That's because it's not that severe. I think maybe it's morohed in meabing in the male mind because of horror movies, but if you look up the word it means causing an unpleasant feeling of fear or unease. Literally, that's all it means.
So being creepy means you're causing that, being creeoes out means you're feeling that, and a creep is someone either does it deliberately or just ignores personal space co.oletely or what have you. No social grace whatsoever.
Very Few men are Creeps.
Probably all men have been creepy to someone. Probably all women too.
Kind of like how you can get out of sorts and be bitchy to someone but because that's not your normal operating demeanor, it doesn't make you a Bitch.
It's a matter of degrees, consistency, and perception. And that's why you get so many different answers. A lot of what a woman perceives as creepy is dependent on memory/experience. You feel unease because that's your body's way of warning you a behavior or pattern that previously hurt you is being repeated in the here and now.
The morning I read your previous article, a guy was being creepy. But I wouldn't say he was a Creep. I don't know what was up with him, but there was a clear repetition of behaviors from two prior incidents where other guys definitely meant me harm. My body reacted. As it will. I felt very uneasy. My hackles raised. I was concerned a bit for my safety and considering what to do if he circled back around again.
This creeped out feeling was triggered because he was in a truck, he circled around, and didn't take a polite no the first time.
The reason that's a trigger is because another guy about 2 months ago 'stalked' me in a truck trying to "offer me a lift", was very aggressive, didn't take no for an answer, and nearly caused an accident driving against traffic to circle me. So he was following me against the direction he had been travelling. When I eventually ignored him instead of continuing to refuse, he started screaming obscenities at me across the road and threatening to physically harm me.
To me, it's bizarre that men are getting so unhinged over this word in the way that they are. It's conflationary. Words mean what they mean. For the most part, I've seen most women use the word appropriately.
It's also seeming like gaslighting. Men don't get to minimize and laugh off the growing levels of harassment and vitriol women face since the rise of the manosphere, abscond from the shared responsibility of protecting the public Commons as a safe space for everyone, leave us women to deal with problem men, and then criticize how we do it.
If you want a say about it, fucking step back up. Start shaming these men for disruptive behavior. Protect the Commons of public space.
Otherwise, go back to your business and enjoy your beer. You don't get a say when you opt out.
