Walking home at 3am
I do this. People have complained extensively about it in the past. Presumably because I am female and therefore walk around with a massive neon sign over my head that says “Please kill and eat me, for I am in fact made of chocolate and strawberries, and do anything people tell me to do”
Leaving aside some glaring biological inconsistencies, lets start with exactly why this attitude is a pile of utter horse shit. Firstly, its up to me. If I’m stupid enough to do something blatantly inadvisable, then I think I can safely state that its my own goddamn problem. Not yours, nor anyone else’s. And it does not endear you to me in the slightest when you make it clear that you consider me incapable of performing this, the simplest of tasks, on my own.
I am not impressed by your concern. Or your guilt, for that matter. People have used arguments in the past which run along the lines of “But I’ll feel bad if anything happens to you, would you really want me to feel bad?” I now have a completely just and honest response. I don’t give a damn. If you choose to allow yourself to feel guilty for something not your responsibility, then that is fuck all to do with me. In fact, how dare you use your own emotional bullshit to try and force me into doing something.
So don’t bother insisting. By all means offer me a lift home if you genuinely wish to, I can assure you the offer will not go unappreciated. The fact that I occasionally like walking alone doesn’t exclude all other forms of travel and certainly doesn’t mean I hate when people offer to drive me. But anyone who attempts to pull the “there’s no point in walking because I’ll drive along beside you” stunt again, will soon find themselves crawling along at 5mph on the busiest road I can find at 3am.
And now to prepare myself for the inevitable angry comment from my mother on why I really shouldn’t do these things. Sigh.
May 24th, 2006 at 3:26 pm
May I please direct all people who comment on my walking home alone habit to this page, you put it so much better than I ever can!
May 24th, 2006 at 9:03 pm
Both of you need to be taken out and horsewhipped at dawn!! Why dawn? I don’t know. Probably because you’re both going to be out at that time anyway— ALONE!! Why horsewhipped? Again I don’t know. More like mule whipped because you’re as stubborn as mules! Sorry but somehow as soon as I had you 23 years ago I became hardwired to care for and about you, to protect you. I used think that I should protect you from some annonymous evil person but I’ve come to realise that I should be protecting you from YOU!! you asked for it Diane, I’m going to have to lecture you AGAIN! (didn’t you get the broken legs in a ditch thing?)
May 26th, 2006 at 2:52 pm
Diane,
This is one time I must both agree and disagree with you. I often used to walk home alone (especially when I lived on coop and didn’t want to stay out all night). I often walk the streets of limerick alone at 3am also.
This is not the brightest of ideas.
After watching a recent documentary on Ted Bundy, I’m now scared to sleep alone!!!
Irrespective of gender - one should not walk alone at 3am in Limerick, Dublin or London. People go missing. If you were attacked (raped, mugged or murdered) it would have a lasting effect on you for years. For what? The ease of leaving early? Stubborness (although important)? Fresh air? Hardly worth it.
Also, in the event of your disappearance/mutilation, we would have to either search for you or attend a funeral. I’m all for putting the word fun back into funeral; but I’d rather not go to yours.
In the event of such a tragedy - who’s blog would I read? How would I get to hear the informed views of both you and your mother? What would I do in work?
DON’T LET IT HAPPEN TO YOU - DON’T BE AN IDIOT
P.S. I am *far* better at giving advice than taking it, but this is because I think I’m invincible.
May 31st, 2006 at 7:18 pm
for once, i agree with your mother.
Mostly because i have some odd [some may say stupid and patronising] notions about womenfolk in general, and the same way you refuse to apologize for wandering home at all hours by yer lonesome, i refuse not to be shouted at until i stop doing things like insisting on walking people home. [not just you, darlin’]
I realise that my words lose some of their value when you know that i too walk home alone at 3am or later, but hypocracy is a fun game for all the family.
June 1st, 2006 at 10:26 am
Are you still alive, or have you been attacked at 3am????
Earth to Artemis
June 14th, 2006 at 7:44 pm
fo artemis
June 28th, 2006 at 11:59 am
I do it all the time, its impractical in some cases not to…
Like its impractical to not ride the bus in Israel
August 4th, 2006 at 11:40 pm
I am a strong beleiver in that being paranoid is bad for your kidneys. If you think, If I walk home on my own, I’ll get kidnapped/rapped/mugged you’re paranoid. Kidnappings and rappings are rare occurences and muggings are more regular. But what’s the big deal about getting mugged? YOu lose your rio karbon and your 50 euro and get a slap in the head - big deal.
However, walking home in the dark by yourself is slightly reckless. I wouldn’t encourage anyone to go walking at night on their own regardless of gender, age and physical condition. You may get hit by a car, sprain your ankle, get abducted by aliens.
Answer: Walk home alone if you have to or really want to, but don’t make it a habit. Also I reckon you’re looking for attention deep down.
August 7th, 2006 at 10:21 am
Of course. It is my deepest desire that someone will hear my cry for help and rescue me from myself. Or something. Indeed, I live in secret hope even now.