This is an open letter to any and all people who have thought at some point in their life that giving unwanted sexual attention to another person, whether it be a complete stranger or a best friend, is okay.

Stop.

Stop what you're doing and read this.

Stop thinking that that kind of behavior is acceptable.

I am only 18 years old and have been harassed by people of all ages probably 5 times in the last month.

There should be no reason that I should have to carry mace around my neck when I sit at bus stops.

But I do.

Because there are times when old rusty cars pull up behind the bus stop off of the road, and try to get your attention. There are times when the older man inside asks you five or six times if you want a ride. And there are times where that man will get aggressive and call you a bitch before speeding off.

Stop thinking that this is okay.

There should never be a time where I'm walking down the street and I feel as if someone might beat me and drag me to a place where they can do whatever they want.

I shouldn't walk past two older guys, one with a lacrosse stick and the other with a golf club, and have them yell "Wanna get a hotel room?" at me and then start yelling whatever else after I ignore them.

I shouldn't feel like they could have ran up and hit me with that golf club.

Stop thinking this is okay.

I shouldn't have to fear talking to a new acquaintance and exchanging contact information just to find out that all they want is something I will not give them.

I should not feel bad for not giving it to them, and they should not make me feel guilty.

Stop thinking that this is okay.

I should not have to worry about asking someone for directions in fear that they might end up trying to chat me up or hit on me, especially when there is more than a ten year age difference, and ask me, "Do you date black guys? Like me?" as if a reward for you giving me directions is some sort of date.

This is not okay.

But I see it every single day.

Not just personally.

I go on social media and go into the comments of a celebrity's simple post, only to find a comment of a woman telling him that he's "going to get his ass grabbed at NC Comic Con" after stating that she's already done the same to another famous person.

I see articles about concerts that have gone wrong because one of the members was dragged into the audience and his clothes were torn off.

I see friends posting about guys requesting them or messaging them and warning their friends that they were some sort of creep.

This is not okay.

So, sexual harasser.

Why does it happen?

I think we'd all like to know.

What makes it okay? What's in your brain that says, 'hey, this is fine. I can get away with it'. Is it because you see rapists like Brock Turner with bright futures and think that you identify? Or maybe someone you know has done the same, and you now think it's okay. Maybe "one man's sexual assault is another man's flirtation". Or maybe it's because men 'can't be sexually harassed or assaulted or raped'. Because they just need to man up, right?

So tell me, sexual harasser.

No, tell us.

Why is it okay?

Because it's not.