SilentNight
Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- April 2024
The OP of the original thread was derided, even apparently by a moderator. It is not an uncommon practice on this forum to ask an earnest question or provide information, and be insulted, scorned for even inquiring or sharing, and some commenters projecting their own thoughts onto the OP, and even advising the OP to either not go on pilgrimage, or to be avoided. Thankfully, some commenters are generous souls, who try to be helpful and answer the question earnestly.
Please consider the OP’s perspective, which is at variance from what most may experience along the Camino, let alone on their home turf and in their lifetime.
Most folks are not drop dead gorgeous, so they have no idea what a young, beautiful female traveling solo will encounter on any given day of unwanted attention.
I was only kinda cute when I was young a long, long time ago. Yet everywhere I went, and though I studiously avoided eye contact (you school yourself), men approached me and asked me out. The great majority were good guys, and took my no politely. Some began frequenting my fav haunts and trying to kindle something, anything with me. A few were creepy, and followed me home. That’s awful and frightening.
I was stalked twice. Consider how you might feel if someone, with whom you have said no to repeatedly, keeps focusing on you. As a young woman raised to be polite and genteel, you become scared and unsure what to do when someone bigger, faster, and stronger than you insists on touching your legs, wrapping his arm around your waist, or brushing against you. I still remember my heart in my throat. It is not a good feeling.
Unwanted advances make those who receive them every day very uncomfortable. When a stranger fixates romantically on someone they barely know, it’s creepy and horrifying to the intended. You look over your shoulder in case he has followed you. Your peace and equanimity are disturbed. You do not feel safe anywhere.
So if a young, attractive woman traveling solo feels that a bit of security is warranted to fend off unwanted advances from a man, who can easily overpower her or at the least disturb her peace …
why do you feel the need to criticize, say it’s ridiculous because it never happened to you, or say to the OP to google it?
Please consider the OP’s perspective, which is at variance from what most may experience along the Camino, let alone on their home turf and in their lifetime.
Most folks are not drop dead gorgeous, so they have no idea what a young, beautiful female traveling solo will encounter on any given day of unwanted attention.
I was only kinda cute when I was young a long, long time ago. Yet everywhere I went, and though I studiously avoided eye contact (you school yourself), men approached me and asked me out. The great majority were good guys, and took my no politely. Some began frequenting my fav haunts and trying to kindle something, anything with me. A few were creepy, and followed me home. That’s awful and frightening.
I was stalked twice. Consider how you might feel if someone, with whom you have said no to repeatedly, keeps focusing on you. As a young woman raised to be polite and genteel, you become scared and unsure what to do when someone bigger, faster, and stronger than you insists on touching your legs, wrapping his arm around your waist, or brushing against you. I still remember my heart in my throat. It is not a good feeling.
Unwanted advances make those who receive them every day very uncomfortable. When a stranger fixates romantically on someone they barely know, it’s creepy and horrifying to the intended. You look over your shoulder in case he has followed you. Your peace and equanimity are disturbed. You do not feel safe anywhere.
So if a young, attractive woman traveling solo feels that a bit of security is warranted to fend off unwanted advances from a man, who can easily overpower her or at the least disturb her peace …
why do you feel the need to criticize, say it’s ridiculous because it never happened to you, or say to the OP to google it?