Ask Your Question today
At the gym ill go do this machine by where the little kids stay. I sometimes say hi but in the back of my mind, especially if theyre girls, I worry I'm going to look inappropriate. Like I'll look like a cradle snatcher or something if I say something. Im already a prettt weird dude if people see me talking to kids they're gonna think I'm a cho.
If all you’re doing is saying hi if they’re staring at you and then ignoring them you’re doing nothing wrong. I highly doubt anyone thinks you’re weird and if they do it’s a them problem.
I feel the same way. I'm certain lots of men do.
And it sucks, because I've always liked little kids.
Unfortunately, ignoring all kids who aren't the children of friends or family is the safest way for a guy to behave these days. We live in this toxic social atmosphere where many people believe that any man who gives a child more than the briefest of glances must be a paedophile. That's totally wrong of course; predatory paedophiles make the news because they're very rare, but far, far more kids are abused by family members and trusted family friends.
So, yeah, your concern is justified. What you should do is be polite and say hello to the kids, but then studiously ignore them.
They have a name for this fear, though I think they associate it with autism or other social anxiety. I usually want to bite the heads off of anyone who talks about this because my red-flag-o-meter is incredibly highstrung , but I’ve learned that this is a genuine fear a good amount of well-meaning people have.
Comfortably interacting with gremlins is one of the hardest ‘social skills’ to learn. I adore kids, I talk to random kids constantly and I’ve always had good reactions and interactions with their parents. Usually being funny is the best bet, and having the comment/interaction being with both the cub and the parent will fly easier.
But like I mentioned before this feeling has a name and there are therapy/training whatever videos and writings on this. Sadly I don’t know the name, but if it’s a feeling you’d like to fix or feel better about I suggest you look into it
I never think that someone is weird just because they say hi to my kids.
If people assume that about you just because you are a man, then that's their own prejudice that they need to address.