Hi, hey, hello: We get it. You wanna crush that cardio. And apparently you can only do this in a group of 20, roaming the sidewalk like a pack of gazelles. But WHY in the world do you have to run around those of us trying to use the sidewalk to, you know, WALK PLACES? The other evening after dark, a group of you decided to run around me from behind (I was keeping to the right side of the sidewalk so you could’ve easily passed me single-file), making me think I was about to get mugged or trampled or worse. It’s not good enough for you to take up all the space anymore, now apparently you need to scare the bejesus outta everyone else who might want some space, too. Thanks.
—Scared lady walking home
This article appears in Jul 26 – Aug 1, 2018.
Madame:
There are a couple of things you need to get through your fuzzy head right some quick:
Men are here to stay. We comprise approximately 50% of the population and were not going anywhere. Period. If for some reason or other you are genuinely terrified at the sight of groups of men walking or running down the street, you need to do but one thing and one thing only – SEEK THERAPY, because your fears are illogical, irrational, and not accepted as being valid by the vast majority of the population regardless of the fact that there are bad people roaming around out there and shit occasionally happens. Suck it up, because the fact is 99% of men you encounter have no interest in you whatsoever and wouldn’t dream of harming you.
We are NOT obligated to clear the streets and lock ourselves in man caves after dark to make safe bubble spaces for women and were not going to. Ever. And no government or judiciary is ever going to be able to force us to do so.
Now that I’ve addressed your rant specifically, here’s number two and it isn’t just for you, its for males or females in Halifax or any other city on this globe who actually believes they are entitled to large quantities of their own mobile real estate on public property where no one else shall traverse and may I say there are alarming volumes of you people popping up lately.
According to the United Nations, by 2050, 68% of the worlds population will live in cities, with Megacities containing more than 10 million people on the rise. Already, 55% of the population live in cities.
Now what that means, will continue to mean, and mean even more in the future is that there are going to be a lot of people packed into a small space. Probably far more than were accustomed to in the near future (as the McMansion middle class slowly lose their ability to buy big in the burbs) and it is absolutely essential to prevent total chaos for people to cooperate if they either choose to or are forced to live in the city. Halifax may be small but from a human cooperation perspective it is absolutely no different.
This business of walkers making war with bikers, walkers making war with runners, walkers making war with one gender or the other, cyclists making war with drivers, drivers running over cyclists and walkers, cyclists and walkers deliberately doing things to create accidents because technically they can, people demanding absolute silence at certain times, people demanding safe spaces, people demanding control over others.its all ABSOLUTELY INSANE and it needs to stop.
Even our ridiculous councillors at City Hall (who clearly understand not much of anything) understand THAT concept, as one of them was on the radio the other day responding to some Safe space FOOLISHNESS from a walker who felt she was inundated by cyclists on the Dartmouth Common. He essentially brushed it off and said Its our responsibility to get along in common spaces.
HERE HERE.aint that the truth. YOU HAVE to get along with people and grow the hell up otherwise this city is going to turn into the kind of pressure cooker that REALLY causes you to need to stay indoors at night.
CEASE AND DISIST. Mind your own business and stop creating problems where none exist. IMMEDIATELY.
Try_the_truth, well said!
I don’ think she was trying to tell all men to hide away, or even to stop their evening running habits. I think she was just asking them to be considerate of the people around them. Realistically, she has the right to be upset no matter how much logic or shade yout throw, you are not gonning to change that. but I do ask of you, o’ all knowing angsty guy, be kind.
Try_the_truth, you’re just wrong, have a nice day 🙂
I bet if were the other way around there would be lots of bitching and moaning form the men
TRY_THE_TRUTH, theres no evidence that all men are here to stay. In fact, theres some strong evidence pointing to the efficacy and immediate social benefit of removing toxic, abusive misogynist men like you from the population. I suggest you familiarize yourself with the history of the Forest Troop baboons before the inevitable revolution comes and you learn firsthand what the toxic, abusive males of that primate society found out: that you are in fact entirely expendable.
Further, speaking as a trained book editor, your writing style is abysmal, and your grasp of where and when its appropriate to use all caps for emphasis is laughable at best.
Now, shoo. The grownups are trying to have a conversation, and your tantrum is an irritating little distraction.
Despite what the media teaches you how to think, not all males are out to get you.
Also criminals and pedophiles of the opposite sex exist!
https://www.ctvnews.ca/female-sex-offender…
That being said, I do agree that it’s rude for anyone to do such things on the sidewalk, as well as cyclists blocking traffic lanes by riding 2 and 3 adjacent to each other, especially when a cycling lane is present. Men and women do it.
Heaven forbid those guys would have to pass single file. Entitled and selfish.