reasons you should not pat my head on the subway, a poem

[rm]

I don't know you.
I did not give you permission.
I am not a small child.
Or a dog.
We are not playing Duck, Duck, Goose.
Where have your hands been?
I hate you.

Clear?

Comments

[teleens-journal.livejournal.com]

My eye caught on the 'pregnant' part of your comment. I have to say, if strangers felt as though that they could touch me during my (hypothetical) pregnancy, they'd be in for a rude surprise.

[kuangning]

Sadly, there exists a breed of person who thinks that the fact that a pregnancy is visible confers a right upon anyone who can see the pregnancy, to touch the pregnant belly. Throughout the later stages of all three of my pregnancies, I resorted to wearing very stern expressions and uniform-like garments out of self-defense and an unwillingness to face the consequences of breaking someone's arm for touching me. Never been patted on the head though. Worst I get is clueless people trying to touch my hair.

[teleens-journal.livejournal.com]

I think that I'll be about the same as you were, should I ever get pregnant. I can't begin to imagine how pissed off I would be if a stranger thought that they could touch me, especially while I was pregnant.

[gwyd.livejournal.com]

Yet another reason I am happy pregnancy is not biologically possible for me. I couldn't handle that sort of thing.

[xtricks.livejournal.com]

I gather it's not unheard of for women to face the kindly meant but thoughtless gauntlet of 'ooh, you're pregnant, how lovely!' and then some belly fondling.

[teleens-journal.livejournal.com]

It's not unheard of, which was my point, :). Still, if someone did it to me without asking first, they'd draw back a nub...