Scary weirdo

[Scarlett]

I actually fely threatened and scared today. I was on the bus and as soon as I got on, this man (who obviously has learning difficulties of some kind) STARED at me solidly and obviously, craning his neck, for the 10 minute journey into town. It was horroble. When we got to town, he got off, and I breathed a sigh of relief. BUT then he got back on 2 mins later, and carried on staring, but also thrashing his arm out at me with his hand in my face, but not touching. There was only one old lady on the bus. The driver was off having his fag. I was so freaked out that I got off and walked. My sister says I did the right thing- he probably had a knife or something.. But the thing is, I couldn't say "STOP STARING AT ME!" cos he obviously was a "care in the community" person. Yet he was clearly unstable and possibly dangerous. What should I have done??

[redcrx]

For a start i think your sister may be exagerating about the knife so dont let it panic you more. Did you report him to the bus driver seeing as you left the old lady on there alone with him?

Getting off was the correct thing to do if you felt threatened in any way though.

[Jennykins]

Oh thats a tuff one.. I carry pepper spray with me everywhere... walking, running, clubbing, anywhere.. And I feel you did the right thing by getting off and away from that creepy person.

I bet your shookin up now.. If I were you I would have a glass of wine, watch a "happy" movie and let the hole thing go. Oh ya and get some pepper spray.. or dog spray or bear spray.. it will all work the same.. tho bear spray burns the skind.. But the way I figure it, If I had to use it on somebody then Im sure I wouldnt care if the person got burnd skin ...

Ok You try to have a great day.

Jen x

[alijangra]

Is it not illegal to carry pepper spray in the uk? Im sure it is. Be very careful about carrying any kind of article with intent to use it against somebody, you could find yourself in very hot water.

[Jennykins]

If you buy a spray ment for animals its legal.. and you say when your buying it that its protection against animals when your out walking or running..

Men are mostly stronger... I will not give one the chance to get his way with me.. No way .. So telling a small fib to carry protection is for sure a good thing.

Jen X

[B00]

you should have stood up and said very loudly...

"Bob for goodness sake, stick with Mrs Harris and leave me alone"

apologies of you don't get the joke I'm attempting here!

[alijangra]

Im sorry I still dont agree with you Jen, the laws are very different in UK than the states. You are not allowed to carry things for use on animals either! You would be arrested for brandishing such things, whether in self defence or not.

[alijangra]

As a matter of interest, what animals are you talking about? Deliberate harm of animals in the UK is also illegal, especially dogs.

[malaise]

In the UK we don't have dangerous wild animals running loose in the cities, so I doubt the "Oh, the pepper spray is for animal attacks!" excuse would wash.

I don't know why you're so offended. You yourself claim the guy had learning disabilities and so obviously did not realise that what he was doing was wrong, or was not in control of his behaviour. Perhaps you should have asked him to leave you alone, rather than assuming that he's some knife wielding maniac trying to attack you.

[B00]

rofl scarlett- I bet this question isn't going the way you wanted is it?

I bet it's one of those "wish I'd never mentioned it" kinda posts isn't it? I have many of those!

[alijangra]

Well BOO thats what you get for asking lol!!!

[alijangra]

ps Im just trying to stop Scarlett from being arrested!!

From wikipedia...

In the UK, where it is classed as an offensive weapon, the sale and possession of pepper spray is illegal under section five of the Firearms Act. First time offenders are likely to receive a police caution.

And thats all I have to say Im off to bed now lol x Alison

[B00]

Aww bless you ali, nighty night

X

[wonderwoman1]

hiya scarlett

i'd advise you to steer well clear of edinburgh during the month of august for the festival cos thats the kind of people you see every day!!

in seriousness, you did the right thing by walking away...no harm done!

[Jennykins]

First off, Im not from the states thank you very much.. And ali I had no idea you could not carry any sort of protection in the UK.. Where I come from people find very large and dangerous animals in there yards and running trails all the time. And we are aloud to defend our selfes against any animal (but an egal) even if it means killing them right there on the spot. I dont know many people that run or walk with out some sort of spray.. Doesnt the UK have any deadly animals?

[Jennykins]

Im from British Columbia, Vancouver Island.. Just incase anybody was wondering lol...

Jen x

[malaise]

Nothing deadly and roaming our streets, jennykins. I have an ex-boyfriend from Langley BC and he didn't ever carry weapons either.

I wouldn't really think of weapons as protection. To quote Michael Moore (and probably others before him), "If owning a gun made America a safer place, America would be the safest country in the world." It's really not!

I do realise that Canada is not in America, before you point that out.

I just don't think that attacking disabled people with pepper spray on buses is such a good idea.

[Kay]

I agree with malaise here Scarlett. You say this "Freaky" man obviously had learning difficulties. How do you know he was'nt a druggie out of his skull on crack?. Maybe this man was "Bi Polar". Some of these patients are normally accompanied by a carer though. I honestly think you should have asked him "why are you staring" He may not even have realised it,as for the arm waving maybe it was imagination on his part.

[Jennykins]

Hey Malise, what I mean by carrying some sort of spray is that it will make you feel safer.. I didnt say to spray down or shoot a disabled guy.lol. And a spray is NOT a gun by any means.. far from it.. Every 6 mins in North America a woman is raped.. So I guess carrying some pepper spray or dog spray is a great idea.. And I think Scarlett handled the situation very well.. But you have to remember sometimes you cant just walk away from the situation.. I just think its an idea for women to protect them selve's

Jen x

[girl_lesbian]

I'm a bus freak expert, 4 years at uni, 6 buses a day I've met them all! I just have a chat with them, provides entertainment for the journey. I even had a hairy bus stop freak who used to grab my ass when I got on the bus. I tried every possible maneover (can't spell that word) and bag position, but he managed it every single day urgh!

[helliebobs]

Oh my god I can't believe you can generalise so much! You think this guy 'obviously' had some kind of learning difficulties, he was 'obviously' a 'care in the community' type of person, therefore he 'probably had a knife'?!

I work for a charity who help people with all sorts of disabilities and if we presumed every client we worked with was carrying a knife, we wouldn't be able to carry on working with them for very long!