I've heard people say they try to make some unassuming noise like clearing their throat or dragging a shoe on the ground as a way to "announce" their presence in a way that doesn't really acknowledge the person directly.
I've personally never been in this position though, because I've never lived in an area where it's reasonably possible for a human being to walk somewhere. Hard to say how I'd feel about any of the various strategies without experiencing it.
But I'm a pretty laid-back person, my mind doesn't tend to jump to possible violence or dangers or anything. If I saw some stranger walking 30ft behind me at night I'd probably think something more along the lines of, "cool, now if either of us have some kind of emergency at least someone will witness it"
I don't know what the way to put women at ease that you aren't following them is but I do know that it isn't to chase them
It's easy people you just loudly shout "hey i'm not following you i'm just coincidentally walking the same way"
yea lol, please don't do this it is much scarier (at least for me)
I NEED TO APOLOGIZE FOR CREEPING YOU OUT WAIT DON'T RUN OUT INTO TRAFFIC
BART! I DON'T WANT TO ALARM YOU, BUT...
My first thought lol. I like the talking on the phone thing that people suggest
I've heard people say they try to make some unassuming noise like clearing their throat or dragging a shoe on the ground as a way to "announce" their presence in a way that doesn't really acknowledge the person directly.
I've personally never been in this position though, because I've never lived in an area where it's reasonably possible for a human being to walk somewhere. Hard to say how I'd feel about any of the various strategies without experiencing it.
But I'm a pretty laid-back person, my mind doesn't tend to jump to possible violence or dangers or anything. If I saw some stranger walking 30ft behind me at night I'd probably think something more along the lines of, "cool, now if either of us have some kind of emergency at least someone will witness it"