The targeted brush-off

Math Is Hard

I love that last part. I wish I had the nerve to say that!

I think you are right, that the other members have observed him "in action" enough that no one is going to judge me as mean if I am snotty to him.

I went ahead and gave Pepe Le Pew the big freeze tonight. He started to sit down next to me and I got up and walked away. I don't know if one can give a bigger hint than that.

Unfortunately, there's a no cell phone policy.

I think tic-tac-toe is more his speed.

The only drawback is that I don't want to be alone in a closed room with him. There's hardly any other people around at the racquetball courts.

Maybe an "I heart women" t-shirt.

Trying to do that a little bit (starting conversations). I have to fight my shyness pretty hard, though.

Yes! You can protect me, and I will protect you from the cougars.

Thanks. Working on it!

HeLiXe

ThomasT

I'm intrigued. What is it, exactly, that you find weird about him. Be specific, and be honest.

The reason I'm asking is that there's good weird and bad weird, and I've known girls whose first substantive statement to me was something like, "You're weird" -- and then we ended up seeing each other for a long time, and, in a couple of cases, actually living together for a year or so. For example, one of the long term loves of my life took me to her house one day not long after we'd met and her mother said to me, "Oh, you really are goofy!"

Of course, I'm assuming that your guy is bad weird, and that his bad weirdness isn't just a matter of social ineptness or social assholiness. So, I'm curious. How bad is this guy? And why is it such a problem that you've posted about it at PF? Is he scary weird?

In any case, if he really is 'bad weird', then just avoid him.

Regarding the racquetball problem, why not take up tennis? Is it that you're in a cold climate? If so, that's too bad. But you still have spring and summer.

Math Is Hard

It's the "bad weird". Specifically: big, loud, aggressive, and stares a lot. Might be setting off the "dangerous frat boy" radar from earlier years. I've had some unpleasant experiences with stalkerish people - both men and women, actually, but mostly men.

I like "good weird". I am a complete dork myself. :)

I wish I could get into tennis, but it just has no appeal for me. The problem wouldn't change, though, I'd just be looking for tennis partners instead of racquetball partners.

I did some really good socializing recently and met some nice people there. I need to get on a more regular schedule where I will see the same people again and again.

turbo

Good luck with that, hooper.

We all need some friends to relate to, even if they are not going to be "close" ones. I have been rather isolated in the past decade or so due to a medical condition, and it has been very helpful to establish new contacts and follow up on older ones.

ThomasT

Yeah, that can be more than just annoying. One reason, other than that I'm a tennis nut, why I recommended tennis is that it involves a bigger area to move around in and thus avoid confrontational types who exhibit strange staring behavior.

Tennis is a bit harder to play competitively in the beginning since the mechanics of just getting the ball over the net and into the court consistently does take some time to learn. But it's worth it. It's on TV (there's not much racquetball, if any, on TV afaik) and there are tournaments involving world class players that are fun to attend (and you can, via TV and live events, perhaps learn to emulate the strokes of the really good players). You don't have to belong to a club to play it as most cities have at least one well attended public tennis complex. It's played mostly outdoors. Also, at the outdoor courts, which seem to attract a very nice crowd (fewer weirdos than health clubs and gyms), there's less chance of being 'cornered' by someone such as the guy you're talking about.

DanP

How ?

HeLiXe

Glad to read that everything is working out Math Is Hard :)

mathwonk

How about: "sorry, but i never go out with guys that are big, loud, aggressive, stare a lot, sit next to me and try to make conversation. Its just a rule I have."

DanP

She would die alone :P

Math Is Hard

Pepe has moved on and has found himself a new interest this week. I saw him chatting with her, and it was going very well.. until her boyfriend walked around the corner.

Vanadium 50

This...will not end well.

DanP

Who shoot first ?

Math Is Hard

I believe I heard him ask for "three steps toward the door".

turbo

Pepe may have to find a new gym to "exercise" in.

HeLiXe

Jasongreat

A skynard fan?