# Should I get a restraining order? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 14, 2001, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-get-a-restraining-order/54508 "2001-02-14T20:59:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2001, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-get-a-restraining-order/54508/1 "2001-02-14T20:59:17Z")
Ok here is the story. I work in a 25 story building with God knows how many other thousand people. One of these people, who I’m only aware of because we tend to get here and leave about the same time each day, is a very scary man. He never fails to smile or make eye contact and sometimes he will actually _nod_ to me as if to say hello! Can you believe it?!? Ok so get this. This morning, he actually had the nerve to SPEAK to me. He said, and I _quote_ “Hi. My name is Lee Tyson and I work up on 17. I hope you don’t think this is too forward, but I’ve noticed you coming into and leaving the building and you always look so nice. You are a very attractive woman.” !!! As you can imagine, I gave him an icy stare that hopefully froze the blood in his veins, took a step back from him as if he had a sign on his forehead that said “Beware! I have plague, leprosy, and very bad breath!,” and said in a hiss “If you ever come near me again I’ll have you arrested for stalking me. How dare you speak to me like that.” So how should I handle this maniac? My god! Of all the nerve. To speak to _ME_! I’m thinking of getting a restraining order. What do you think? ---
**Author:** ![Fletch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/919ad9/32.png) [@Fletch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fletch)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2001, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-get-a-restraining-order/54508/2 "2001-02-14T21:01:28Z")
One word, GUN. ---
**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2001, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-get-a-restraining-order/54508/3 "2001-02-14T21:04:20Z")
Well, it’s obvious that you arrive and leave at the same time every day because HE IS STALKING YOU!!! I’d have him arrested for public safety. It’s no good having psychos like that wandering the streets unguarded. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2001, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-get-a-restraining-order/54508/4 "2001-02-14T21:06:56Z")
You’re both right… any idea where I can get a cheap gun? ---
**Author:** ![Necros](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/necros/32/11086_2.png) [@Necros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Necros)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2001, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-get-a-restraining-order/54508/5 "2001-02-14T21:07:02Z")
I would have recommended using the words a somewhat-famous man once said: “Wow! You are a complete mental case - and you hide it so well!” instead of what you said. YMMV. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2001, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-get-a-restraining-order/54508/6 "2001-02-14T21:10:25Z")
By all means, go for the restraining order. You might want to consider a taser and some mace as well. ---
**Author:** ![dustMagnate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/fbc32d/32.png) [@dustMagnate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dustMagnate)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2001, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-get-a-restraining-order/54508/7 "2001-02-14T21:18:29Z")
Too funny. Good beltway gender spin. As the posts get farther apart the satire may get lost. For convenience and as a public service I will include the parodied post [here.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=59943) lol ---
**Author:** ![Clucky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@Clucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clucky)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2001, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-get-a-restraining-order/54508/8 "2001-02-14T21:21:31Z")
Don’t be surprised if he starts staring blankly at your tits from now on. That’s just how these sickos operate. Then, BAM, you hit him with the full force of the law. ---
**Author:** ![Tommy\_the\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Tommy\_the\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tommy_the_Cat)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2001, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-get-a-restraining-order/54508/9 "2001-02-14T21:23:26Z")
I bet he is now considering a night out and a “Brazilian.” You just can’t trust sickos like that. The nerve of some people. Sheesh. ---
**Author:** ![Inky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7feea3/32.png) [@Inky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inky_1)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2001, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-get-a-restraining-order/54508/10 "2001-02-14T21:42:10Z")
Egad! To think, all this time I’ve been exibiting all the character traits of a slavering sexual predator! Clearly the only remedy for such blatantly antisocial,…er…_social_ activity is a series of heavy handed workplace fraternization rules! Nothing will make for a more comfortable working climate than a standardized book of company-approved non-threatening greetings, replies and responses (okayed by the legal department). Failure to adhere to this template risks immiediate termination. ---
**Author:** ![Diane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Diane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diane)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2001, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-get-a-restraining-order/54508/11 "2001-02-14T22:00:05Z")
That IS creapy! I know how you feel. Just the other day I was coming back to the office after shopping at the mall when some sick pervo had the nerve to not only smile but to HOLD THE FREAKIN’ DOOR FOR ME! I have no doubt that he was lurking around waiting for some defenseless women with her arms full of packages to take advantage of. Just as I was walking through the door and could feel “those eyes” leering at me, I turned around and gave him a hard kick in the nads. It’s a damn good thing I still had the use of my legs, otherwise he may have tried to hit the elevator button for me as well!!! Jerk. ---
**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2001, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-get-a-restraining-order/54508/12 "2001-02-14T22:01:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by OpalCat \* > \*\*You’re both right… any idea where I can get a cheap gun? \*\* I think you should go big bore, on this one. (I mean, look at the guy!) .50 Desert Eagle or better, I’d say. You should spare no expense to ensure your safety. Or the death of strange stalkery guys. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Cheese\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cheese\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheese_Head)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2001, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-get-a-restraining-order/54508/13 "2001-02-14T22:18:15Z")
On tv sitcoms, that would be called a good pick-up line by Lee, and the two of you would hit it off. I am no legal expert, but so far this Lee is not what I would call stalking you. And if some of you really think a gun is the appropriate response, I think you are very wrong. Do you think she could carry a loaded gun with her? What good would an unloaded gun do? Just to scare him? I think she would probably be arrested for carrying a weapon and threatening him. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2001, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-get-a-restraining-order/54508/14 "2001-02-14T22:23:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cheese Head \* > \*\*On tv sitcoms, that would be called a good pick-up line by Lee, and the two of you would hit it off. > > I am no legal expert, but so far this Lee is not what I would call stalking you. And if some of you really think a gun is the appropriate response, I think you are very wrong. Do you think she could carry a loaded gun with her? What good would an unloaded gun do? Just to scare him? I think she would probably be arrested for carrying a weapon and threatening him. \*\* um. [sub **Cheese Head** look up. you’ll see (first of all) a ‘whoosh’ and second of all, a link to another thread - this thread is a parody of that one.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2001, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-get-a-restraining-order/54508/15 "2001-02-14T22:31:59Z")
Not stalking me! How can you SAY that? He arrives at/leaves from work at the SAME PLACE I DO, sometimes even at the SAME TIME! And he’s looked at me before! And did you not notice that I said he _spoke_ to me?? And told me I looked nice??! Hello, are you BLIND??? Of course he is stalking me! If I was your daughter you wouldn’t be defending him. Hmph! ---
**Author:** ![Fletch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/919ad9/32.png) [@Fletch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fletch)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2001, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-get-a-restraining-order/54508/16 "2001-02-14T22:38:59Z")
Four more words: Big ass mean dog. ---
**Author:** ![Cheese\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cheese\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheese_Head)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2001, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-get-a-restraining-order/54508/17 "2001-02-14T23:04:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by wring \* > um. [sub] Cheese Head look up. you’ll see (first of all) a ‘whoosh’ and second of all, a link to another thread - this thread is a parody of that one.[/sub] Ok, I see the “At least she didn’t slap me” thread by plnnr now. Pretty subtle. Opal had me going for a while, but I was suspicious when I saw the replies about buying a gun and so on. ---
**Author:** ![Louie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c68b51/32.png) [@Louie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Louie)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2001, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-get-a-restraining-order/54508/18 "2001-02-14T23:39:08Z")
Oh, it’s a parody… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …sorry, forgot to laugh. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2001, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-get-a-restraining-order/54508/19 "2001-02-14T23:45:30Z")
Louie, You didn’t forget to laugh. It just wasn’t funny. Not even a tiny bit. ---
**Author:** ![Shadowfox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Shadowfox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shadowfox)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2001, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-get-a-restraining-order/54508/20 "2001-02-14T23:47:05Z")
Cheese Head: You weren’t the only one who didn’t get it at first. I’m reading this thread and thinking to myself “Wait a minute…Opal doesn’t work outside of her home. What in the hell is she talking about?” Then I went and read the other thread and you all probably heard the sound of me banging my head repeatedly into the desktop because I finally got the joke. BTW, forget the mace. Get pepper spray instead. That stuff really burns when you get it in your eyes [sub]not that I would know anything about that[/sub] [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-get-a-restraining-order/54508.md?page=2)