To the man that thought it was a good idea to ask me out on a bus:

It's no secret that men are trash (or at least according to Twitter). Although I don't fully agree with that statement, men definitely do things that are trashy.

You're one of them.

I've been whistled at on my way to the gym. Men in cars have honked their horns at me while I was waiting for the bus a few times. I've heard men murmur things under their breath as I walked by. All of these things have humiliated me.

Although men on the streets have humiliated me, some of them have respectfully complimented me with no further intentions. On my way to work one day, a man told me I looked beautiful. I thanked him, and he walked away. That was the end of it. He didn't keep following me. He didn't pursue me further.

However, most advances men make aren't respectful. They are downright rude and scary. You terrified me.

It was a normal Thursday afternoon. I was on my way to volunteer at a hospital in Center City Philadelphia. I had on a polo shirt and khakis, a uniform that was required by the hospital. It was very clear that I was affiliated with this hospital; I had a badge with my name on and the hospital's logo.

I sat down in a vacant chair. Seats on the bus are hard to come by, especially during the afternoon. Everything was normal until I was about to reach my stop. I pulled the cord to tell the bus driver to stop. I got out of my seat. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed you staring at me.

People stare at me sometimes, and I usually don't think anything of it. Sometimes people daydream and stare into the distance. Sometimes people stare just because they are bored. However, you were staring straight at me, and I could tell by the look in your eyes that you were going to pursue me.

My hair was messy and I was wearing a uniform. No one can blame it on what I was wearing (even though they shouldn't anyway). I decided the best course of action was to just get off of the bus like nothing happened. Almost immediately he approached me.

"Miss, do you date?"

Yes, you were polite, but that doesn't make what you said justified. I was absolutely shocked that you would ask me, a woman you didn't even know, out on a date. I quickly replied, "No, I have a boyfriend."

I expected you to leave me alone. You didn't. You got off the bus with me.

I quickly turned my name tag around so you wouldn't know who I was. I went in the other direction, towards a crowd of people, so you wouldn't follow me. I don't know if you intended on following me. Only you know that. The fact that you thought I'd even say yes says something about you.

You thought I was easy. You thought I was innocent. You thought I wouldn't know how to react.

You crossed the street, but I looked behind me several times. I kept looking as I was walking.

The fact that you waited moments before I got off the bus showed you didn't want other people to know. You didn't want to risk the small chance that someone might say something. You were waiting until I was alone.

I wonder how many other women you've tried to target.

You might think what you asked me was complimentary. You might think it's normal to ask women you don't know out in public. My question to you is who taught you that? Who taught you that scaring people will get them to like you? I know I can tell you that won't get you anywhere.

My experience with you was the first time I've ever really been scared about a man's advances before.

Yep, I was not flattered. I was scared. I hear stories in the news about men targeting women in public before. They never end well.

You might think I'm overreacting. You didn't lay a hand on me, so why should I be angry? I'm angry because you thought it was okay to do this. I'm angry because some voice inside of your head told you that I was a woman who might say yes.

People like you make women fear walking in public alone, even during the day.

I hope you learn.

Sincerely,

The girl you thought would say yes