How do you deal with it when

[ichijoji_chan]

I realize probably no one read my long post office rant.
How do you deal with it when a creepy stranger insists on invading your personal space, even after you move away from him and give off strong body language that you want him stay away from you?

Comments

[catgirlpink]

I read your post about that. It was pretty unsettling. But I don't think there's anything more than what you already did that you can really do, unless you're willing to be confrontational and tell them right out, "please get away from me, you don't need to be this close, there's plenty of room over there", you know? I mean, there's only so much you can do, and it sounds like that guy was being pretty extreme about it. He could have been dangerous, but our stupid legal system would probably only punish you if you pepper sprayed him or something. But maybe you could do that if you gave fair verbal warning first.

[ichijoji_chan]

I don't think pepper spraying him would be justified, since it was a public place with other people around. But maybe kicking him in the shin would have been okay. Some people make me want to wrap myself in barbed wire.

[exaggeration17a]

I read your post too, and am looking to see if that kind of violation of personal space is also a violation of Maine state law. Remember, I'm definitely not a legal expert but Title 17-A, Section 210-A, which regards stalking, is actually pretty vague and might apply in this case:
"A person is guilty of stalking if the actor intentionally or knowingly engages in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would in fact cause both a reasonable person and that other specific person to suffer intimidation or serious inconvenience, annoyance or alarm... 'Course of conduct' means repeatedly maintaining a visual or physical proximity to a person... 'Repeatedly' means on 2 or more occasions."
That's only if you want to play hardball, though. Like catgirl_pink said though, you'd need to be confrontational and should probably give fair verbal warning before doing that.

[ichijoji_chan]

I have a hard time being confrontational with strangers, but maybe that is what I need to learn how to do.
I don't think threatening legal action would help. I don't want to start a conversation with a person who is like that.
I think I'll just get myself that barbed wire.