Some people disgust me.

[Douceur]

So today, I go to the library to return some books that’ve been with me for far too long. When I return them, I think ‘I think I’ll stay around and read.’ So I do so. After, maybe, 30-40 minutes of being there and reading quietly, I stand up to put a couple of them away. While I get up I hear a shuffle behind me and I see this guy wearing a black logo’d shirt and dark navy pants stand up as well. He looks like a normal person—clean face, combed hair, and overall just looks simple. And so I turn back and go my way and I hear footsteps behind me and see that he, also, is heading my direction.

I shrug it off and put my books away then walk around to grab a couple more. All the while, I can still slightly hear footsteps, but they’re never actually ‘close’. As I’m grabbing a book on cover-letters and resumes, I glance to the side where there’s a gap in the book shelves and I see the guy again. Now I’m nervous. I had basically walked half the library to get to this section of the area, and he’s still following me? I dunno, seemed shady.

So I slowly walk to the bathrooms, listening and looking around to see if he was still following me, and sure enough, he’s behind me. Not exactly behind me, but I can see him creeping around. I put my books down, go in the bathroom, and sit there. I text Peter my situation and he tells me to calm down. Maybe I’m overreacting. Maybe. So I go back out, grab my books, and I glance around. At first I didn’t see him so I sighed in relief, but then I see the back of his black shirt and clothes and I panic.

I fast-walk myself back to my corner and slowly start putting my stuff in my bag. He sits down 3-4 tables away and I’m sweating bullets. I text my boyfriend ,Peter, and he tells me to stay calm. I look around and notice the guy gone. I tell Peter and he laughs that maybe it was just a big misunderstanding.

Till the guy sat back down, right next to me, and asks in a quiet voice,” Would you like to get a job, miss? I can help you..”

At that point I stand up and bolt—err fast walk my butt out. Everything’s rushing through my mind, ‘Is he bsing me? Joking? Is this a camera joke? What is this guy doing?’ and I’m walking a marathon in the library to get out. As I reach the front I set of the alarm and the librarian waves to me. Turns out that in my panic I grabbed a book with me. She asks if I wanted to check it out and I say no and then asks if I wanted her to put it back, which I replied yes to. I turn and there I see that guy. He walks straight up to me with the sickest smile and goes,” There you are dear! Let’s go home.” And I feel queasy. The librarian looks up and asks,” Oh, are you two together?” Which he replies,” Yeah” and puts his arm around my shoulders.

At this point I feel like crying, but I’m so scared that I just tense up. I feel him squeeze my shoulder—hard. Finally I let out that I didn’t know him, that he was following me, and begged for help. The guy laughs and tells the librarian that I was joking and started gripping my shoulder. He starts moving me slowly towards the exit when I start crying. Not that sob-sort, but that one where your whole face is stiff and you close your eyes and they just come out. That’s when the librarian notices something amiss and picks up the phone to get a guard.

As soon as he sees the phone go up and hears her say,” Can I get someone up to the front please” He tries to grab me outside. I break away from him and hit him away with my backpack. He runs and I’m escorted to the staff lounge where I proceed to cry my head off, text and call Peter in a blur, and then talk to the police. They get his description, see that he’s all over the camera footage, and escort me out to my car, where I drive (more like sped) home.

Rough day. Tired. Hate people even more. ;|

[LauraMix]

Carry a Mace or Pepper Spray.

[Riolu]

Buy one of these:



One blow to the knee and you'll be safe from anyone.


Only mentioning it because it's small enough to fit into a purse and it can't backfire the same way mace can.

[Almora]

1. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT, text for help unless he can hear your echo in the bathroom. I do not want to rant about texting, but honestly, you can get SO MUCH done in one call, plus the person on the other side can hear your tone of voice, to know if you're serious or not.

2. It's really sick that these kind of people exist in the world, so I'm going to reiterate what some of the above posters said: Carry some form of weapon/self protection item for your own sake. As long it won't kill them, it's fine. Just enough to distract them and run. It's possible that you could be put in jail even killing in self-defense, depending on where you live etc.

---

How long did you stay in the bathroom? Iirc, your boyfriend lives halfway across the world doesn't he? I would've stayed in there until I called a family member/someone closer(location wise) for help to come get me instead. I know you were panicking, but I do not think he was the #1 best option to go for aid.

---

As cliche as it is, try not to travel alone. Mines wasn't as bad as yours, but now I carry scissors and pay attention to my surroundings 24/7. Try not to be on your phone all the time if you are, I just see SO MANY girls do that and it's an easy opening for people to get you.

[Bolter]

omg stalkers....

[Douceur]

Originally Posted by Almora

1. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT, text for help unless he can hear your echo in the bathroom. I do not want to rant about texting, but honestly, you can get SO MUCH done in one call, plus the person on the other side can hear your tone of voice, to know if you're serious or not.

2. It's really sick that these kind of people exist in the world, so I'm going to reiterate what some of the above posters said: Carry some form of weapon/self protection item for your own sake. As long it won't kill them, it's fine. Just enough to distract them and run. It's possible that you could be put in jail even killing in self-defense, depending on where you live etc.

---

How long did you stay in the bathroom? Iirc, your boyfriend lives halfway across the world doesn't he? I would've stayed in there until I called a family member/someone closer(location wise) for help to come get me instead. I know you were panicking, but I do not think he was the #1 best option to go for aid.

---

As cliche as it is, try not to travel alone. Mines wasn't as bad as yours, but now I carry scissors and pay attention to my surroundings 24/7. Try not to be on your phone all the time if you are, I just see SO MANY girls do that and it's an easy opening for people to get you.

I stayed for about 15-20 minutes and yes, my boyfriend's all the way in the UK while I'm in the US. I really should have thought it through, about calling a close friend @@; You're right about me panicking and that not being the right choice;; I was already texting him prior to this, so he was already there and in my panic, I just texted. Which totally fits your last statement about girls on phones ;/!

Tbh, I don't have any relatives here right now. I live by myself while my family's back at Hawaii. I'm here for school purposes and such. I do have a couple of friends here though, so there should've been no excuse for me not to have called them.. but alas, I panicked @-@;;

Usually I'm pretty good about self-defense and carrying some sort of item to help. I've one of those metal self-defense kitty keychains with me... but on a different bag. I'll probably need to have something for each bag I have (I only have like, 2 bags that I use) and to keep one in my car now. Just didn't think that this sort of thing would happen in such a quiet city as mine ;/ I guess creeps like that are everywhere, even in the 'safest' of places..

@Riolu, what is that btw? I tried looking it up on the website, but I'm not native to the Romanian language (iirc, it said Romanian..) @w@;;

[Riolu]

I'm not exactly sure what they're called in english... here they're called vipers. It's basically a metallic extensible cane (10cm un-extended with around 30cm fully extended) made to disable people. The strategy is to duck and hit people in their leg bones/muscles and it incapacitates them for a healthy while regardless of how strong you are.

I've seen people shatter rocks with them so stalkers should fall easily to these.

Here, i found a US website: http://www.selfdefenseproducts.com/S...s-p-16162.html

[Douceur]

Ahh, okay! Thanks Riolu. I think I'll probably nab this instead of getting another one of those cat key-chains I currently have.

And shatter rocks >>;;;! Yeah, I think that'll take care of those stalkers good.

Thanks Riolu!

[Riolu]

My pleasure, also i read some customer reviews on the website i linked you to and if you really want to buy one you need to check the legislation in your state cause it's either required to follow a course to use them or no restriction.

A quick google search should set you safe, though taking a course doesn't sound that bad.

[Yume]

Carrying weapons... I don't know about that. It could end up not being in your favour but that's your choice.

If you have that feeling again, or for some reason that person runs into you again, immediately go to the librarian or someone else and say that you feel uncomfortable and feel that you're being followed. Although they may not take it all that seriously, they will be more wary.
Also, try sitting in a more crowded place, or at least a place with a few other people.

And also, if you're going to call or text someone, contact someone that can come and find you. Even if they aren't a close friend, they can find someway to help.

Or you could get a rape whistle.

[LauraMix]

You can use some of her moves.

[Nimera]

You're mainland for schooling, right? I assume University?

Program the Campus Police number into your phone - or the local authorities if it's like a personal housing I-don't-know situation. It's a precaution most don't take ("It can't happen to me" mentality), but especially if you're far from home (I went to a College where my mom worked, and my aunt worked, and my other aunt lived in town) you WANT those numbers.

[Douceur]

My pleasure, also i read some customer reviews on the website i linked you to and if you really want to buy one you need to check the legislation in your state cause it's either required to follow a course to use them or no restriction.

A quick google search should set you safe, though taking a course doesn't sound that bad.

Roger. I'll make sure to look into it then!

Carrying weapons... I don't know about that. It could end up not being in your favour but that's your choice.

If you have that feeling again, or for some reason that person runs into you again, immediately go to the librarian or someone else and say that you feel uncomfortable and feel that you're being followed. Although they may not take it all that seriously, they will be more wary.
Also, try sitting in a more crowded place, or at least a place with a few other people.

And also, if you're going to call or text someone, contact someone that can come and find you. Even if they aren't a close friend, they can find someway to help.

Or you could get a rape whistle.

I'm usually very passive when it comes to weapons, but I think if I just have it, it'd be better than nothing. The sort of 'just-in-case' situation.

I recently also went back to the library. The same librarian who helped me was there and I sat in view of the front desk and the person in charge. She made it clear to me that if I needed helped, to run to her as fast as I could.

You can use some of her moves.

Sandra Bullock is da perfectest woman amg. "Wittle Ewic needs an apwase!"
But that first heel-to-nose uppercut, lol.

Amg that "S.I.N.G".

You're mainland for schooling, right? I assume University?

Program the Campus Police number into your phone - or the local authorities if it's like a personal housing I-don't-know situation. It's a precaution most don't take ("It can't happen to me" mentality), but especially if you're far from home (I went to a College where my mom worked, and my aunt worked, and my other aunt lived in town) you WANT those numbers.

Yep, UC, whoopwhoop.

I've never thought about those sorts of numbers before, especially my campus's school police o: I'll have to get those then.

Thank you so much!

[Lime]

Raging. Would like to beat this person with a cold metal object.

Just remember, silence is what they want. I know you were scared but its always good practice to distance yourself from said person, while moving towards people or a crowd. I would have quickly moved close to the librarian instead of going out where you'd be alone. Heck strike up a loud conversation with her, and whisper your concern about him. Attention is the last thing a screwed mind wants.