Post: #1

And so does making small talk, according to LA mass transit:



Next up: "Report all suspicious males asking women where they are from to the nearest police officer. Only you can stop unwanted harassment."

Post: #2

That has to be a joke... A "please refrain from masturbating" sign?

Post: #3

Why is from in quotation marks?

Post: #4

Here's DC's contribution to ugly women going about seeking attention.
   

http://www.wjla.com/articles/2012/06/met...76795.html

Post: #5

How do you know if conversation is "unwanted" unless you open them? Why are women walking the streets and riding the subways if they're so terrified of males talking to them? Give me a break.

If you want to feel safe then find husband and stay home and pop out a few babies.

Post: #6

This must be fake. Can anyone from LA confirm that these signs are real?

"If you are unable to refrain from harassing other passengers, please change seats and notify the bus operator" - WTF are they thinking?

Post: #7

How the fuck can public masturbation be considered the equivalent of small talk with a stranger???????

This country has truly jumped the shark. I can't believe that I used to want to live there once upon a time.

Post: #8

Rubbing yourself on females in the metro is one of life's small pleasures. I am quite sure there are more than a few women who agree.

Post: #9

Is this another trick? I saw one post up from the NYC subway. Maybe it's another art expression?

Post: #10

Well its sunny outside so Im about to hit the streets and violage some women

Post: #11

(05-17-2014 09:19 AM)berserk Wrote:  Rubbing yourself on females in the metro is one of life's small pleasures. I am quite sure there are more than a few women who agree.

People cram into subway cars like sardines in the mornings.

Post: #12

Someone should do a cartoon for this:

1900: Women were not considered full adults and parental authorities set stringent rules as to how men could approach them.

2014: Women are not considered full adults and state-sponsored authorities set stringent rules as to how men can approach them.

(PS: Notice how the sign only says "respect women?" I guess that means that gay-bashing and hate speech against minority men is just fine and dandy if you get in the mood to harass someone.)

Post: #13

I am no 'game' guy - but at least here in the UK - I always thought your average girl would freak out if she was approached by a stranger who was trying to get laid.

In the UK - women have shields up and are very uncomfortable talking to people they don't know. And as soon as they realise you are trying to fuck them - I think they would freak out. It is almost the equivalent of a guy approaching another guy in the street and randomly wanting to fight. The situation is just too incongruent for most people to deal with.

Where I live there is a mexican guy who walks around town and works at the local university. He has a giant mexican afro thing going on - and even though I don't know him, I see him around town about twice a week.

Anyway - a female boss of mine was telling me about the time she was approached by a guy on a boss who was interested in sleeping with her. Even though this was 20 years ago - it still shocked her. And she visibly shuddered at the thought that a guy interested in sex should approach a stranger and 'try and form a connection.'

The reason I mention the Mexican dude - is that because I eventually figured she was talking about him. So - even in his case - I am guessing he was a foreign guy who didn't really understand British women.

It is something I am interested in. Because I really do sense British chicks are very guarded about being approached by strangers. At least when sober (we are a nation of binge drinkers - by the way).

Now - I am sure a lot of guys will say I am wrong and don't know what I am talking about. But I am not stupid - I have lived in the UK for 32 years. And know how British women are. I would be interested in hearing other peoples thoughts - other than 'your wrong, you don't know what you are talking about.'

It is like when you are at a house party. You bump into somebody and ask why they are there and who do they know? When they say they are friends of a friends with the people throwing the party. People are cool.

But when they say that they saw the door open and just decided to walk in - people get freaked out.

And it is this level of vouching or minimal 'pre-selection' that women want. Not just taking a chance on some random guy they literally know nothing about.

What interests me is how much worse this is for British women compared to the rest of the world? I spend every day going into town to do shopping, going to Starbucks, going to restaurants and going on public transport. And I am constantly people watching - and I know what my eyes have observed.

It is a peculiarly British thing. British people panic at the thought of having to interact in any way with a stranger. We are very open and funny with people we know. But we just cannot handle breaking down the barriers and interacting with each others - when we don't already know you first.

Post: #14

I don't get it. Are you supposed to ask permission before you masturbate on mass transit?

Post: #15

(05-17-2014 09:43 AM)cardguy Wrote:  Now - I am sure a lot of guys will say I am wrong and don't know what I am talking about. But I am not stupid - I have lived in the UK for 32 years. And know how British women are. I would be interested in hearing other peoples thoughts - other than 'your wrong, you don't know what you are talking about.'

I am from Britain and can confirm that everything you wrote is correct.

I think women in this country have different standards depending on the venue. 'Unwarranted' small talk and such are only deemed acceptable within the confines of places like clubs and bars. To do so outwith these venues is tantamount to 'creepy behaviour', in their minds at least.

The people who'll disagree with you will be the foreign visitors to our country. This is because they are treated differently, possibly because women give them the benefit of the doubt and probably assume they are unaware of our norms thus our rules do not necessarily apply to them.

Post: #16

Good luck enforcing those rules. "Officer, he was talking to me!"

Post: #17

I grew up in London which is a bit of a different animal from the rest of England. Brits by nature are quite standoffish and prude (overtly anyway) but I did a lot of road game during summer months and sunny days and especially during rave nights when lizards were out on the slosh. Me and my mates were well received during these approaches. This behaviour was fuelled by the urban heartbeat of London which is spawned by Jamaicans who are an outgoing, gregarious bunch.

Maybe in other less urban areas, the approach thing may be frowned upon.

So, are there opportune times to approach, lads(Bey and Cardguy) or is this a behaviour that is largely exclusive to London?

Post: #18

Yeah - it is a totally different situation for foreign guys when they visit the UK.

The same is true for British guys when they go abroad as well. They will be a lot more open about interacting with strangers (I know I certainly am). And will often find themselves wondering why they cannot be this open and confident when interacting with random women - back home in the UK? But the problem is that in the UK - people are just not used to having to the idea of socialising with each other. We don't know what the unwritten rules are for such situations - since we have no experience in them.

I was once lost in Edinburgh and stopped a chick on the street for directions. In hindsight - I should have just asked in a shop. But I will never forget the level of panic on her face at being targeted by a stranger for an unwanted chat.

Another time I was on a train - and there was a girl standing opposite me. She wasn't that good looking - but she happened to be reading a book called 'Self-Made Man' which I was abut to read. I asked her about the book but immediately regretted it. The chick wasn't hot - so there was no point in trying to get to know her. And at the same time - the chick had mistaken my genuine question for a lame attempt at trying to pick her up. Or thought I was just some weirdo who had nothing better to do than start conversations with random strangers.

It was a bit awkward for the rest of the journey.

I am going to try and do a post on the psychology of British people at some point. But it is really hard. Like asking a fish to describe what water is like.

Post: #19

(05-17-2014 10:06 AM)cardguy Wrote:  Yeah - it is a totally different situation for foreign guys when they visit the UK.

What's your take on the forementioned situation in London? Is the British culture somewhat rendered moot there cos it's such a multicultural city?

Post: #20

When I started college 3 years ago there was never a sexual harassment issue anywhere on campus, now all you here about is situations where someone approaches in a non creepy way what so ever and gets called out for it. To me it's become more of an attention thing in major colleges. Might have gone off topic a bit but I think it kind of applies here

Post: #21

@Moma - there are three things there.

1) London is a different beast to the rest of the UK -everything there is just so much more intense and busier than the rest of the UK. Often situations that apply to the rest of the UK - don't apply there. With that said - try starting a conversation on the London Underground! :-)

2) You are foreign (American I guess?) - so different rules apply to you than to Brits living here.

3) You were out dealing with drunk women. This is the only time you can really approach women in the UK. When they are drinking a lot - and when you have a bunch of friends with you (and she has a bunch of friends with her) - so that she never feels trapped into a conversation with you - and has an easy get away.

--------------------------

Getting back to the issue of London. That is a complex topic. I am no expert on London myself - but my sense is that there everything is a lot more intense. So - in the situations where you are not expected to talk to strangers (eg the London Underground) - you will get people into a major panic if you break that rule. But equally - in situations where people are drinking and socialising - I sense Londoners are more open to interacting with strangers.

The reason is that London is a very expensive place to live. And every chick in London dreams of marrying a rich guy (or hooking up with a guy who can hook them up with a cool job) - so that she can avoid the stress that goes with being poor in London. As such - they are more open to giving you the time of day in a bar or club - since you may be the rich guy she has being waiting for.

There are a lot of rich people in London. So - the fact that you are even there - means there is a better chance that you are a success in life - than if the same chick gets approached in a bar or club in a place like Norwich or Swansea - or anywhere else in the UK.

Even guy in the UK who is trying to make big money or do something cool with their life - ends up in London.

Also - London is constantly busy and constantly changing - and people form a lot of friendships that come and go. As such - they have more experience of interacting with each other and trying to form new connections. Their social game is better in that sense - since every young person in London feels they are the hippest, most intelligent and most interesting person in the country.

The more they all try and stand out from each other - the more they become the same...

Post: #22

(05-17-2014 10:09 AM)Moma Wrote:  

(05-17-2014 10:06 AM)cardguy Wrote:  Yeah - it is a totally different situation for foreign guys when they visit the UK.

What's your take on the forementioned situation in London? Is the British culture somewhat rendered moot there cos it's such a multicultural city?

Thinking about it more, notice that these signs are only popping up in multicultural zones like LA and London.

It's probably the case that most girls aren't comfortable with talking to guys outside of the culture they grew up with, creating low levels of social trust. Ergo signs that say no talking to strangers.

Just another benefit of diversity

Post: #23

(05-17-2014 10:15 AM)Samseau Wrote:  

(05-17-2014 10:09 AM)Moma Wrote:  

(05-17-2014 10:06 AM)cardguy Wrote:  Yeah - it is a totally different situation for foreign guys when they visit the UK.

What's your take on the forementioned situation in London? Is the British culture somewhat rendered moot there cos it's such a multicultural city?

Thinking about it more, notice that these signs are only popping up in multicultural zones like LA and London.

It's probably the case that most girls aren't comfortable with talking to guys outside of the culture they grew up with, creating low levels of social trust. Ergo signs that say no talking to strangers.

Just another benefit of diversity

More like girls are'nt comfortable with talking to unsexy men. Bitches move to these areas for the diversity in dick similar to them studying abroad and volunteering in Africa for the "experience".

Post: #24

(05-17-2014 10:11 AM)cardguy Wrote:  @Moma - there are three things there.

1) London is a different beast to the rest of the UK -everything there is just so much more intense and busier than the rest of the UK. That often situations that apply to the rest of the UK - don't apply there. With that said - try starting a conversation on the London Underground! :-)

2) You are foreign (American I guess?) - so different rules apply to you than to Brits living here.

3) You were out dealing with drunk women. This is the only time you can really approach women in the UK. When they are drinking a lot - and when you have a bunch of friends with you (and she has a bunch of friends with her) - so that she never feels trapped into a conversation with you - and has an easy get away.

I'm not foreign, I'm a London guy. I'm foreign to North America. A lot of our approaches in London would be done during summer days with hot looking totty on the road. I've done approaches on the bus, on the road, on my bicycle etc.

I never was a big pub crawler and a lot of my links were done via road. I met one of my lizards during a bike ride in Acton.

Again, the urban culture of London is largely Jamaican and the Jamaican culture is more overt. They proactively go for lizards and don't sit back shivering and waiting.
This means that London guys will tend to be more in your face and go for lizards instead of waiting for social circle to pull them around.

I remember a young kid of about 15 years hollaring at a lizard on the crowded bus upstairs on the top deck. She was in her mid to late 30s and seemed gobsmacked that this lad was trying to pitch lines at her. His theme was basically this: Age isn't nothing but a number and I can give you the same loving a man in your age bracket will give you.

His behaviour was a typical example of the London swagg and it was instilled upon one from young (12 and up). Approach or be deemed a social leper.

Post: #25

Toronto has been mulling/musing using police to watch the streets for "hassling solicitation and harassing of women" feminist groups have been pushing for it to defend women from boogeyman and rapists here, but the cops have been hesitant to fully act on it. If they do eventually then that would be a turning point against day approaching in the classic sense.