when you don't feel safe, trust that feeling...
By mylesnarvaez
@mylesnarvaez (5451)
Philippines
August 1, 2007 2:26am CST
a few nights ago, i have ridden a commuter van that seats a dozen people. because of traffic, i got too absorbed with talking to my sister on my cellfone that i didn't notice when the van decided to take a different route to avoid more traffic. unfortunately for me, i missed my drop off because of the new route. i dropped off at the nearest highway where i could get a taxi.
it was still raining so i waited at the nearby shed. not 2 minutes of getting there, i was approached by a guy who offered to get me a taxi. i said i could handle it but he was so insistent. he started asking where i live, where i'm heading etc. i got a little scared so i decided to walk away and wait for a cab on the other end of the road. while walking away, a couple of guys greeted me a good evening as i pass by them and the tone was "too friendly" to sound nice. this scared me a bit more so i decided to walk a few yards more.
i waited for about half an hour to get a cab and all those time, i was scared stiff because of the trauma i experienced a few years ago when i got mobbed. when i got home, i cried. i was scared and i was relieved that nothing bad happened to me. when i turned on the television, there was a crime scene investigation about a girl who was gang-raped in a taxi cab. i almost felt faint. i feel so sorry for the girl.
i realized that there is no assurance of safety for everyone. crime can happen anywhere to anybody at any given time. i don't want to automatically mistrust people who may be giving genuine assistance by offering to get me a taxi. but my lesson learned here is that, when you don't feel you are safe... most likely, you are not. so trust that feeling. we must always be aware of our surroundings.
commuters... everyone, please do take care.
4 people like this
9 responses
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
1 Aug 07
that was scary!! Lucky you! but all are not as lucky as you are sweetie. Women are vulnerable generally. even as we speak, some women are dying out of assaults and criminal acts. this is gross.
thanks for your wishes and you too take care.
2 people like this
@mylesnarvaez (5451)
• Philippines
1 Aug 07
scary really. worldwide, it's women and children who are often the victims of violence and crimes. and yes you are right. they are the most vulnerable.
i realized now that you have probably read all the fortunes and misfortunes of my daily existence here in mylot. hahaha. thanks for being present. :)
1 person likes this
@kaplya (1578)
• India
7 Aug 07
whew i could understand how you must be feeling at that time especially because of your experience in past. this is really our instinct which tells us the truth and we are wise if we trust and follow it in the situatons like this. you should just need to understand it well!
2 people like this
@mylesnarvaez (5451)
• Philippines
13 Aug 07
yes, when it comes to personal safety... there's no harm in trusting our instincts. :)
@cefaz_21 (2596)
• Philippines
1 Aug 07
I can feel what you feel and probably will do what you did when I'm on that situation too. I have a phobia of riding a jeepney too beacsue of past experiences, whenever I ride a jeepney I take a look to every passenger and make necessary precautions like I do not use my cellphone as it would attract snathers and hold-uppers..that's why i rarely ride a jeeney now a days, but then we cannot be safe with taxis too.
I guess It won't hurt us a bit if we pray and ask for God's protection everytime we're out there.
Thank you for sharing this and for the reminder.
2 people like this
@mylesnarvaez (5451)
• Philippines
1 Aug 07
i rarely ride a jeepney too. i often go by taxis but after seeing SOCO (abscbn) that night after it happened... i felt unsafe even on taxis too.
thanks, there's power in prayer and i believe that. :)
1 person likes this
@mylesnarvaez (5451)
• Philippines
2 Aug 07
i actually ride in a different van station now and i'm making sure the driver knows that i plan to be dropped off at a designated area. thanks! :)
1 person likes this
@misheleen73 (6037)
• United States
15 Aug 07
I am glad you are ok. I have had those feelings too at points in time in my life. I always think you should go with your gut feeling. If you do not feel safe, no matter what anyone else tells you, you find a way to be safe. We all have "triggers" and little feelings to alert us to certain situations. If you had not listened to yours, you may have been the girl on the news. Maybe not, but better safe than sorry. Thank goodness you are safe.
1 person likes this
@mylesnarvaez (5451)
• Philippines
17 Aug 07
thank you. we must never compromise our own safety even if that's means not trusting people. :)
@mylesnarvaez (5451)
• Philippines
9 Aug 07
gut feelings are like that, it sends us signals... could be of something good or of something bad. :)
1 person likes this
@lucky_witch (2707)
• Philippines
17 Aug 07
That was a really scary experience... knowing that you may be the victim of the gang rape or whatever. You are right that when you feel that you are not safe dont pretend that that you are but also do not panic. Exit the situation as soon as possible. Dont go in dark places with few people as much as possible and take exta care.
@no_chao (548)
• Philippines
11 Aug 07
its true... they say that if there's something or someone stoping you and even you feeling agree on it even how important the thing is you must consider the feeling you had. it might be sign that something not good to happen.
^_^
@mylesnarvaez (5451)
• Philippines
13 Aug 07
yes, warning signals like this should not be underrated or underestimated. :)
@jcj_111776 (3216)
• Philippines
23 Aug 07
You're absolutely right. There's a difference between being just paranoid and having a gut feeling that something isn't right. Back when I was still in college, I boarded a jeepney on my way to school. It was barely 9am at that time. The jeepney was almost full and it stopped to pick up 3 men who were wearing sweaters. The minute I saw them, my heart started pounding and I really felt cold. First, they were dressed in a way that you would like they are going to rob you. Second, they purposely didn't sit together. And one of them, actually tried to fit himself between me and another lady. To make matters worse, he had this big, black bag. I was already deciding if I will get off the jeepney because I really felt something was terribly wrong with the situation. Then I felt the man's hand, hidden by his big bag, trying to locate my bag. AT that instant, I told the driver to stop. Before I unboarded the jeepney, I even made eye contact with the man. And his stare was just horrible. By the time I got out, I realized that my school was still very far. That I need to board a jeepney again. Boy, the experience was a close call. I felt sorry for the other passengers but I was afraid to make it known that those 3 men were robbers. And the look the man gave me, kept me silent as I boarded off. It was like he was giving me a silent warning to shut up or else.
