Gay man being persistent (I am heterosexual), I'm concerned about a confrontation

LegacyUser · 28-10-2020 09:16AM #1

For the first while I could shrug this off, some homosexual dude developed a crush on me (me being 100% heterosexual), no big deal.

He'd just approach and try and engage me in conversation, I'd nod and try and end it as soon as possible, or try to throw in the phrase, "yeah me and my girlfriend....." etc, you get the idea.

Just avoid the dude basically.

More recently he's become increasingly shameless however.
It's simply not the type of situation where we can chat and I outline, "I would be tremendously appreciative if you didn't creep on me sexually" etc

Basically last time we crossed paths he stepped too far inside my space and put his hand on my shoulder (in a kind of caressing motion) whilst saying "hey man", with this really creepy feel about him.

It's getting to the point where I'm going to have to drop the cool exterior and basically let this dude know to back off except, I know the only way he'll actually get the message is, reluctant as I am to say this, with violence.

I get the distinct impression he enjoys being kind of creepy and pushing boundaries in a way he knows is unacceptable.

So anyways, like I described, that last time he got too close, I almost DID lose it and if he didn't scram pronto (which he did as soon as he felt my anger), there may have been an unpleasant scene right there.

The only thing I'm concerned about is, a potential public confrontation cause, no one wants to see that.

Any advice?

I guess that's all I can request at this point?
Experiences with this? Any kind of advice on how to manage it?

PS - I'm just going to add here that, it's possible that my presentation doesn't discourage him either being attracted to me or thinking that I might be gay myself (even though again, I am exclusively heterosexual - I have no problem with gay dudes, so long as they respect that's not me).

I like to take care of myself, the unkempt cave man appearance doesn't appeal to me.
Regardless, it's no excuse for predatory behavior.

El_Duderino 09 · 28-10-2020 12:27PM

The Times wrote: »

If you were a woman and you stood up to a creep no one would think any less of you. You'd probably be hailed as a hero. Why should it be any different for you?

Tell him to **** off

Or tell him that you're not interested without losing the cool.

The guy seems to not be taking subtle ways of saying 'no' for an answer, so OP does need to be explicit and say they're not interested and it's making them uncomfortable. Telling them to Fcuk Off would be the Corronation St., chavvy way to deal with a situation that makes you uncomfortable. Doing it politely and with an even temperament would be the more effective way to start.

El_Duderino 09 · 28-10-2020 12:37PM

The Times wrote: »

Bollocks. You wouldn't say that if op were female.

Of course I would. I'd always say to start by saying explicitly that they're not interested and the behaviour is making them uncomfortable. Going from zero to 'fcuk off!' is ridiculous, chavvy behaviour without even trying the direct and even tempered approach - like an adult

The OP's username for this thread is "don't want trouble". Taking them at their word then the simplest approach is to be direct and not make a bigger deal out of it than is necessary. So start by being direct and explicit. If they respond to that then great, no trouble. If they don't respond to that then the fcuk off might be necessary.

Sardonicat · 28-10-2020 12:45PM

The Times wrote: »

Bollocks. You wouldn't say that if op were female.

Absolutely. This guy is a creep, pure and simple. He already knows OP isn't interested. Stop being polite OP. 'Don't touch me! I dont want to talk to you. Fuk off!' Same as I (female) would do if a guy was creeping on me.You've been polite, you've dropped the hints. He knows his actions are unwanted and he's doing it in purpose. Call him out.

El_Duderino 09 · 28-10-2020 12:55PM

The Times wrote: »

Oh come on, op is deeply uncomfortable with this and the guy is obviously a creep. You can't be polite to these types.

Your 'just be polite to guy who wants to sexually assault you bro' advice is nonsense.

The guy want's to sexually assault the OP? If that's the case then the OP should have said so.
Abuse of quotation marks aside, I still think the OP should start with an explicit expression of their position. If they feel they are in danger of sexual assault then they should act accordingly, but since they haven't said that they feel in danger of sexual assault then it's difficult for us to infer that (well, it's difficult for me to infer it. You seem to be able to infer these things without evidence).

OP, if you don't want a confrontation or drama and you don't think you're in danger of sexual or physicals assault, then do it the normal way and start by just tell the guy you're not interested.

zoobizoo · 28-10-2020 02:06PM

I've had this while staying in a hostel sharing a room with a gay guy who was hitting on me for a few days.

I asked him politely to stop as I wasn't gay and wasn't interested.

I woke one night .... the duvet was rolled back and he was about to go down on me.

Thats when the politeness ended. I shouted at him, jumped out of bed, cornered him but didn't get physical.... I went back to bed and got him kicked out the next day.

OP. It's time for you to take a less polite approach. No smile. No chat. No mention of flirting just a "i don't like you. I've no interest in talking to you. Don't engage with me again" and leave it at that.

Sardonicat · 28-10-2020 02:08PM

zoobizoo wrote: »

I've had this while staying in a hostel sharing a room with a gay guy who was hitting on me for a few days.

I asked him politely to stop as I wasn't gay and wasn't interested.

I woke one night .... the duvet was rolled back and he was about to go down on me.

Thats when the politeness ended. I shouted at him, jumped out of bed, cornered him but didn't get physical.... I went back to bed and got him kicked out the next day.

OP. It's time for you to take a less polite approach. No smile. No chat. No mention of flirting just a "i don't like you. I've no interest in talking to you. Don't engage with me again" and leave it at that.

God, that's a horrible thing to go through!

El_Duderino 09 · 28-10-2020 02:12PM

zoobizoo wrote: »

I've had this while staying in a hostel sharing a room with a gay guy who was hitting on me for a few days.

I asked him politely to stop as I wasn't gay and wasn't interested.

I woke one night .... the duvet was rolled back and he was about to go down on me.

Thats when the politeness ended. I shouted at him, jumped out of bed, cornered him but didn't get physical.... I went back to bed and got him kicked out the next day.

OP. It's time for you to take a less polite approach. No smile. No chat. No mention of flirting just a "i don't like you. I've no interest in talking to you. Don't engage with me again" and leave it at that.

They haven't tried an explicit polite approach yet. always start with that.

I can only imagine a thread on Boards where a man comes on to a woman and advice to her is to go straight to telling him to fcuk off without even explicitly telling him she's not interested. That's just crazy stuff especially considering the OP has said they don't want drama.

I suppose the thing to do is ask the OP if they feel in danger. OP, do you feel in danger from this guy?

screamer · 28-10-2020 02:18PM

You’re far too polite, and some assholes are spurned on by the challenge of what they can’t have. Tell him you’ve no interest, and to stay away from you. If he does this again, down to the Garda station and make a formal complaint. He might get the message then.

breezy1985 · 28-10-2020 02:34PM

Why can I not see the OPs profile. Is that something we can lock?

zoobizoo · 28-10-2020 02:49PM

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

They haven't tried an explicit polite approach yet. always start with that.

I

Sorry, I thought I read that he had.

Always start with the polite approach.

Sardonicat · 28-10-2020 02:52PM

zoobizoo wrote: »

Sorry, I thought I read that he had.

Always start with the polite approach.

It doesn't say anywhere he hasn't. The creep hasn't overtly come onto him which makes it awkward to knock back directly . But he is making op uncomfortable and op says he gets the impression that he gets off on making him uncomfortable.

breezy1985 · 28-10-2020 02:54PM

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

I suppose the thing to do is ask the OP if they feel in danger. OP, do you feel in danger from this guy?

The OP seems to have conveniently disappeared

LegacyUser · 28-10-2020 06:51PM

Sardonicat wrote: »

It doesn't say anywhere he hasn't. The creep hasn't overtly come onto him which makes it awkward to knock back directly . But he is making op uncomfortable and op says he gets the impression that he gets off on making him uncomfortable.

This exactly.

It's like, if I were to gauge his thought process, he sees me as a target, playing hard to get.

His deviant state of mind makes the process fun for him.

I like the "report to law enforcement" comment cause, mainly because I also get the sense that, if I do end up striking him reflexively, if I know dudes like this, just to f**k with he, he'd be the one filing a complaint against me.

Deviancy is a tricky characteristic to deal with, especially when another person is horny and wants what they feel they've got coming and/or are entitled to.

Does that sound disgusting?

Yes?

Good, it should - now you all know how I feel being a heterosexual man being harassed by a creepy predatory gay dude (just FYI, I've known some cool as hell gay dudes, it's the predatory gay dudes I've got a problem with).

This is, although it's harassment to me, he hasn't crossed the line far enough to get me anything I can substantiate a law enforcement complaint with.
I can't just walk into a garda station and say, "there's this predatory gay dude has been trying to come onto me and last week he put his hand on my shoulder....".
He's clever enough to push it, but not cross that line.

And as correctly identified, if I did approach him "formally" and even did go so far as saying "f**k off", for him and his deviancy, it's all a game.
It'd probably just make him hotter.

Is here any good way to deal with this?

I simply can't help but get the feeling he'll keep probing, just to f**k with me if nothing else.

PS perhaps worth mentioning that I had an episode like this previously also and, the dude was a sicko who seemed to become completely infatuated with me.
Eventually he committed property damage to my stuff, presumably out of spite, so I reported him for that and the police took over from there, was never a problem since that.

But it had to come to that, and it sucks, as well as being stressful.

LegacyUser · 28-10-2020 06:59PM

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

They haven't tried an explicit polite approach yet. always start with that.

I can only imagine a thread on Boards where a man comes on to a woman and advice to her is to go straight to telling him to fcuk off without even explicitly telling him she's not interested. That's just crazy stuff especially considering the OP has said they don't want drama.

I suppose the thing to do is ask the OP if they feel in danger. OP, do you feel in danger from this guy?

I feel like it's intensely disrespectful, creepy, deliberately harassing and an invasion of my space.

The primary danger I feel is the fear of me becoming involved in a physical confrontation with him where the I become the bad guy, in the eyes of a bystander and/or law enforcement.

And I distinctly feel he'd push it this far, just to f**k with me.

Sardonicat · 28-10-2020 08:17PM

Predators are an issue, gay or straight, male or female. Experience has taught me the best approach is to call it out. 'I don't like you. I don't want to talk to you. Go away' . He might make a bit of noise but don't engage him further. He's relying on you being polite and not making a fuss. Subvert that presumption and watch him deflate and scurry away.

El_Duderino 09 · 28-10-2020 10:38PM

DontWantTrouble wrote: »

I feel like it's intensely disrespectful, creepy, deliberately harassing and an invasion of my space.

The primary danger I feel is the fear of me becoming involved in a physical confrontation with him where the I become the bad guy, in the eyes of a bystander and/or law enforcement.

And I distinctly feel he'd push it this far, just to f**k with me.

So you’re not suggesting you’re in danger from him, but you might be in danger of flying off the handle and hitting him or something similar?

Between talking about going to the Guards and talking about hitting him, has it even occurred to you to just tell him you’re not interested and their behaviour makes you uncomfortable, without the drama of law enforcement or violence? Just the normal way to tell anyone something they don’t want to know?

You seem to be assuming he’s only doing all this to mess with you. Maybe he is (in which case just saying you’re not interested will have no effect. Or maybe he’s a normal guy who would take a firm, explicit “no” at face value in the first case nothing would change, in the second (much more usual) case, it would solve your problem.

ILoveYourVibes · 28-10-2020 11:10PM

You have to get over your fear of public confrontation if you don't want people to over step the mark with you.

Its the same with women unfortunately with men who are boderline cases but sly about it.

Just say you are not interested in getting to know him.

JustAThought · 28-10-2020 11:24PM

Unwanted sexual overtones always a problem - but when it is coming from all same sex even more so IMO . The OP has not said where these advances are being made? In a circle of friends that now includes him? In a gym? In work? Do you have people in common? Context from the OP would be really helpful here in determining an appropriate response.

ILoveYourVibes · 28-10-2020 11:32PM

JustAThought wrote: »

Unwanted sexual overtones always a problem - but when it is coming from all same sex even more so IMO . The OP has not said where these advances are being made? In a circle of friends that now includes him? In a gym? In work? Do you have people in common? Context from the OP would be really helpful here in determining an appropriate response.

I agree.

Is this work ..i was presuming it is ...i mean you don't have to be around people unless its work really. You choose your circle.

Also the issue for the OP is its not strictly sexual harassment ..yet. So he feels he can't do anything.

In my experience you have to be nasty with someone like this. Let them know you are not a victim and you will make life hard for them.

s1ippy · 28-10-2020 11:35PM

DontWantTrouble wrote: »

This exactly.

It's like, if I were to gauge his thought process, he sees me as a target, playing hard to get.

His deviant state of mind makes the process fun for him.

I like the "report to law enforcement" comment cause, mainly because I also get the sense that, if I do end up striking him reflexively, if I know dudes like this, just to f**k with he, he'd be the one filing a complaint against me.

Deviancy is a tricky characteristic to deal with, especially when another person is horny and wants what they feel they've got coming and/or are entitled to.

Does that sound disgusting?

Yes?

Good, it should - now you all know how I feel being a heterosexual man being harassed by a creepy predatory gay dude (just FYI, I've known some cool as hell gay dudes, it's the predatory gay dudes I've got a problem with).

This is, although it's harassment to me, he hasn't crossed the line far enough to get me anything I can substantiate a law enforcement complaint with.
I can't just walk into a garda station and say, "there's this predatory gay dude has been trying to come onto me and last week he put his hand on my shoulder....".
He's clever enough to push it, but not cross that line.

And as correctly identified, if I did approach him "formally" and even did go so far as saying "f**k off", for him and his deviancy, it's all a game.
It'd probably just make him hotter.

Is here any good way to deal with this?

I simply can't help but get the feeling he'll keep probing, just to f**k with me if nothing else.

PS perhaps worth mentioning that I had an episode like this previously also and, the dude was a sicko who seemed to become completely infatuated with me.
Eventually he committed property damage to my stuff, presumably out of spite, so I reported him for that and the police took over from there, was never a problem since that.

But it had to come to that, and it sucks, as well as being stressful.

I get the impression that he knows you won't reciprocate his advances but still makes them. You do not respond positively but he persists.

These are the hallmarks of a predator. Even if he won't explicitly get the satisfaction he wants from you, he is getting off on the fact he can have an emotional impact on you at all.

I would echo the advice of others to very explicitly but calmly lay down the law next time; in front of others point out his inappropriate behaviour -

"Eh s1ippy, could you just move your arm there, I'm not comfortable when someone is that close to me."

Definitely don't give him a rise because he may want to actually have a confrontation so he can gaslight you - I think that's what gaslighting is anyway, where you are accused of being the one in the wrong when somebody else has set you up.

He sounds like a dangerous person to be around in general, I would keep well away from him whenever you can. Completely gross making sexual advances towards somebody who is clearly not into it. It's pretty pathetic that you'll have to politely spell this out for him but some people are absolutely sad like.

ILoveYourVibes · 28-10-2020 11:43PM

s1ippy wrote: »

that you'll have to politely spell this out for him but some people are absolutely sad like.

He will or could just deny this. Deny deny deny.

I mean he knows the guy is straight. So something else is going on here.

He sounds like a dangerous person to be around in general, I would keep well away from him whenever you can.

This.

OP if you don't work with him avoid him.

JustAThought · 29-10-2020 12:03AM

Or maybe he is naturally more gregarious and touchy feeley - look at the Brazillians, or Spanish - how they interact physically is totally different -again context is everything.

Also Rather than being a creep
or passive agreasive he could be just mortified that he made the wrong call on the OP’s sexuality and is just playing it friendly to cover having embarassed himself by making an advance. - as opposed to lurking in the background of the group or never making eye contact etc.
It must be quite hard meeting someone same sex and although attitudes (and the laws!) have changed it still must be a big leap - lets face it - with prejudices and natural fears I’d say you could never be sure how it could end or whether you coild be ridiculed or shunned as a consequence. Maybe this is why the guy is overcompensating - to show nothing is wrong & its friends and buddies as usual - slaps on the back and whatnot. Overcompensating.

I have to say I wouldn’t like or feel comfortable being hit on by someone of the same sex and I imagine it would lead to awkered scenarios if you were to keep meeting up. As it stands unless its work in which the OP coild be in trouble depending on how he addresses it, the biggest loser is most likely be the guy who hit on the OP - especially of it is a curcle of friends or social group of all heteosexuals. . Small wonder he is trying so hard to rormalise and keep things moving along in an overcompensated, perhaps too forced way - but it can’t be easy. Its hard enough putting yourself out there and being rejected when you are not gay, than doing it and getting it wrong, when you are ( and the other person isn’t) . OUCH.

ILoveYourVibes · 29-10-2020 12:09AM

JustAThought wrote: »

Or maybe he is naturally more gregarious and touchy feeley - look at the Brazillians, or Spanish - how they interact physically is totally different -again context is everything.

I would think the OP knows the difference.

And even if the guy is touchy feely ...it doesn't mean he has the right to be touchy feely if someone isn't feeling it.

And anyway....we are meant to be 2 meters right now.

JustAThought · 29-10-2020 12:55AM

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

I would think the OP knows the difference.

And even if the guy is touchy feely ...it doesn't mean he has the right to be touchy feely if someone isn't feeling it.

And anyway....we are meant to be 2 meters right now.

Yes i know - hence the cultural question & remark re Brazillians! The OP has given no input re the circumstances of meeting - given their virulent hatred of this person that seems odd. As I keep saying - context is important. OP has now mentioned this is the second time around being targeted for an unwanted gay relationship /attraction - the first time with violence. Again, this seems odd. Unspecified context also - how did the first guy gain access to destroy his property? And where is he meeting up with frequency the now second guy? Sounds odd overall. Maybe their gadar is on overdrive - assuming the OP is not hanging with a mixed crowd or gay bars where they might get the wrong input? Gay bars are superfriendly and social - easy to get a message wrong in that context.

Rubberchikken · 29-10-2020 02:12AM

Where are you meeting these men?
Once seems like bad luck but twice makes me wonder.

440Hertz · 29-10-2020 02:35AM

Just tell him firmly to back off and you’re not interested.

Unfortunately, some people - gay, straight, male or female simply don’t get the message because they’re sex pests.

If that doesn’t work, just remove yourself from his company. It’s sexual harassment type pestering behaviour.

Personally, I was driven around the twist by a woman who wouldn’t take no for an answer. She would get into my personal space, even sitting on my lap. Kept tussling my hair. Kissing me and even grabbed my crotch and trying to kiss me on the lips (pre covid)

I know there’ll be lads on here will laugh that off, but she was horrible and it’s extremely annoying to be constantly pestered when I’ve said no.

I’m gay and when she did get ignored she reacted with a homophobic rant and that was followed by “I bet I could turn you...”

There are some people out there who don’t seem to understand when they’ve crossed a line.

Be very firm and direct.

ILoveYourVibes · 29-10-2020 02:55AM

Rubberchikken wrote: »

Where are you meeting these men?
Once seems like bad luck but twice makes me wonder.

This is actually true.

Some places ....have bad vibes ..some people too. They attract pests or just plain bad people.

Like attracts like.

LegacyUser · 29-10-2020 09:07AM

OP do you work with this person or they live local and you bump into them while out? How you keep interacting with him is important as there's different approaches to dealing with them.

If its work environment and you've told them to stop and they haven't you need to speak to HR.

If they work in a business you are a customer in you need to speak to their manager.

If this is just some random guy you bump into in town you need to ignore them and if they keep pushing themselves on you, just raise your voice a little higher so others can hear 'Hey man I already told you I'm not interested, back off' Don't mention not being gay etc as he could try and twist as you being homophobic Don't engage with them otherwise. If they keep pushing report them to the staff of what ever space you are in, if its on the street tell them you will report them to the Guards.

As a woman I've had to deal with a lot of guys who didn't get the f*ck off message. At first I was like yourself OP, didn't want to make scene, trying to be direct but also quite as to not draw attention etc but it just doesn't work. You have two types of people who do this OP those who think its funny to make others uncomfortable and either don't know or don't care how uncomfortable it makes you and the more dangerous predator ones and sadly its really hard to tell the difference as both will claim it was just a joke when you call them out but you just have to direct and it has to be public unfortunately

Tig98 · 29-10-2020 09:29AM

Something doesn't seem right about all this, but anyway

I don't know why anyone would psych themselves up for physical violence when they haven't even been direct with the person yet. Tell him flat out you do not appreciate his advances because you are not gay, and that his touchy feely nature is making you deeply uncomfortable. Bring it to HRs attention, or of anyone else who is around a lot.

Beechwoodspark · 29-10-2020 09:34AM

I had issues with some women over the years who over stepped the line but also Worked with an older gay guy who “took a shine” to me.

It escalated from originally this guy giving me his life story then it progressed to the one or two funny comments to full on innuendo and “what he wanted to do with me” etc.

Had a quiet word with our mutual boss and it ended there but awkwardly, about a year later the gay guy approached me and my friends in a bar at Christmas and told me how much he liked me and “it’s a shame you’re straight eh eh”.

I had moved employers at that stage so I told him to just leave me alone then later that night he wanted to buy me and my friends a round of shots.

Basically he was v drunk and acting stupid.

Havnt seen him in a long time.

Gay man being persistent (I am heterosexual), I'm concerned about a confrontation

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