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pjc50 7 hours ago

> I like it when other people try to talk to me.

Probably an unpopular point on HN, but this is very gendered. There's a lot of women who don't want to be chatted up who wear headphones, and therefore a lot of men who are annoyed at this visible signal that the woman doesn't want to listen to them.

We can leave room for "not wearing headphones is a signal that you're open to talk" without having to pressure people who aren't.

poncho_romero an hour ago | parent | next [-]

> There's a lot of women who don't want to be chatted up who wear headphones

This is true, but so is the opposite! I think the most important thing is to be kind and receptive. It's fine to start a conversation with a women wearing headphones, just take it in stride and don't be weird about it if she isn't interested in talking. I do this (with men and women) a lot.

It is true that women are more likely to be approached by creeps, and due to the physical differences between the sexes women are at higher risk in such situations. That said, we shouldn't dismiss women as too delicate or whatever to chat with. They're people!

petesergeant 5 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

> therefore a lot of men who are annoyed at this visible signal that the woman doesn't want to listen to them

I mean I'm sure there's a guy somewhere who's annoyed by this, but "a lot of men who are annoyed" feels like making up a group of people to be angry at.

ben_w 4 hours ago | parent [-]

Given how the media amplify things, it could perhaps be literally just one guy, but FWIW I too have heard of the phenomenon pjc50 described.

mr_toad 2 hours ago | parent [-]

> Given how the media amplify things, it could perhaps be literally just one guy

If you go to popular tourist spots in Europe there’s usually that one guy who’s trying to scam everyone who passes by. It only takes one to be a huge nuisance.

someguydave 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

yep. Just like it only takes a few prolific spammers to ruin email, it only takes a few antisocial con men to make "talking to strangers" seem like an imposition.

petesergeant 41 minutes ago | parent | prev [-]

Sure, there are plenty of guys who are nuisances in all sorts of situations, but are there lots of guys who are angry that women use headphones?