up to help another young girl, and standing up for herself.

I've done this a couple of times and would do it again probably without hesitation...That's just me