# "Creepy men" at Walmart **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 27, 2019, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-men-at-walmart/836160 "2019-06-27T15:37:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-men-at-walmart/836160/1 "2019-06-27T15:37:33Z")
There’s a post going around the interwebs, from a woman, who suggests, apparently seriously, that if there is a “creepy man” at Walmart, rather than complain to management, instead the woman should: spray cooking oil in his face, choke him out with a belt and/or hit him in the head with a can of beans. Now, at now time was this mythical and alleged “creepy guy” doing anything other than perhaps following her around. And being “creepy” is not a crime. But assault? Going to jail for a year? Because your “creep-o-meter” went off? Women, men who look “creepy” arent as dangerous as the guys who don’t. It’s ain’t that unshaven “creepy” dude in the smelly overcoat that going to rape your daughter, it’s that “great guy” who is your daughter’s swim coach. Stats back me out- it’s not "stranger danger’ it is a man you know and trust. ☹ And violence for alleged “creepyness” is wrong and illegal. But still, this little meme is being applauded like crazy: \*“PREACH SISTER!” “This Lady just won the internet” “Love, love love”. \* Something is wrong here. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-men-at-walmart/836160/2 "2019-06-27T16:02:51Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > There’s a post going around the interwebs, from a woman, who suggests, apparently seriously, that if there is a “creepy man” at Walmart, rather than complain to management, instead the woman should: spray cooking oil in his face, choke him out with a belt and/or hit him in the head with a can of beans. Um, cite? > [@DrDeth](#): > > Something is wrong here. Yes: namely, you’re starting a thread to complain about something that you allege exists but providing no cite for it. There may be something else wrong in this situation as well, but we can’t tell until you fix the first problem. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-men-at-walmart/836160/3 "2019-06-27T16:12:27Z")
You can find it yourself if you like. But it was from a private person, not a celebrity so I am not posting her name. And it’s been shared and shared again, so the provenance is weak. Does it matter? _“Go grab a can of green beans and smack the dude in the face”_ is a actual quote. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-men-at-walmart/836160/4 "2019-06-27T16:16:37Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > You can find it yourself if you like. Where, please? I have googled “creepy men Walmart” and not identified anything that’s obviously the “post going around the interwebs” that you’re talking about. > [@DrDeth](#): > > Does it matter? Well, yes: if we’re going to have an opinion about something, we need to know what that something actually is, not just your summary and selected quotes from that something. Edit: Is [this](https://ifunny.co/picture/it-i-see-one-more-i-was-followed-at-such-iZtg2WDH6) what you’re talking about? > [@](#): > > It I see one more “I was followed at such n such Walmart by some creepy dude", I swear I‘m going to lose my shit. If yall women dont learn how to turn around in aisle 13 and ask a mf what his problem is,. Call the police while in the store. All this “I went up to an associate. I spoke to a manager.“ Tf. They dont get hazard pay for that mess. Go grab a can of green beans and smack the dude in the face. Spray him in the eyes with some cooking spray. Choke him with a belt from the accessory aisle. Anything. SOMETHING. Then post that. Yall act like you’re helpless. WE’RE NOT HELPLESS.” #repost I mean I carry, but even if you don’t, you got a whole store of weapons at your disposal. Better beep bop, meep mop the floor with that man. If so, my opinion is that the speaker was not being entirely serious in her recommendations. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-men-at-walmart/836160/5 "2019-06-27T16:18:10Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Does it matter? We have no way of knowing whether or not the “advice” is serious and you’re not exactly a reliable narrator. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-men-at-walmart/836160/6 "2019-06-27T16:23:24Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Now, at now time was this mythical and alleged “creepy guy” doing anything other than perhaps following her around. And being “creepy” is not a crime. Just so I’m following – this is both “mythical” and “alleged,” and you allow that maybe whoever this guy is, he was following a female stranger around. But you still know enough to come to his defense, in that he didn’t commit any crimes and everyone else who is talking about responding to him is doing something wrong enough for you to comment on it? In other words, this is a real enough event for you to be offended at the mistreatment this poor guy is receiving via words on the internet, but not real enough for you to have to actually ascribe any wrongdoing to him or even provide any information about what he did in the first place. Or provide any means by which anybody else could judge. Do you think that’s significant at all to reaching your conclusion? ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-men-at-walmart/836160/7 "2019-06-27T16:23:47Z")
I read **Kimstu’s** cited quote and in my head I heard it in Wanda Sykes’s voice. Obviously just a bit of social commentary told with a dash of humor and hyperbole. Use your critical thinking skills, please. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-men-at-walmart/836160/8 "2019-06-27T16:25:03Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > … > Edit: Is [this](https://ifunny.co/picture/it-i-see-one-more-i-was-followed-at-such-iZtg2WDH6) what you’re talking about? > If so, my opinion is that the speaker was not being entirely serious in her recommendations. Yes, that it, and yes according to followers she is being taken as serious. If I, as a man, made a similar "not being entirely serious " post on Twitter or whatever, I’d be castigated, and rightly so. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-men-at-walmart/836160/9 "2019-06-27T16:26:12Z")
Creepy looking guys rarely set off my creep-o-meter. Creepy acting guys do. And my first thought is “Get the Hell Away From Them.” If that is not possible, I get ready to talk my way out of it, or to beat the crap out of them in a surprise attack. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-men-at-walmart/836160/10 "2019-06-27T16:27:55Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > Just so I’m following – this is both “mythical” and “alleged,” and you allow that maybe whoever this guy is, he was following a female stranger around. But you still know enough to come to his defense, in that he didn’t commit any crimes and everyone else who is talking about responding to him is doing something wrong enough for you to comment on it? > > In other words, this is a real enough event for you to be offended at the mistreatment this poor guy is receiving via words on the internet, but not real enough for you to have to actually ascribe any wrongdoing to him or even provide any information about what he did in the first place. Or provide any means by which anybody else could judge. > > Do you think that’s significant at all to reaching your conclusion? No criminal offenses were alleged by the 'creep". If she had made up a crime that “creepy” guy was doing, fine, then you can make up ways to get back. If she had said some guy grabbed her, then fine, go for the can of beans or whatever. But being “creepy” is not a crime. And it’s entirely in your head. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-men-at-walmart/836160/11 "2019-06-27T16:29:26Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > We have no way of knowing whether or not the “advice” is serious and you’re not exactly a reliable narrator. You can see the post above and it matches what I said. You can take \*" you’re not exactly a reliable narrator" \*personal insult and but it where the sun dont shine. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-men-at-walmart/836160/12 "2019-06-27T16:29:27Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Now, at now time was this mythical and alleged “creepy guy” doing anything other than perhaps following her around. And being “creepy” is not a crime. > > But assault? Going to jail for a year? Because your “creep-o-meter” went off? > > Women, men who look “creepy” arent as dangerous as the guys who don’t. A further opinion: I think it’s possible that you’re getting your knickers in a bunch about this one (apparently) viral post that you happened to see, while being unaware of the sorts of posts it was responding to, such as [this one](https://www.reddit.com/r/LetsNotMeet/comments/8en75q/the_man_following_me_in_walmart/): > [@](#): > > I had to go to Walmart one day and I had no choice but to take my 5 year old and 1 year old daughters along. > > I was pretty distracted dealing with my 5 year old […] but I had noticed a man in the same aisles as us for a while, which I brushed off as a coincidence. We got to the candy aisle and was looking at something on the shelf, when I turned around the man was right behind me, like his face was probably in my hair… still I wanted to believe the best and said I’m sorry as I assumed I was in his way. I noticed someone with a walkie talkie tell him to come with him… still being naive I assumed he was stealing. > > I paid for my items and went to leave when I was stopped by loss prevention/ security and asked to come with them, which was scary and embarrassing, I knew I hadn’t stolen anything so I assumed my kids had pocketed something. > > The person who pulled me into the room said “you’re not in any trouble, but I really think You need to know what was going on. Did you notice the man following you” I said “yeah I mean I saw someone near us but I assumed it was a coincidence” > They asked to make sure I didn’t know the man and it wasn’t some weird sex thing. > > Then they informed me the man had been following me and my kids around masturbating, they didn’t know why me or if he was interested in me or in my girls. > > I was HORRIFIED. > > They informed me the man had been banned from the store and they walked me to my car to make sure we left safely. I don’t know why they didn’t call the police and in hindsight I should have, I was just so freaked out and wanted to get me and my kids home safely. Or [this one](https://www.reddit.com/r/LetsNotMeet/comments/22v4of/creepy_guy_at_walmart_makes_me_hate_this_town/): > [@](#): > > Anyway, it was like 1130 at night and I realized my daughter was out of formula. […] > > In the baby aisle, I grabbed her formula and stopped to look at a cute dress for her. I was looking through the baby clothes when I saw someone out of the corner of my eye and I felt the hairs on my arm stand up. I glanced at him, and then did a double take - this man was standing there, just staring at me. He didn’t seem to be bothered by the fact that I noticed him. I did this weird nervous fake laugh and said something like, “Oh, these are so cute huh?” > > He didn’t say anything, just kind of smirked, and kept staring. The dude was like a few inches taller than me, maybe 5’9, white, with long hair and he looked either homeless or severely down on his luck. He had one hand on the crotch of his pants, kind of nonchalantly, like it just rested there. He was maybe six feet away from me. I started to get nervous and felt my palms start sweating. I said something dumb about have a good night and just kind of fast walked away, but in my haste to get away from him I turned left toward the back of the store. I decided to grab a twelve pack of coke zero, in addition to the formula, and then decided to get out of there - I hadn’t grabbed a cart so I couldn’t really carry much more. > > On my way back to the front of the store I heard him shuffling behind me, keeping pace with my speed walking. I tried to call myself down and write it off as him just also going to check out. I got into the ten items or less line. He got in line behind me. He had no items but he pulled a candy bar off the shelf and set it on the counter behind my stuff. > > At this point I could smell him and he stank like body odor and stale beer. I turned my head away from him and tried to move a little closer to the woman in front of me. He moved closer too. Then I felt something brush my left butt cheek. I turned towards him sharply and said, “Hey!” He mumble an apology. Keep in mind, I am wearing jeans and a baggy tee shirt - not that it should matter but I looked like crap, is what I’m trying to get at. I turned back towards the counter and the cashier started ringing up my two items. Two seconds later, the man pinched my OTHER butt cheek. Hard. > > At this point, I turned around and said very loudly, “HEY! STOP TOUCHING MY ASS!” He turned red and the cashier froze. She asked if there was a problem. “Yes,” I replied. “This guy just pinched my butt, and I don’t know him, and he’s creeping me out.” > > She looked unsure of what to do and asked him to please step away from me before she called security. He did, wordlessly, and then just stood there glaring daggers at me. I pretended I didn’t notice and paid for my things. As soon as she bagged up the stuff, I booked it out of the store. > > I got maybe ten steps into the parking lot when I heard the doors open behind me. Panicking, I turned and saw him marching directly toward me. I bolted. My car was two lanes away and I yanked out my keys and unlocked it while I ran. I could hear him behind me, grunting and painting. I felt adrenaline kick in and tears in my eyes.I ran, swinging the bag and the case of soda, flung myself into the drivers seat and turned the key in the ignition before the door even shut. I threw it in reverse without looking just as he slammed his body onto the hood of my car and yelled something. I pealed out of the lot at almost thirty miles an hour and he flew off my hood and into the ground, and I drove the mile home going well over the limit, breathing hard and feeling like I was going to hyperventilate. For the record, I am personally opposed to initiating unprovoked violence against fellow customers, with guns, cans of green beans, cooking spray or anything else. But if you think that the belligerent tone of that viral post was just gratuitous aggressiveness that came out of nowhere in response to completely innocent behavior on the part of unfairly stigmatized “creepy” men, then you may need to take your head out of your ass. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-men-at-walmart/836160/13 "2019-06-27T16:29:52Z")
DrDeth, you sound like some guy who is afraid that if they try and cop a feel on the trolley, might get stuck with a hatpin. I find it hilarious that we can shoot black teenagers in this country because we feel threatened, but put out a hypothetical where a guy follows a woman around in the store and if she clocks you with a can of green beans “oh, the humanity! It isn’t fair. He was just innocently following her through the store.” ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-men-at-walmart/836160/14 "2019-06-27T16:33:17Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > A further opinion: I think it’s possible that you’re getting your knickers in a bunch about this one (apparently) viral post that you happened to see, while being unaware of the sorts of posts it was responding to, such as [this one](https://www.reddit.com/r/LetsNotMeet/comments/8en75q/the_man_following_me_in_walmart/): > Or [this one](https://www.reddit.com/r/LetsNotMeet/comments/22v4of/creepy_guy_at_walmart_makes_me_hate_this_town/): > For the record, I am personally opposed to initiating unprovoked violence against fellow customers, with guns, cans of green beans, cooking oil spray or anything else. But if you think that the belligerent tone of that viral post was just gratuitous aggressiveness that came out of nowhere in response to completely innocent behavior on the part of unfairly stigmatized “creepy” men, then you may need to take your head out of your ass. That’s nice, but nothing like that was attached in any way shape or form to the meme I saw- shared twice today on FB, and several times elsewhere. If I man commits a assault, of course you can & should defend yourself. But no where in the meme was there any crime besides being 'creepY", which is entirely subjective. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-men-at-walmart/836160/15 "2019-06-27T16:37:36Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Yes, that it, and yes according to followers she is being taken as serious. And you know those followers are serious…how? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-men-at-walmart/836160/16 "2019-06-27T16:38:24Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > DrDeth, you sound like some guy who is afraid that if they try and cop a feel on the trolley, might get stuck with a hatpin. > > I find it hilarious that we can shoot black teenagers in this country because we feel threatened, but put out a hypothetical where a guy follows a woman around in the store and if she clocks you with a can of green beans “oh, the humanity! It isn’t fair. He was just innocently following her through the store.” If a man grabs some ass, he deserves a hatpin and some time in jail. But not for “looking creepy”. Are we judging people on their appearance or their behavior? Note the huge and wide difference between actual criminal sexual assault, and the totally subjective “looking creepy”. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-men-at-walmart/836160/17 "2019-06-27T16:39:40Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > And you know those followers are serious…how? I took them at their word. Why do you think they are lying? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-men-at-walmart/836160/18 "2019-06-27T16:42:44Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I took them at their word. Why do you think they are lying? There’s a vast difference between “lying” and “using hyperbole”. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-men-at-walmart/836160/19 "2019-06-27T16:44:20Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > There’s a post going around the interwebs, from a woman, who suggests, apparently seriously, that if there is a “creepy man” at Walmart, rather than complain to management, instead the woman should: spray cooking oil in his face, choke him out with a belt and/or hit him in the head with a can of beans. > > Now, at now time was this mythical and alleged “creepy guy” doing anything other than perhaps following her around. And being “creepy” is not a crime. > > But assault? Going to jail for a year? Because your “creep-o-meter” went off? > > Women, men who look “creepy” arent as dangerous as the guys who don’t. > > It’s ain’t that unshaven “creepy” dude in the smelly overcoat that going to rape your daughter, it’s that “great guy” who is your daughter’s swim coach. Stats back me out- it’s not "stranger danger’ it is a man you know and trust. ☹ > > And violence for alleged “creepyness” is wrong and illegal. But still, this little meme is being applauded like crazy: \*“PREACH SISTER!” “This Lady just won the internet” “Love, love love”. \* > Something is wrong here. If any ladies take the advice to mean that they should use physical violence when a man has \*technically \*not done anything illegal, they will soon learn that the law doesn’t necessarily favor those who are morally right but rather those who are legally right. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-men-at-walmart/836160/20 "2019-06-27T16:49:17Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > That’s nice, but nothing like that was attached in any way shape or form to the meme I saw- shared twice today on FB, and several times elsewhere. […] > > But no where in the meme was there any crime besides being 'creepY", which is entirely subjective. Well, if you do a little more looking around for reports of experiences on the general theme of “creepy guys at Walmart”, you may get a better idea of the sorts of the behavior that most of the people sharing and applauding this meme may be more aware of than you seem to be. Here’s [another](https://www.reddit.com/r/LetsNotMeet/comments/32poia/creepy_walmart_guy/): > [@](#): > > Being a 17 year old girl opens me up to a mess load of creepy encounters I guess I don’t really know. […] > > At one point my grandma asked me if I needed any new bras […] > > I was minding my own business when I heard someone walk behind me. I figured it was my gram so I partially turned to ask how many pairs I could get but she wasn’t behind me. I looked around and say the guy at the end of the aisle. Whatever I thought to myself, maybe he has a wife or a girlfriend, and I went back into my own little world looking for underwear. […] > > I decided to stare straight ahead since maybe someone taller than me was just looking at the underwear that was over my head (I’m 5’1). I felt someone kind of press against me. Then I heard the breathing. It was like heavy breathing like someone had just had sex or something and was calming down. I turned on my heels to see the guy who had been following me with his hand down his pants, obviously fondling himself. […] > > I literally screamed “NANNY” and the guy sprinted away. I told Walmart security and they told me they had no authority to do anything about it. I mean, it’s very noble of you and all to be so concerned about the possibility of a criminal assault against an innocent man who is “just” following a female shopper around a Walmart because he might be unfairly accused of being “creepy” on purely “subjective” grounds. But my guess is that most of the people who are upvoting this particular meme are thinking of instances like the ones I’m quoting, in which case you can kind of see why they’d feel sympathetic to the notion of clocking such a dude with a can of beans. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-men-at-walmart/836160.md?page=2)