I'm a big white guy, 6' 5", 300 lbs, with a beard. I was in the dairy section of a grocery store this morning trying to find the sour cream when (I'm guessing) a mother and 2 teenage daughters come up from behind me to check some labels on butter or something. I spotted the sour cream and walked around them to pick it up.

Well, that's what I'd like to say I did. I was so paranoid that one of them might say something or even just look at me funny that I just went down the next aisle. After walking past them going down two aisles, I just went back to the part of the store I'd already been through just to make sure I wouldn't come across them again. I was literally fearing for my well-being at a grocery store at 11:00 on a Friday morning!

Why should I have to walk around in public in fear just because of my gender and physical characteristics? Why should I have to fear even the slightest perception of the possibility of an accusation? There wasn't any indication that they even noticed me, but I was still afraid.

Maybe it's just paranoia, but I don't know for sure. Also, I never got the sour cream.