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Unsolicited Fatherly Advice

While out for a run the other day with my dog, a random middle aged man came up to me to give me some unsolicited ‘fatherly’ advice.He cautioned that he wasn’t trying to tell me where my place was but that I should “be careful” because I seemed like such a nice young lady. He told me I shouldn’t be out so late. (It was 5 pm and still light out.) He also said I shouldn’t be dressed the way I was dressed. (I was wearing full length thick running tights, a thick sweater and one of those puffy ski vests.) He proceeded to give me a lecture about how dangerous it was to be on the streets “downtown.” He did this while my seventy pound doberman was peeing in front of me and him, and because I was downtown there were about a dozen bystanders milling about. I cannot imagine this ever happening to a man, especially one with such a large and notoriously protective breed of dog. I pointed out to him that there were witnesses everywhere. I pointed out that the only place that is adequately lit in the city is downtown, and it was the only likely place to have people out and about. He said, but it’s the people. And I responded, WHAT PEOPLE! The drunks who live in the park, who I let pet my dog all the time? The ones just trying to survive? They aren’t interested in hurting anyone. (To which I got a cheer from the homeless guy smoking a joint 20 yards away watching the whole thing.) In fact, it was probably one of the safest places to be since there is so much foot traffic and if he bothered to look at a crime map the police do in fact agree with me. There is an adjoining suburb with quite literally three times the crime rate of the downtown core. The crime rate is so high because it is directly adjoining the entrance to an army base. Most of the crime involves drunk soldiers assaulting each other but more commonly their spouses and girlfriends. Every day on that map you can see 50+ incidents. The whole incident just disgusted me so much because I know Mr. Randomly Creepy Do-Gooder is going to keep going around spreading his lies. I worry some young woman will actually listen to him. That she will forever forgo activities she enjoys because she is afraid.