Public freakouts Miscellaneous Freaked

Freaked

paranoid - - United States

Today, I was walking on a path through a park by myself. I glanced at the ground and saw a shadow behind me. Thinking of an attacker, I screamed as loud as I could and began flailing my arms to ward him off. Turns out, it was a jogger. He had to stop due to his uncontrollable laughter. FML

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The rhythm of the fight
Discover all the best anecdotes from the month of January, with or without snow, with or without you. …

Eyesore - 16/04/2009 21:27 - United States

Today, I was walking back to my home in the city in the dark. I'm paranoid, so when I saw movement behind me I clutched my mace. The faster I walked, the closer the person seemed to be. I spun around and sprayed my attacker with mace. It was my shadow and the wind blew the mace back into eyes. FML

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Smooth

Anonymous - 16/04/2023 12:00 - United Kingdom - Blackpool

Today, I was out for a jog when I saw my ex-boyfriend walking towards me. I tried to duck behind a tree to avoid him, but I slipped on a plastic bag and fell into a lovely patch of mud. He saw the whole thing and walked away smirking. FML

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Relaxed

Anonymous - 16/12/2025 12:00

Today, I tried meditating at the park to “be more mindful.” Right as I closed my eyes, a squirrel jumped onto my leg, causing me to scream loud enough to scare a nearby jogger, who then tripped over his own feet. I apologized while shaking uncontrollably. FML

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bet a woman would've been thanked - 07/05/2013 20:21 - United Kingdom - Redditch

Today, I was out jogging, when I saw a girl fall off her bike and start crying. I ran over to see if she was hurt. Apparently her neighbour thought I was trying to kidnap her, because he ran out with a baseball bat and threatened to beat me to death if I didn't get lost. FML

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Bad boy

Dammit - 31/05/2023 17:02 - United States

Today, knowing very well that I need to be more active, I went for a walk. It quickly turned into a sprint when I was attacked and chased by a dog. FML

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BIZZMAL - 05/01/2011 02:44 - United States

Today, I was out running. All of a sudden I saw a dog come towards me, I thought it was going to attack me and I screamed like a girl in front of everyone. It was a puppy wanting to play. FML

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Local attraction

Jefferson - 27/01/2025 03:00 - United States - New York

Today, I was jogging through the park and in my enthusiasm I thought I’d be able to jump over a bench in my stride. I tripped mid-jump, landed face-first in the grass, and scared a group of schoolkids who were on a tour of the city. FML

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Awkward

ellinor - 17/09/2010 20:33 - Sweden

Today, I was walking outside when I saw my best friend about 100 meters away. I began running towards her, arms flailing, screaming out a tribal battle cry. It wasn't until I was nearly on top of her that I realised it was someone else. FML

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see you next cunt - 18/03/2014 19:44 - United States

Today, about 10 minutes into my first jog in months, someone in a car started following me, yelling stuff like "Oh my god, it's Shamu!" and "Run faster, fatty!" I ended up breaking down in tears before he finally sped off, roaring with laughter. FML

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Look out!

station - 05/05/2009 05:10 - United States

Today, I was walking out of the train station when an old man grabbed me. I started screaming, yelling, "HELP" like a madwoman and tried pushing him away - that's when I saw the golf cart rush past me. He was trying to push me aside from getting run over. Everyone started laughing. FML

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shiroun 0

Saturday 6 June 2009 12:07

What the hell is with all the paranoid women? If theres a shadow behind you it doesnt automatically mean that youre about to get raped.

je_tdwp 4

Tuesday 28 June 2011 5:13

Who the hell waves their arms to ward off an attacker? Are you dealing with a raccoon or a mugger here?

thuryn 2

Monday 8 June 2009 2:51

#135: "I'd rather be paranoid than dead." See, that's the thing. I'd rather be dead than live in fear, which is what paranoia is. That's no way to live. If you need to look, then look. If you need to defend yourself, then defend yourself. I will be right there with you. But don't go looking for monsters in every shadow. The never-ending "heightened state of awareness" eventually dulls your sense of reality and you become LESS safe. No one said rapes weren't real. Everyone who has complained here has complained about CRYING WOLF, which is a completely different issue. Don't mix the two.

annabobana 0

Monday 8 June 2009 4:51

i wish i could have seen this.....LMAO

thisinspiration 0

Monday 8 June 2009 5:07

first off, it's better to be safe and sorry. second, the media does that to you.

heyyimkell 2

Monday 8 June 2009 5:11

I know it's important to be cautious of this kind of thing, but um.. YDI. I'm pretty sure I could tell the difference between a rapist and a jogger in the middle of the road, but yeaah. I've gotten scared at that type of thing too, I feel for ya. Once I was walking to school and I saw a shadow behind me, and I was scared for a few seconds, but I didn't go so far as to scream. It turned out to be a kid that went to my school, haha. =P That would have been hilarious to see though! hahaha :D

26242 0

Monday 8 June 2009 5:25

You all need to get a grip and just envision the scenario. This would've made my day, either as you or the jogger..it's hilariously stupid.

vipera_23 0

Monday 8 June 2009 14:33

Haha, flailing your arms around? No wonder he had to stop in uncontrollable laughter :) YDI

thuryn 2

Monday 8 June 2009 19:39

#140: I think the media does, indeed, "do that to you." The older I get, the more I believe that there's no substitute for being able to THINK. If you just REACT to something without thinking, odds are that you are about to do something stupid. Think things through. Better still, think these things through in advance and try to have some sort of plan. As "Earl" once said, "Runnin's not a plan! Runnin's what you do when a plan FAILS!"