Disappointed Nerd

[dwilday]

I just wandering around my neighborhood, the Highland Park area, and was… I don’t know how to put it… indirectly harassed?

A bit of background, I’m a 38yr old guy who bought a house in the area with his partner 8 years ago. We have a 6 month old son and I go for semi-frequent walks in the area with and without him.

Well, and here’s the nerdy part, tonight I was out playing PokemonGO (if you haven’t heard of it by now… you probably will) which basically amounts to wandering around staring at your phone. I was tracking down a particular digital critter when I wandered down SW Orchard St, across from the park. Now I work in the tech industry so we dress super casually; I tend to gravitate toward jeans and a zip up hoodie. Tonight is rather warm so I threw on some cargo shorts. Anyhow I was walking down the south sidewalk and there were two women on the north sidewalk chatting, suddenly I hear one raise their voice and mention “WELL I HAD THEM PUT IN THE POLICE REPORT”, this was mentioned multiple times: “POLICE REPORT.” And yes, she spoke in all caps. I kept looking at my phone trying to find this particularly elusive Pidgey (it’s a Pokemon bird… look it up) and walking. I then realized that SW Orchard doesn’t have a turn off until 16th and decided to turn back and head home. I was also curious if they were really talking about me so I switched sides of the street and headed back up. As I passed I heard the same woman, who had since moved close to her house (I didn’t look to see where) say “I’m going in! If he heads up here I’ll tell him to leave.” So, they were talking about me.

It was pretty heartbreaking to think that people see me out walking, doing something rather childlike and nerdy, and for some reason feel that they need to make veiled threats as though I wished them harm. I don’t feel I look threatening, but then I don’t see me from other people’s eyes… so I guess I don’t really know. Anyhow if the woman who made these comments frequents this blog, I’ll have you know that your careless words really left me feeling pretty bad.

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[Jeannie]

Please don’t feel bad, nice nerd. Not sure what the issue was with that woman. Maybe she was a member of the fashion police!

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[anonyme]

Welcome back, Del!

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[JoB]

in West Seattle you are unlikely to get shot because of their assumptions
at least.. i hope so

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[seaopgal]

Throwing on the cargo shorts over the jeans was probably your first mistake, DN. But on the off-chance that this is a serious post, I’ll share that in my years of daily walks around WS, I’ve often encountered people speaking loudly about things that didn’t have anything to do with their immediate surroundings, let alone me. Next time, try looking up and waving. Never underestimate the power of eye contact, and a wave makes them stop and think, “Oh, do I know that guy?” It also establishes your right to be where you are. In closer quarters, a friendly version of “I’m sorry, I was distracted. Did you say something to me?” usually works. Or take a tip from the birding community, doff your hoodie, and say, “Pardon me, but do you know where I might see the Pidgey?”

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