Was I understandably cautious or just plain paranoid?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

if he were a decent man he would have waited til he found another man to help him.

Asking a woman to help is indecent?

[sbgwolf1 0]

So I was on my way home from work this evening and I stopped at a convenience store to pick up a few things. A man approached me in the parking lot asking me for a jump. I said no problem, thinking that his was the car right next to mine. He tells me his car is "over there", so I started driving to follow him when I see that he is starting to walk down a fairly long driveway away from the convenience store parking lot. I told him that I didn't feel comfortable following him down the driveway, but he was welcome to use my cables if he could find someone else to give him the jump. He seemed very surprised and rather offended that I did not want to follow him down the driveway. But he managed to find someone else to give him the jump while I waited in the crowded parking lot for him to return my cables. I told him that I hope he didn't take it personally, but a woman needs to be cautious in this day and age.

I started wondering if I did the "normal" thing in this situation. Women, would you have thought twice about following this man to give him a jump? Men, would you be offended if a woman didn't feel comfortable doing so?

I will respond before I read all the other responses. I would have completely understood if a woman did that to me. Not only that, I hope and will very much discuss with my girl is as cautious and responsible as you were. I think you acted in a completely acceptable and appropriate manner. Good for you that you didnt feel obligated to go after you originally made the assumption that it was the car next to you. Its better to be safe than end up with a situation that has irreversable permanant effects!

Quick unrelated story. My baby was on a bus and got blocked in by a drunk that kept pressing for a number. She was very uncomfortable and end up having the bus driver let her off. We talked about it and the I explained that prevention is the best remedy. I told her going forward that I wanted her to sit on an isle seat and towards the front. I also explained if someone wants to sit beside her to get up and let them on the inside. I do not want her in a bad situation. Is that over cautious???? NO! Its being smart!

wolf

[CarolineM 0]

Always listen to that gut instinct...that little feeling in the pit of your tummy...

You absolutely acted appropriately and this is why we won't be reading about you in the paper tomorrow.

[garya505 2]

[nayalamb 0]

you definitely did the right thing. who cares if the person thought you were weird? you did what you had to do to protect yourself. i wish more women would be as direct and honest as you when traveling alone. well done!

[Traviesa 0]

I am the exact same way. Some might think that I'm overly cautious, but I'm also still here. Most important things being a woman, especially out alone, nowadays are to be very aware of your surroundings and to keep a safe distance from other people, even if that means offending someone. I had a guy in a truck try to talk to me one late night in the parking lot of my apartment. I turned and started walking in the opposite direction so that he couldn't reach me. Thing is, he was probably harmless, but he should know better than to approach a woman alone in the middle of the night in a parking lot. We have to take care of ourselves. You definitely did the right thing!

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

If I were the man who needed help, I'd think you were weird and paranoid.

But as a man who had nothing to do with the situation, I feel you acted appropriately.

same here.

Jenn, you did a good thing. Pay attention to your spidey senses.

[Sister Fracas 5]

Wow, it's another VJ thread where everyone agrees!

well, I think you were paranoid... I mean seriously...what could he have possibly done?

j/k!

You done good!

[Aymerlu 3]

I would've done the same thing. You can never be too safe these days.

[Cristy 4]

Many women, myself included, don't follow our intuition. I think it is great that you did.

[lostinlove228 0]

How many women out there don't follow there instancts and wind up getting raped, robbed or even worse Murdered. You did the right thing.

[Joey559 1]

well done. you did EXACTLY right!

I had a self-defense, awareness course in college that was brillant. Taught by a guy who actually profiles serial killers for the FBI. He would be so proud of you!

He often said it wasn't women who should change their viewpoint or feel guilty, but men who should understand that women always live in 'slight' fear or caution. My friend Jeremy who took the class with me asked me, "is that true?" And it is really, though hard to explain. We aren't walking around paranoid or terrified at all times, but don't we ALL tense up if we're out for a walk at night and the only other person is a man walking toward us? You don't get terrified but you do start to think, ok, look him over does he look dangerous? what is in his hands? do i see anyone else around? Should i cross the street so i'm by that gas station that's open?

I've got to believe all women with common sense do that. And we should NEVER feel bad about it. And good guys, I'm sure all these VJers for example, understand that 100%!

Good job!

[Nikita2Charles 32]

Cheers to you!

What you did was totally appropriate there are so many perveted, crazy folks out there, IT's better to be on the safe side, if nothing bad in Mind i Think he would understand where you are coming from, and after all you did let him use your cable, that shows the good faith from your side, and you were following him up to a certain point. ALWAYS TRUST YOUR INSTINCT

[archie07 0]

So I was on my way home from work this evening and I stopped at a convenience store to pick up a few things. A man approached me in the parking lot asking me for a jump. I said no problem, thinking that his was the car right next to mine. He tells me his car is "over there", so I started driving to follow him when I see that he is starting to walk down a fairly long driveway away from the convenience store parking lot. I told him that I didn't feel comfortable following him down the driveway, but he was welcome to use my cables if he could find someone else to give him the jump. He seemed very surprised and rather offended that I did not want to follow him down the driveway. But he managed to find someone else to give him the jump while I waited in the crowded parking lot for him to return my cables. I told him that I hope he didn't take it personally, but a woman needs to be cautious in this day and age.

I started wondering if I did the "normal" thing in this situation. Women, would you have thought twice about following this man to give him a jump? Men, would you be offended if a woman didn't feel comfortable doing so?

You did do the normal thing. I would never have put a woman in that situation to begin with.

[~Jackie~ 30]

You did the right thing Jenn.

Jackie

www.findlisastebic.com missing 2 months, no trace