As a woman, seriously, just give me the bro nod to acknowledge that I exist but am not that interesting to you and keep walking. If you go out of your way to show that you aren't a threat now I'm thinking you're a threat, and if you pointedly ignore me now I'm wondering if you are actually far more interested in me than you should be but you want me not to notice.

Brief eye contact while acknowledging that I exist tells me you aren't afraid of me remembering your face but that you aren't being weird and staring or trying to hide from me.

Just don't be weird man, that's all you gotta do.

Grandma used to say nothing breaks the ice like breaking wind so give a friendly toot as you pass.

According to Brent Staples' essay from a few decades ago, about how to not be seen as threatening as a black man in the US: "And on late-evening constitutionals I employ what has proved to be an excellent tension-reducing measure: I whistle melodies from Beethoven and Vivaldi and the more popular classical composers. Even steely New Yorkers hunching toward nighttime destinations seem to relax, and occasionally they even join in the tune. Virtually everybody seems to sense that a mugger wouldn’t be warbling bright, sunny selections from Vivaldi's Four Seasons. It is my equivalent of the cowbell that hikers wear when they know they are in bear country."

Play dead, women are like bears.

Just act like a normal person, jesus christ

Cross the street because what if she tries talking to me? It's night, I already did all my talking for the week I wanna be introverted alone.

If I understand the TikTok trend from a little while back, the solution is to pretend to be a bear.

What with the growing population world-wide it is not unusual to meet a human when you're out walking. Remember it's probably just as scared as you are. Try to keep your cool. Don't try to feed them, don't stare at them, don't photograph them. Don't run, or they might think you're prey. It's often best to just keep going and pretend you don't see them.

Nothing will help this scenario with just 2 people.

You have to add a third party. The man needs to have a female companion, or a happy friendly dog.

If I walk alone, my 250 pound, six foot talk frame is viewed as a threat. If I take my brother's highly animated German spotted pointer with me, people approach me and want to pet the puppy.

1. Make eye contact. No eye contact is creepy. It's best to err on the side of more, rather than less, eye contact, because you probably don't make enough.
2. Pick up the pace. If you're walking slowly, it's going to look like you're trying to prolong the encounter, so go at least at a trot.
3. Hands are threatening, so keep one or both behind your back to prevent spooking her.
4. Smile! You look prettier that way. Two birds with one stone here: if you keep a smile on your face, you'll look less threatening, and you can tell her to smile to inform her that you want her to be happy.
5. Pay her a compliment to put her at ease. Something non-sexual like, "you have beautiful teeth."
6. It will be clear you're not a threat if she knows you've got something else. You could communicate that you're going home to eat by licking your lips. Make some smacking noises too, if it's dark.
7. Clothes conceal threats, so take yours off.

HTH

What kind of question is this? You just act like a normal person and keep walking. Maybe step politely to the side to avoid crashing right into them

Shoot webbing at the closest streetlight, use it to swing to the to of the building across the street. The Rhino is trying to rob the bank again, stand back citizen!

I usually turn around and start walking backwards, peeking quickly over my shoulder and looking increasingly worried because she's chasing ME and she's getting closer!

Don't make women the victim; be a gentleman and YOU be the victim.

Mind your business and keep walking. Don't be weird and stare. Maybe smile, nod your head, or say hello -- again if you can be normal. In any case keep walking.

You should tell her that you've been trying to reach her regarding her car's extended warranty.

/s

Nothing, ignore them and just keep walking

If it’s a brightly lit street, or with any other people about, I just mind my own business and walk past her. I usually hug the wall side so she won’t feel boxed in as we pass.

If it’s dimly lit, or at all sketchy, and there’s no one else around I’ll usually cross to the other side of the road. I’d rather walk a little extra distance than have someone be afraid.

The safety dance. Oo the safety dance. Yes the safety dance. The safety dance.

Ignore her like anyone else and let her decide on her own comfort zone walking by you? If some one sees you walking alone, and starts altering their behavior because of your presence, whatever their intention, it sends the message that you have been noticed, you are being watched, they are reacting to your presence, and this indicates some kind of interest or goal in an interaction.

So just keep waking, if she wants to cross the street, just ignore her. Definitely don't yell "It's okay I'm not a rapist!" or "I have a girlfriend already!", just let her do her thing, and you keep doing yours.

Ah it looks like the advice here is very similar to the other post.

"hey if you're a man i'm gonna need you to never approach a woman who's alone at night time. don't care what your intention is - unless it's an emergency, don't. you probably have no idea what the jolt of terror and/or the gnawing dread feels like in these situations. thanks."

Start running until you pass her to make the awkward moment shorter.

No no no, all of these suggestions are wrong, some of them get close, but they don’t paint the whole picture.

Start off by just walking calmly, and then once she’s in your hearing range, give her a nod. Now, start snarling and quickly drop to all 4s as you gallop forwards and eventually past her. This is a sure fire sign to make sure that she knows she’s in good hands

Sometimes I’ll cross the street if it’s safe and won’t have to immediately recross to get where I’m going. If not I just keep walking and keep my eyes to myself, as long as you’re not being a staring creepass or looking her up and down you’re fine.

I honestly don’t like answering these because I haven’t been put off by many people in public and the ones who do don’t need an instruction manual on how to be disarming.

I find putting a boundary between helps a lot. Even a basically meaningless one. Like walking on the grass while she takes the sidewalk. If you can’t cross the road.

If your really concerned call your mom or sister on speaker phone and chat with them for a min while you pass.

If the woman is uncomfortable she can alter her path. I've been that woman before but have rarely felt uncomfortable enough to cross the street or whatever. I just keep walking and either ignore or give a pleasant nod to the man to let him know I'm chill and not scared and we're two normal innocuous people passing each other.

Maybe twice in my life my spidey senses tingled and I changed my path and got out of there. Our instincts protect us.

Ignore and carry on with your life.

I just wave and go on my business. Unless they have a dog, in which case I say 'sup dawg' because that's what I do for all 3 dimensional dogs.

Make eye contact, smile widely, and enthusiastically extend my hand so she knows I'm not a threat.

No, I actually just keep walking, not altering my path. Occasionally will give them a nod, just like I'd give anyone.

Don't try to chat up women at night. There is no scenario of a strange man being interested in me while it's dark that I'll be receptive to. It's impossible for your line to be so good I'll stop seeing you as dangerous.

1 show up really drunk and high
2 take a dump on stage
3 smash the microphone into your head repeatedly
4 throw shit at the audience
5 smear shit all over yourself
6 roll around in the shit while actively bleeding
7 hug your fans on the street after getting kicked out of the venue
8 try not to OD and die at the party

wave your arms is the air and yell "I am not a threat!" Seriously though, probably make a fake phone call, or look at my phone if she looks visibly nervous. I walk in the evening sometimes and have encountered other folks. I usually just walk straight ahead and don't make eye contact.

A thing that should be emphasized, is that humans learn how to behave in different situations by practice. If a given passing-a-woman instance suggests that you made her nervous, while regrettable, isn't the end of the world. Try different things. With practice, you can find what works for you, and will gradually get better at "acting normal" or presenting in the manner that seems to produce the desired result.

All I know from doing runs at night is create a solid pepper spray buffer if coming from behind.

Walk to the side of the sidewalk and make room for us women. Please don’t keep walking in a straight line and expect for us to get off the sidewalk.

I collide with men who don't move for oncoming people.

If this isn't a wrong answers only question:

I would be more comfortable if the guy gave me space, but as long as you are not accosting me, a "good evening" and keep going is fine.

If it's wrong answers only, choose any of the walks from the ministry of silly walks Monty Python sketch.

Take a step or two to the side if able, otherwise just try to get past without eye contact. I worry more about coming up behind them and say good evening to let them know I'm there.

I just treat random people passing all the same. A quick friendly smile and a hello. If the stranger wants to talk then we talk but it's usually a couple of words in passing.

Just go where you need to be. Mind your own business, eye ahead so you see where you're going, and only stop if she trips or drops something. And that's not an invitation to start chatting - be helpful and go on.

as a man I prefer women to be afraid of me and cower in fear. makes me feel big and powerful. gets my dick hard! /s

just be normal.

that said, too many men are fucking creeps and sickos. choose the bear, girls, won't hurt my feelings.

Pull your shirt over your head so that it covers your face and prostrate yourself.

I used to jog really late in the evening for many years and had this experience more than once.

My solution: Put my hands palm out flat in front of me as if to gesture I wasn't a threat.

If walking, doing something similar and not making it weird is probably equally good.

Say hi and keep walking.

Pull out your phone and pretend to be talking to you mother on it.

People can pick up a lot of information from someone they see walking towards them. They can tell by your gait, your body movements, and facial expressions (if you're close enough to see them) whether you might be a threat or not. As a man in this situation who has never and will never be a threat to women I think that comes across in subtle ways without having to say a word. And since someone I didn't know at a party came up to me and said I had the kindest face they've ever seen, that also works in my favor. When we finally pass each other I always say hello and smile and keep on walking. And if you do see a woman walking towards you don't do anything stupid like slow down or stop or walk with your head down with your hands in your pockets. Ol

If it doesn't trouble you, move to the other side of the street. If it does, smile and try to look non-threatening.

Walk directly towards her, tell her she’s smoking hot and ask what she wants in her morning coffee

I kid. I kid.

But you know that’s what a lot of guys are thinking.

Act creepy enough and she'll cross the street so you end up with the whole side walk.

Swear and call her names and she'll remember you and keep an eye out to avoid you.

I avoid troglodytes dog guy and floppy arms running girl. 2 golden retriever lady avoids me or at least I haven't seen her.

1. Give your best battle scream.

2. Run directly into the nearest woods.

3. Protect her from nearby bears, particularly aggressive squirrels, other men that are doing a battle scream in the woods, etc.

4. Once she is safely past, resume normal activities.

Take out your phone and pretend to look at it while you side-eye them aggressively. Everyone loves that!

Sing a The Cardigans song, like Pikebubbles.

Make yourself more visible. Be on your phone with brightness set to max, get on the phone and call someone, or pretend to. Move over slowly to the edge of whatever side you are on to give her space. If all of that is too much trouble, then cross the street.

Does anyone remember that Vine where the guy is filming himself walking at night and says “oh there’s a woman walking alone up there. I better catch up to her and let her know I’m not a threat” as he starts sprinting? Damn vine used to be fun

Anyone else feel really allienated when people act like it's normal for women to have an anxious breakdown in the presence of, or interacting with a dude?

I don't want to downplay what some go through, or the trauma that people relive, but it's not normal or healthy to be living in constant fear of the opposite sex.

For all the guys who feel like their presence is an active threat to the women around them: just be normal. Be courteous, but don't treat them higher, or lower, than anyone else you meet. Feels weird I have to say that

Reverse the question and you’ll understand why it can be so depressing to be a man.

Cross the street if possible.

A simple hello and see how it goes

You are already so far past being fuckin normal to make anything normal in any scenario so stop trying. The more you try to act normal the weirder you seem to everyone around you. Who the fuck puts this much thought into walking past someone. If you are really this nervous about it. Burry your head into your phone and be oblivious to anyone you walk past and accept the risk you might walk into traffic if there are no headlights on a vehicle.

Be less autistic. Jesus.