Seriously. What happened to honestly trying to do something for someone else with no strings attached??!?!?!?!? The neighborhood I live in is like freaking Mayberry, no joke! Everyone waves, and EVERYONE is working out in their yards when it's warm. There's no "trashy" house. You know the house everyone gripes about who doesn't cut their grass and what not. Nope, not in my neighborhood. Every lawn is manicured and most are landscaped. The kids are outside riding their bikes, playing football, or doing kid stuff whatever that is. The neighborhood people all wave, it's quiet, runners running the hills, and all the things a "great" neighborhood entails. So, on Friday, I get a message from my old roommate whom lives on the South side of our town. It said, "Do you live near _________. I got a cyber alert and there was a r*ape on that street." First of all, I had no idea what the heck a cyber alert is and yeah, that is my freaking street. I live on this street. I immediately text her not wanting all of FB to know my biz, and was like I live on that street. She said that you can sign up on the city's police website to receive emails when crime happens in your area including the burbs where we live. I immediately signed up. I got an email, and it showed that a forcible r*ape happened on my street last Tuesday at 7:30 pm. Ummm, yeah, it's still light at 7:30, and often, I go running at this time. It doesn't give the exact address only the block. My street isn't that long; so, it could have happened anywhere my eye can see. Also, it doesn't give the details either, but it will state whether or not someone has been arrested for it. It freaking scared the bejeezus out of me. So, as I was about to turn on my street, as any good Samaritan would, I stopped a woman who was running. I explained to her that I lived on the street and had received the cyber alert and told her about the incident. I explained it didn't give any details, but, as a woman myself, who goes running at that time I just wanted her to be aware of her surroundings and have her guard up in case it wasn't something domestic. Because let's face it, if my old roommate hadn't messaged me, I'd go on thinking everything was hunky-dory and that crime just "doesn't happen" in my neighborhood. This woman kind of seemed slightly offended I had stopped her run and while she said thank you and said OMGs, she parted with "Thanks for freaking me out. Thanks for freaking me out." I was just trying to do the right thing. I'm glad I know because my guard is up. It's made me more cautious about my surroundings. However, she made me feel bad about stopping her to warn her. She made me feel like I had done something wrong. She made me feel like I was a terrible person and causing trouble. I was just looking out from woman to woman, from runner to runner, and ESP from female runner to female runner. I talked it over with LC whom said he sees these charges on a daily basis and often, they are domestic and happen in household. However, there are no details, and it's better to be safe than sorry. Do you think I was wrong?
16 comments:
No I don't think you were wrong. If I had been that woman, I would have been glad you told me about it. I'd much rather be freaked out and aware of what was happening than calm and unaware, therefore making myself more of a target. Sorry this happened so close to home!
Nooooo way did you do the wrong thing! There are not many people who would think to go out of their way for that lady as you did. People can be so strange, I just think its this crazy world we live in now-a-days! I say pat yourself on the back girlfriend! You just helped to save a life! And she should be freaked out! You did a good thing!!
No I don't think you were wrong in warning her! If i had been the lady, i would have been glad you told me. I'm sure it would have freaked me out too, but i would have been glad to know.
DON'T feel bad!!
ABSOLUTELY NOT! I think she was freaking out and thinking out loud and it didn't have anything to do with you. Also, I'm sure she appreciated it and if she ever saw you again and recognised you she would thank you properly. Although if it had been me, I prob wouldn't remember what you look like sooooo.....
I think you totally did the right thing! I would have stopped and warned her too. I would have been grateful if I had been the runner and you warned me. I am so sorry to hear this happened so close to your home.
You did the right thing. Even if it freaked her out it will make her more aware and could help her down the road.
I totally understand crime freaking you out. There was a murder on my street last year. A domestic abuse situation but it was still freaky to me.
No matter her reaction, you should feel proud that you did the right thing and that she might be safer because of it. More confirmation that you are the type of friend I keep. Snaps for a being a good sam!
You were DEFINITELY NOT wrong...I would have appreciated it. Perhaps that lady really didn't know how to take it... and she probably was freaked out bad... if it had been me I would have TRUCKED it home. But there wasn't any reason for her to be rude or make you feel bad for WARNING her about the possible danger in the neighborhood. Shame on her.
I agree with everyone else, and think you did the right thing. We all need to watch out for everyone, and I would totally rather know about something like this happening in my neighborhood and be a little "freaked out" than to be caught off guard and have something like this happen to me.
You totally did the right thing!! I would want somebody to warn me about danger like that! It is sad what our world is coming to sometimes! You did a good deed :)
ABSOLUTELY NOT! You were only trying to do the good thing. She was probably so shocked she didnt know how to react. And the truth is, you should always have your guard up, being a female and running alone. What was the site and how do I sign up for alerts?
OMGness NO! You were absolutely right! If I was running and someone stopped to tell me that about MY neighborhood, I would probably buy them dinner....that's a little piece of information you want KNOW about. Crazy lady!
OMG, you are so NOT in the wrong. Good for you for stopping her. If I had been that woman I would have been really thankful and appreciative that someone alerted me to a possibly horrifying situation. Don't worry, you did a good thing. My sister lived in a neighborhood with a "serial rapist" a few years back and it was pretty terrifying. Stay safe my dear!
I would definitely want you to warn me so I think you did the right thing. Even if she was perturbed, you might have given her a sense of caution she didn't have before and could possibly save her life in the future. That's how I see it. Be safe out there!
Ew, I am mad at that woman. I mean you were being considerate and thoughtful to stop and warn her. You wanted to protect her the way you want to be protected. The way women should look out for each other (but too often don't). I'm sorry you had that experience and I am so sorry you had a crime like that on your street.
In college I lived across from the only sexually violent predator in our town. I would spend nights up not able to sleep because of it, and of course the year I switched houses and didn't have to worry he also moved.
I'll say a prayer they catch the perpetrator. Be safe and have a good weekend!
She should be freaked out! We should ALL be freaked out! As women, our precaution should be borderline paranoia...don't people watch real crime shows? Its always the girl who never thought it would happen to her.
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