I moved to London recently from Kent. Walking down the street (maybe it’s a southern thing idk) is a depressing, exhausting experience. I want to look up, look at people-what are they wearing, how are they walking etc. Just makes life interesting. Especially in London with the variety. Ideally I’d want to to walk and smile/nod.

But every time I see a woman it’s this awkward thing of don’t look at her. I haven’t exchanged a single smile with one. Now that is a southern thing yes but it’s also because I’m an Indian male. When walking with my mum, it’s less awkward and people even stop and ask directions-something that has never happened to me.

No one smiles or nods at me or anything. There has been a media moral panic about male violence against women in UK. Men are more likely to be victims in the UK of random street violence so it’s pure paranoia from these women.

Also it’s intersectional. I am an Indian male. So sex pest, creepy, nerdy etc. But what can I do? I haven’t got a wife beater on, I’m quite skinny…wtf am I supposed to do?

I may be paranoid somewhat but nah I’m right a lot too. So often I feel their paranoid fear. I can’t even walk around without the exhausting I’ve got to walk past shit. It’s dehumanising. I’m not even a big guy, it’s just bullshit. Every time I walk behind them, I feel a need to speed up. I try to stop caring so much but it’s still bad and I still do overtake etc because I cba with that bullshit.

And the Tube is just a disaster. There is signs ‘staring is a criminal offence’. So I try not to. But it’s the fucking tube, unless you’re an owl and turn your head you’re going to be looking at someone-yh ok not their eyes/breasts fair enough. Again every tube ride instead of look at all these diverse people it’s “don’t look at anyone”.

And god forbid you stop one and ask directions…fuck that shit.

It feels constantly like no one is on the side of people like me.