"We agree that as a group they're rather stupid..."

I love to walk places. During my college years, I walked everywhere including school, church, coffee shops, the library, etc. I don't have as many opportunities to walk places since returning home, but one of my favorite things about my job is that I work in the old part of downtown so I there are actually crosswalks and sidewalks which I utilize nearly every day. I often walk to my favorite park bench to have lunch or sometimes I meet someone at a downtown restaurant for lunch.
The thing that gets me the most is how often I get honked at or spoken to by strange men. Occasionally women will say something in passing, but for some reason, guys feel compelled to speak to me. The other day I walked past what appeared to be a parked car and was terrified when a voice emerged from what I thought was an empty car to say, "Hey, beautiful." Blah. Please don't, just don't. Sometimes I think that it is my fault and maybe I should change the way I dress. But the fact that I used to wear a winter coat, gloves, a hat, a scarf, long pants and winter boots (practically a winter burka there) in Idaho didn't seem to stop guys from talking to me there.
One time in Idaho when I was walking home from school (most likely wearing my winter burka), I crossed the parking lot of a grocery store. I was on the phone with my mom, but that didn't stop an old man from beckoning me to come closer. He was quite ancient looking and wearing a vetern's baseball cap. I thought, "Oh, this poor old man just needs some help." So I stopped talking to my mom and gave him my full attention. He looked at me and said, "Has anybody told you that you look nice today? Because they should have." I didn't know how to respond and so I just kind of mumbled thank you and walked away. I didn't know whether he was a really nice old man or just a really creepy old man.

Here are some reasons that it is just plain stupid for guys to talk to me on the street:

• You creep me out.
• Why would a person like me ever want to even talk to a creep like you? Harsh, but true.
• Even if I do actually acknowledge your existence, which I probably won't, I will hopefully never see you again so what good is it going to do either of us?
• Did I mention that you're creepy?

My brother once gave me this whole talk on how it was ok for me to flip off any guy who was trying to hit on me/flirt with me. Needless to say, I was greatly amused. I don't have any plans for flipping anybody off, but please don't even give me an excuse.