How to get rid of a creepy guy
If you’re a woman, you’ve probably had to get rid of a creepy guy at some point or another. When a simple ‘no’ won’t suffice, you need a backup plan. So, let me tell you about the creepiest guy I have ever encountered and how I (mostly) got rid of him. Also, I searched the internet on how to get rid of a creepy guy, but I’m getting ahead of myself.
Please don’t judge me for this story.
Background information
When I was an undergrad student at university, I practically lived in the campus computer labs. This was because I didn’t have an internet connection or printer at home.
When you printed documents, you had to go to the designated desk in the lab, swipe your student (for payment), and then they would print your stuff and give it to you.
Obviously, this was a service that I desperately needed for my studies and hence I was nice to the people who worked there (and also because I’m not an asshole).
The creepy guy
This one guy who worked there was a short black guy. When I say short, I mean short. I once saw him driving in the parking lot and the guy could barely see over the steering wheel – it was a funny sight, actually.
This guy took a weird liking to me for some reason. It’s not like I flirted with him or anything. Geez, we barely talked. Every time I printed something; this guy practically undressed me with his eyes. Believe me, you can see creepy/crazy in someone’s eyes. It was so creepy and super uncomfortable.
It got so bad that whenever I had to use the labs for printing (there were four venues/rooms in the building), I’d have a quick look around and go to the one where he wasn’t working. Then when I printed something, suddenly, he was working in that venue. He would swap places to be in the same venue as me.
I think we can all agree that this was one creepy guy.
How I got rid of him (mostly)
So, one day this guy asked me: “Would you ever date a black guy?”
This is where I panicked. For starters, I honestly do not care what race someone is, as long as they’re cool. But in this case, it was tricky for two reasons.
If I said ‘yes’, then the guy would ask me out, and when I would inevitably reject him, he would have made life difficult for me in the labs. If I said ‘no’, this guy and all his colleagues would think that I’m racist. I didn’t want to go out with this guy, not because he was black, but because he was creepy as hell.
So, what did I say?
I said that I was a lesbian. I said I panicked, okay? (It’s kind of funny because at that point my best friend and I were very close and many people thought we were lesbians.)
A few days later I had to print something again. This guy was working in the venue (no surprise there) and chatting with one of his colleagues. She saw me and said that this guy liked me and wanted to marry me. The guy said, ‘Stop, you’ll scare her off.’ That’s when I thought: ‘Oh honey, that ship has sailed.’
It mostly worked
In my fourth (Honours) year, I started working and could afford to get a printer and internet connection at home. Hence, I was freed from the computer labs.
In my postgrad studies, I still worked on campus and saw that creepy guy around sometimes. He would look longingly at me from afar, and then I would look away.
How to get rid of a creepy guy – according to the internet
Luckily, I have a black belt in karate now, so I’m not afraid to tell someone to kindly ‘fuck off’ when they’re being creepy. I also have a boyfriend, but for some guys, that’s not a reason to stop.
The question is, if you don’t have ninja skills, what do you do to escape a creepy guy situation?
I searched the internet for a few tips on how to get rid of a creepy guy and also found a few stories of how real women deal with those situations.
A few humorous suggestions
The real MVP
There was a guy on Twitter who made photos available of himself (not dick pics or anything inappropriate like that). Women could then send creepy guys on social media (like in their DMs) these photos to ‘prove’ they indeed had a boyfriend (read the story here).
Others
- One woman gave a creepy guy her husband’s number.1
- Another woman lies and tells guys that she had herpes. Quite effective, she states.1
- One suggested picking your nose and then wiping the snot on them.1
- Another suggested that a tazer is a very good deterrent, and I tend to agree. Just make sure it’s always charged, though.1
- One woman tells creepy guys that they remind her of her brother. (Lady, you are a genius).2
Practical suggestions
Avoid
The first route is to kindly tell the guy that you are not interested in him.3 (I would also suggest not ‘staying friends’ with a creepy guy because that will just make them think they still have a chance. That’s if you already know the guy.)
Or tell the guy you have a boyfriend and then show them a picture of you next to a really buff and tall guy (use a guy friend for the picture if you must).1,3
If the guy persists, you can give said creepy guy a fake number or your real number and then just block them, but even these options have their drawbacks. Apparently, there is an app that lets you give a guy a fake number which seems legit (your phone rings when it’s called) but the guy won’t have any of your actual personal information. Read the story here.
If the guy already has your number and they continue to call and text, ignore it, and hopefully he will get the message.3
More drastic steps
There are also more dramatic measures like blocking the creep on all your social media pages and even changing your number so that he can’t contact you. Changing your number can entail a lot of admin, so it’s up to you if you think it’s necessary.3
You might also consider getting a big dog if you’re afraid the guy might show up at your house or ‘bump into you’ when you’re out walking or jogging.3
On that note, also consider taking different routes to your place of work, school, etc. if you’re afraid that said creepy guy plans on ‘coincidentally bumping into you’.3
If this guy is seriously creepy and you are concerned about your safety, definitely alert your loved ones, colleagues and boss know about the situation. If they’re in the know they can alert the police or security services if he makes an appearance where he doesn’t belong, like your place of work.3
In extreme cases, you might even have to get a restraining order. Also, make sure that you have proof of the troubling interactions you’ve had (like text messages), or where said guy harassed you.3
The fact that some guys can’t take no for an answer is concerning. Honestly, I don’t know what to do about it. To all the good men out there, please educate the creepy among your gender – it will be highly appreciated.
Ladies, please stay safe. Also, let me know if you have other suggestions for this problem.
Non-creepy meh.
Michelle
P.S. If you’d like to contact me, feel free to comment below, send an email to thatmichelleperson@gmail.com, or follow me on Twitter @M_ClutterBox.
PPS: I used these sources:
- https://braincharm.com/2019/07/09/women-share-their-life-saving-tricks-for-when-creepy-men-try-to-get-your-number/
- https://people.com/human-interest/real-women-reveal-how-got-rid-creepy-guys/
- https://www.lovepanky.com/women/how-to-tips-and-guide-for-women/surefire-ways-to-get-a-creepy-guy-to-leave-you-alone
Lil' Freedom ( lilfreedom.com )
Hi Michelle, what a cool way to convey an important message I must say. I thoroughly liked your content. Keep up the good work.
That Michelle Person
Thank you so much for reading! I’m so happy to hear that you like it 🙂
MIragail
Like your example. I just tell creepy guys that I am not into men. Fortunately, I haven’t encountered anything that calls for drastic measures!
This is a very helpful article! Great work!
That Michelle Person
Thank you so much for reading and commenting 🙂
Hillarie Higgins
Great read… and thanks for taking about this! And… so sorry you experienced it. 😔
I’ve had violent experiences with stalking and, well, it’s important to make a police report. Just so there is a record you can build on to later acquire a restraining order and… definitely tell loved ones you can trust if you get that weird feeling regarding someone. The more people who know, the safer you are. 🖤
That Michelle Person
I’m so sorry about your stalking experiences. Like you say, the more proactive you are, the better.
Thanks for reading 🙂
Brooke
Such an important topic. I think we have all been there. Sometimes people simply can’t understand why you would not be interested in them, and nothing you say will change their minds. It can get really tricky sometimes.
That Michelle Person
It’s so unfortunate because there are so many genuinely great guys out there and the creepy ones are giving them all a bad name.
Thanks for reading 🙂
Molly @ Transatlantic Notes
I’ve found that creepy guys don’t care what your reasons are they are just extremely focused in on themselves — so definitely just find something you’re comfortable with as your get-rid-of-him reason. It’s super annoying though!
That Michelle Person
You are so right – some guys just don’t get the message.
Thanks for reading! 🙂
Clarissa Cabbage
Ugh, what a terrible and awkward situation, which unfortunately we have all probably been in. I actually am a lesbian, and I’ll tell you that the worst thing ever is when you tell a creepy guy that and he says, “you just haven’t met a real man yet.” Or “I can change your mind.” Ewww!
That Michelle Person
Oh wow, the arrogance of some guys!
I wish I knew some German (because it’s a scary sounding language) so that when a creepy guy hits on me I can shout, “Nein, nein, nein!!! (plus a few profanities)
Thanks for reading! 🙂
Indiebookmaven
What a dick!!! Like his obnoxious mug “will turn you straight”… jerks. I hate when people act like that. It just creams my corn!
bournemouthgirl
I tend to ignore online comments from creepy guys!
That Michelle Person
Me too!
Helen S Hensell
Wow!! Sounds so creepy. I would probably just ignore them and hope they go away.
Best,
Helen
http://crispyconfessions.wordpress.com
That Michelle Person
Thanks for reading! 🙂
Indiebookmaven
I just block people on line. In person when I was younger I said I was a lesbian. I don’t get hit on in person anymore. Maybe I’m too old, or short or sarcastic. Whatever it is, thank goodness.
Correction, a women at a store by me has a crush on me. Haha. But she’s not creepy. My husband thought it was funny.
In all seriousness, it should be enough for someone to stop unwanted advances by simply saying no or that you’re not interested. The reality is some people are just jerks and don’t actually care about what you think or want.
That Michelle Person
Yes, it is unfortunate that some people can’t take no for an answer.
Thanks for reading 🙂
Indiebookmaven
🙂