My apartment complex has a small community gym for residents. I work out at the same time every evening, and recently a woman has been there at the same time most days.

She always takes the treadmill next to the elliptical that I use, and nearly every day, after making small talk, she starts telling me about some new single mother sob story in her life or about how "unsafe" she feels in the (very safe and well-maintained) apartment complex.

I have never said more than basic small talk to her. I am very polite but I do not initiate conversation.

Over time, her damsel in distress cries have accelerated, and tonight she clear out asked me to escort her back to her apartment after she finished working out because "my daughter and I are home all alone." I said "no" and left the gym, and she started to get all huffy.

So, my first thoughts after this happened were, "Honestly, in the 21st century do some women still really expect that random men are going to take up arms for them for no reason? What happened to strong and independent?"

Then my next thought was, "Oh, shit. Are guys actually dumb and debased enough to come to this sad sack's rescue?" What say you? Does this woman actually have a reasonable expectation that random dudes are going to swoop in and white knight for her?

Addendum: Thanks for the feedback folks. I got nailed at work with a bunch of projects after I wrote this so was not able to reply to the discussion while it was happening.

  1. Yes, she could have been flirting with me, but I am abstinent, so not interesed.

  2. Even if I was dating, I would never date a single mother, unless the man died and she was a widow or something. It says terrible things about the woman's character to have a baby with a man she doesn't intend to stay with, or who doesn't have the character to stay with her. and as a boyfriend you risk her suing YOU for child support after the relationship ends.