When you are enjoying your time outside or in a city, it may sometimes be interrupted by strangers trying to get something out of you, whether it be a reaction, a favour or money.
These situations are inherently awkward and uncomfortable as it is. For some of us, it may be hard to know what to do or how to react. So here are some things to keep in mind if you ever find yourself in an uncomfortable encounter with a stranger.
Actively try to avoid these situations
When you are walking around or minding your own business, try your best to scan for potential awkward situations that may arise.
This may involve looking around to see if there are any sketchy-looking people or people trying to sell or advertise something to you. These people could pose a danger to yourself or obstruct what you are trying to do for the day.
Scanning and looking around is something that may seem trivial but is very important when you are outside. It is one of many things you can do to actively maintain your own safety when around others.
Another thing you can do to actively avoid uncomfortable situations is to keep yourself as far away from the danger as you possibly can.
This can involve crossing the street if you see someone who seems dangerous to you, taking a safer route to your destination even if it means having a longer commute or avoiding certain areas of the city that are known for being dangerous or having many incidents.
These are some small things you can do to avoid these situations, but they are crucial to know and put in practice just in case.
Photo: Deva Darshan (Unsplash)
Politely decline and walk away
Sometimes a simple “no thank you,” or better yet just ignoring someone and carrying on with your day, can be enough to avoid an uncomfortable situation.
For some, declining or rejecting people is an uncomfortable thing to do, but it is totally fine and warranted if you feel uneasy when around people you do not know. Saying something like “no thank you” or “I’m sorry, not right now” is a very polite and courteous way of rejecting someone and could make it easier for you if you ever feel awkward doing so.
Saying “no” might take some practice, but it is better to feel uncomfortable with declining someone than being in a situation that could put you in a state of vulnerability or danger.
There are many ways you can decline someone’s approaches to avoid an uncomfortable situation, so try putting some of them into practice and get more confident turning someone down.
Be short with your responses or try not to engage in conversation
When strangers approach you and you already feel uncomfortable, try your best to first ignore them. However, if you have no option but to speak with them, try being short with all your responses to their questions and advances.
Giving one-word responses or limited answers could help a stranger understand you would like to be left alone. This is where clearly stating that you are uncomfortable and setting boundaries with the person can help. Saying something like, “I’m sorry, I’m not in the mood to speak right now,” could help ward someone off from engaging in a conversation with you.
Being visibly uncomfortable or showing signs of being agitated with their advances could also help them get a hint that you do not want to speak with them. Doing things like sighing, avoiding eye contact or looking like you have somewhere to be could keep encounters short and save yourself from dealing with an awkward situation.
Photo: Mohid Tahir (Unsplash)
Call for help and assistance
This is the worst-case scenario, but it may come down to this, especially if someone is very persistent and will not leave you alone. There are many ways you can deal with strangers, but sometimes methods such as being polite and avoiding them do not work.
If possible, try your best to be in places where there are others around or areas that may have cameras such as in front of a store or around an intersection. Make yourself as visible as possible, so if an uncomfortable situation ever escalates, you have many potential witnesses.
You can try going to another person nearby and ask them to help you deal with a stranger that is making unwanted advances. Dealing with a stranger alone can be daunting at times, so having another person or multiple others there will help you feel much better about your situation and get you away from the person causing you trouble.
However, if someone keeps persisting and pressuring you, try making a scene and loudly reject them. This will make many people turn their attention towards your situation and be good samaritans by helping you.
Dealing with strangers could sometimes feel like an overwhelming hassle, but with the right mindset and knowledge, you can avoid feeling uncomfortable in these situations and know exactly what to do to get yourself back to a sense of safety.