Quote:
Originally Posted by Open Eyes
(((seesaw))),
You actually handled the encounter well. You did fine with your boundaries and now that you know this person has taken extra steps to meet you, try not to just assume he is going to do something bad. It's probably just an idea he came up with as a way to meet you and talk to you in person and he did meet you in a public place so this is not like he is trying to catch you alone. You now know this guy has an interest in you, the ball is still in your court and you can take charge and make sure you discourage him kindly from further pursuing you and you can also take steps to be more careful about posting your plans on this site where he saw it and made plans to see you.  |
I don't know what his intentions or plans were but it was creepy and unsafe to me. He FORCED his conversation on me, and felt entitled to do so because of what? What entitles some man to follow me to an event and make demands upon my time? Because I RSVP'd to an event page that I was going to an event?
There were plenty of people at that event waiting in line to talk to me as a professional about my consulting services. This guy was being inappropriate, bringing up my mental illness, which, by the way, I don't even discuss with people I do know versus complete strangers. Then him hinting that we should get drinks and "no pressure." That was pressuring me right there. He came out here to seek me out and force me to spend time with him, rather than asking me out to see if I wanted to get to know him. I say this because the way he conversed and the subject matter he brought up, he seemed to behave like he was at a singles social event. How does he even know if I'm single? I don't talk about my relationship status on FB.
Screw discourage him kindly. I blocked him as soon as I could. Not only is there just the inappropriate factor, but this was a deception on his part. Following me to an event and not telling me or messaging me and using a PROFESSIONAL WORK EVENT to try and seek me out to ask me out is deceptive as hell. Lurking on my Facebook page to then follow me to an event is a deception. He could have easily messaged me and asked to meet up some time. He did not do this. He lied about why he was there - it is an event for artists and art professionals, he had no business being there - that was a deception.
I'm not giving the time of day to someone who practically hunts me down. I'm not treating this behavior as harmless. There's no encouraging or discouraging. He is blocked and if he does attempt any further contact or attempts to force further contact, there will be a restraining order. This felt very violating, and I'm not going to sugar coat that.
Seesaw