Men making barking noises from their van - is that an insult?

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Lazy-Contribution789@reddit

A lot of van drivers are the worst people in the country so I wouldn't worry.

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xdbojacx@reddit

Many of them never actually learnt words. They communicate by using animal noises, grunting and pointing

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Jojo6167@reddit

And dragging their knuckles across the floor

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One of them got out of his van and looked at my late dad, sat in his wheelchair, and screamed at the top of his voice "sp*cker!!" I walked towards him and said "mate if you ever meet yours, give him my best yeah?" A rare moment I've ever said the perfect thing at the right time and not dreamed it up 30 seconds too late

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Puppygirl621@reddit

Have you tried barking back and offering a ball or dead pigeon?

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Estrellathestarfish@reddit (OP)

I get a steady supply of dead mice gifted to me at the moment, thanks to my murderous housemate, but a bit lacking in pigeons

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FantasticMootastic@reddit

It took me a solid 5 mins to realise this was about a cat and not about a really sneaky nighttime mouse murdering person.

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Jojo6167@reddit

🤣🤣🤣

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RYSEofCthulhu@reddit

What makes you sure that it's a cat, and not a sneaky nighttime mouse murdering person?

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auntie_eggma@reddit

It's letting you know you're dealing with very stupid people.

People who are beneath you cannot insult you.

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ScarletScotYew@reddit

This. I once had a young guy in a van shout out of the window when I was about 8 months pregnant 'haw, haw! You've been pumped'...and I was like 'well, yes. Yes I have....'

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Jojo6167@reddit

So bloody sharp they are in danger of cutting themselves

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dglcomputers@reddit

should have ended it with "unlike you clearly", or "and at least I'm getting some"

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riotlady@reddit

lol this is like when young lads used to shout “lesbians!” at me and my girlfriend when we were holding hands like… yep, excellent observation

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DenM0ther@reddit

lol ‘wow! Thanks for identifying what’s going on here, we’d been struggling!’ /s

Idiots!

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thesaharadesert@reddit

Must’ve been an obstetrician. No other reason for it.

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Natsumi_Kokoro@reddit

I love this.

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Wamims@reddit

Also know as, if you wouldn't go to them for advice, you don't have to accept their criticism.

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DingoBingoWimbo@reddit

Yeah I got barked at recently while I was just wearing a hoodie and jeans and didn't rly know what they meant

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BitPleasant2861@reddit

Usually barking noises means they think you're hot but like in a really disrespectful way

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Melayynaa_13@reddit

This. There’s a guy who literally messages me sometimes going “bark bark you’d have me on my knees” on the back of my social media stories and I’m like dude you’re disgusting. I don’t understand why men think this is anyway to engage a woman

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Keepingongoing@reddit

I’d block him

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Melayynaa_13@reddit

Yeah agreed he’s done it twice now. First time I didn’t retaliate, second time I was like fuck off. If it happens again then 100%. It’s technically harrassment

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mdmdmdmdmdmdmdmdmdm@reddit

But why not just block him now

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ydktbh@reddit

bc of the validation I'm assuming

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Melayynaa_13@reddit

Not sure what “validation” you think I receive by getting told the things I mentioned above. Funny way to validate a female. Plus this comment being made post me explaining that this post gave me insights I didn’t previously have, is interesting to say the least. Especially when it comes from a man so cheers to that. Have a good day!

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Melayynaa_13@reddit

I mean tbh until reading this post and ruminating on it the last time he messaged me, I didn’t really consider it harassment until then. I found it weird but honestly, naively I just thought it was him calling me a dog and I didn’t pay it much mind the first time. But you’re right.

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SpongeFixation@reddit

Send screenshots to their employer

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_poptart@reddit

Find his mum, Nan, girlfriend, wife and send them screenshots, fuck this noise

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Causerae@reddit

Ime, making yourself small will never make you safe.

Absolutely "retaliate," though I totally disagree with that word. It's not retaliating to block him, you aren't going to call him a pervert (which he prob like, ugh) You're enforcing a boundary.

Don't let people mistreat and objectify you. You deserve better

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Melayynaa_13@reddit

Thank you for this ❤️❤️

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Causerae@reddit

I'm so glad we were able to help 🤗

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Georgxna@reddit

It’s because they don’t see you as a person. Only an object for them to gawk at

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BitPleasant2861@reddit

This is incredibly horrible, I'm so sorry

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itsaproblemx@reddit

Means dog rough.

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BillyJoeDubuluw@reddit

No, not in the UK… They are, unfortunately, more likely to be being cocky bastards…

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burtsarmpson@reddit

Yes in the UK lol, it's used either way

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BillyJoeDubuluw@reddit

Okay, well I work in and around the “types of blokes” who would likely be prone to this…

I’m going to hazard a guess this is a thing that mostly happens for TikToks and reels…

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lifetypo10@reddit

Yeah this was well before tiktok, me and my friend got barked at by a group of middle aged men on a night out when we ignored them at the bar. Pricks.

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Estrellathestarfish@reddit (OP)

And I bet these men were absolute stunners themselves 🤔

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BillyJoeDubuluw@reddit

That’s just not normal. Arseholes.

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mdmdmdmdmdmdmdmdmdm@reddit

Man its just men being the same men they have been for all of history

In some countries the men go "pspsppspsps" at the women.

Barking isnt uncommon, at all. This didnt come from tiktok or reels.

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BillyJoeDubuluw@reddit

I must live a more sheltered life than I thought!

“The wolf whistle” is usually the go-to for British pricks… The dog bark is ultimately newer.

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Setting-Remote@reddit

You're correct. I'm Reddit ancient, and men have been barking and/or howling at women since I was a teenager. There's a reason promiscuous men used to be referred to as dogs.

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ItsDominare@reddit

Don't waste any further time trying to puzzle out the behaviour of dull mouth breathers leaning out of van windows.

It's like trying to puzzle out why a pigeon shit on your car. The answer is because it's a pigeon.

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berryapple42@reddit

This happened to me the other day, made me feel horrible, ugly and degraded :( I try and remembee that they are idiots.

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Fatal-Eggs2024@reddit

Their problem, not yours

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Super_Shallot2351@reddit

And what if they yell "WANKER" out the window at me for no discernible reason?

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MotherofTinyPlants@reddit

Are you standing at a bus stop?

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leehend_24@reddit

At this point they have become the wankers and you continue your day

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Sea-Still5427@reddit

Yes, but it's more that they're showing off to each other and any boys around, so think of it as witnessing homosocial bonding in the wild.

I love it when people rule themselves out without any effort on your part.

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Dimac99@reddit

The thought of how incredibly upset they would be if they were told they were engaging in homosocial bonding has cheered me right up.

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Sea-Still5427@reddit

Literally one step away from comparing their willies. Bless them.

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Littleleicesterfoxy@reddit

I know the feeling, I was hiking once and a couple of lads felt the urge to yell ‘Fat dog” at me from their van to help maintain my motivation for my weight loss journey one assumes.

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Joemac30@reddit

People who shout out of cars and vans are complete morons and not worth even thinking about, they’re just the lowest of the low.

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alphahydra@reddit

It could either mean attraction (in a paradoxically insulting, creepy sort of way - "I feel like a horny dog when looking at you" sort of thing) or an insult (implying something like "you're a dog").

Either way, it's a sign you're probably dealing with someone of well below normal intellect. Not someone whose opinion should factor in your thinking either way.

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oportoman@reddit

Well it's not a compliment

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smellyfeet25@reddit

IT IS so rude and cowardly when people shout insults from vehicles. it is not funny. They usually do it when they are with their little mates . Very likely they would do it on their own. The thing is it could be said to someone who is already low in their mood and this would make them feel worse.

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CurvePuzzleheaded361@reddit

Its a low IQ way of saying they find you attractive.

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ChelseaMourning@reddit

Men who shout at women from vans should be chemically castrated and I’ll die on this hill.

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abyssal-isopod86@reddit

They are either calling you a b*tch or they are saying you're so hot that they are a dog baying at the end of their leash.

Both are gross and catcalling like that will soon be illegal in the UK.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cracking-down-on-sex-based-harassment-in-public

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Crittsy@reddit

They are intimating that you are a dog

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jez_24@reddit

It’s an insult but you’re not really the subject. What was happening was the guys needed to show off for their little friends in the van, and dragged you into it. I’m sorry.

It’s not really an insult if you don’t give a shite tbh, I’m sure they were hardly worth a glance.

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Estrellathestarfish@reddit (OP)

Oh for sure, it's just a bit demoralising to feel so repulsive they had to remark on it but I guess that's the point!

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OmniWise@reddit

Dont waste any more than a microsecond thinking about it. Because I doubt they did. And even if they did, who the fuck cares what goes on in the minds of people like this.

Difficult I know. The knowledge that some tossers shouted "run forest run" at me from out of a car at the start of my fitness journey, still bothers me to this day even though I know they probably forgot about it moments later.

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Estrellathestarfish@reddit (OP)

Oooh, that's made me angry for you, what shitty humans. It's so horrible to ridicule people exercising and is actually a significant barrier to people starting out, particularly things like running.

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RedonculousCherry@reddit

No, it's nothing to do with you, its basically just what some idiots do when they know they're safe in their van and can drive off. I used to have to drive a car full of lads about years ago, and one of them would shout f***NY! at the top of his voice if we passed any "fit birds"..

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scampifry@reddit

Tbh I imagine it wasn't an insult at all but rather just some silly in-joke and you happened to be in the wrong place at the right time.

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Nice_Back_9977@reddit

They probably did similar to every girl or woman between 11 and 60 that they drove past.

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SpaceTimeCapsule89@reddit

I would've popped down on to my hands and knees and began braking aggressively and running towards their van

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Estrellathestarfish@reddit (OP)

I don't think getting on all fours would send the right message here😆

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Capital_Disaster_637@reddit

It's them signalling that they'd bark for you, take that as you will

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AirconGuyUK@reddit

Depends. Are you attractive? Probably the easiest way to figure out if it means a good thing or a bad thing.

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Salt_Safety2234@reddit

Are you identifying as a dog, complete with a tail and doggie ears? It’s a pertinent question in these strange modern times.

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Estrellathestarfish@reddit (OP)

Oh no, Facebook is leaking

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CastleofWamdue@reddit

I guess I am a van driver now, so I am a "white van man" type, but this makes me cringe.

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NoodleDoodlesocks@reddit

Don't be a vanny and you're good.

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CastleofWamdue@reddit

Vanny?

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Leucurus@reddit

Vanker

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NoodleDoodlesocks@reddit

Van fanny

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Puzzled_Caregiver_46@reddit

Cock au van

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Dutch_Slim@reddit

I’m a white van wo-man. Perhaps I should turn the tables 🤔

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RainingBlood398@reddit

Yes! Every time you pass an overweight middle aged man you MUST shout 'get ya tits out, love!' Extra points if you wolfwhistle at pensioners.

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FamiliarCover768@reddit

If they are shirtless with man sagging man boobs "Oh I see ya already 'ave ain't ya luv!"

Seriously wonder if any of the guys that actually do this to women would twig what was going on. Haha.

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CastleofWamdue@reddit

you can do it on my behalf, I cant be arsed faking it to up hold some murdoch paper sterotype.

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Phoenix-95@reddit

I don't know - do you have an England flag attached to your aerial or not?

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CastleofWamdue@reddit

nothing so cringe

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Estrellathestarfish@reddit (OP)

I think you have to subscribe to the lifestyle, not just have a van, don't worry!

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CastleofWamdue@reddit

Not another subscription service, I'll pass thanks

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Estrellathestarfish@reddit (OP)

Wise choice. The subscription is free financially but comes at a great cost to your dignity.

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Several_Show937@reddit

Ey now, they were generous enough to display their room temperature IQ upfront, gotta respect the honesty.

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katie-kaboom@reddit

I'm sure they think it is. Personally I don't put too much thought into how men who bark from vans feel about me.

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Illustrious-Rice3434@reddit

I thought this was a form of catcalling. Like they thought you were attractive but were letting you know that in a very repulsive manner.

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Latter-Corner8977@reddit

Barking usually means the sight of you makes them want to make like the beast with two backs.

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Smoothest-of-Gooches@reddit

Low IQ mating call

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cold_tap_hot_brew@reddit

It can mean both that you make them feel like a “dirty dog” OR that they think the person in question is an “ugly dog”.

These men are barking at strangers though so let’s not dwell on that, let’s get some hydration going on for this hangover and assume they’re panting at the mere sight of you.

Go about your day. Care not for the plebs.

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Anonimoose15@reddit

A perfect opportunity to loudly sing “who let the dogs out?!”. Honestly though sod them, their childish actions say way more about them than whatever their barking was supposed to mean

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Knowlesdinho@reddit

I decided to grow a stache during covid. I can’t grow a beard and I'd always toyed with trying for a stache, but all the connotations and jokes stopped me. My wife said do it and liked it.

A few months in I had some bloke in town hanging out of a van filming me whilst shouting "porno stache" at me.

Since then there has been somewhat of a stache renaissance, so I found it amusing to find the same van wanker sporting a mullet and stache in a pub recently.

He obviously didn't recognise me as he tried to give me that knowing "stache nod" that us stache bearers do, but my salubrious stache denied his stache the glory he wanted!

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TheyCallMeBullet@reddit

Were you on canal street?

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Estrellathestarfish@reddit (OP)

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Acubeofdurp@reddit

Me and my dogs don't think its an insult ma dawg.

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Terrible_Corgi_654@reddit

Once they used to wolf whistle. Now they bark. I haven't much hope they will ever learn to speak next.

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Euphoric_Rough_5245@reddit

I’ve overheard a conversation where they were discussing this and the barking is to represent the term it’s enough to make a good dog break his chain, meaning they look good

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Lessarocks@reddit

They’re just looking for a reaction. Don’t give it to them. People who do this are not worth even one further second of your thoughts.

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theocrats@reddit

Men in vans are benthic creatures. Don't worry about what they say or do.

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Kaiisim@reddit

Would you ever stop these gentlemen and ask their advice on your dress sense? Your looks?

Fuck their criticism then!

All it means is there were at least two twats in a van egging each other on and they amuse themselves by making noises at people because they are idiots

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Smart-Delay-7237@reddit

Its showing off to eachother very base behaviour

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itsheadfelloff@reddit

It's odd behaviour and I've seen them do it to men and women.

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Content_Classic9776@reddit

Is this a trend? I had the same thing from two teenage lads in the street the other day. I wonder if it’s an online thing

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llamasncheese@reddit

Its just cat calling. Its been a thing for decades. Its just that one of the modern flavours of cat calling is barking. Its not so much an online thing or an internet trend, but you can find it online for sure. Theres a lot of comedy around sub/dom dynamics, and barking like a dog is one of the main ways to represent that.

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Estrellathestarfish@reddit (OP)

Gross, I probably shouldn't have asked😆

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Vequihellin@reddit

Being in my 40s and overweight I am blessedly invisible. I never used to think this was a good thing. It is now.

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BarracudaFar1905@reddit

Look up Lord Flashheart, played by Rik Mayall in Blackadder

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_cake_tease@reddit

But he's flirty and it's to the lady! These guys do it to their male buddies at women.

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llamasncheese@reddit

Its not an insult. Its cat calling. Theyre basically saying youre attractive, but theyre saying it in the worst way possible coz theyre shit.

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nowdoingthisatwork@reddit

Or it could've been Lord Flasheart's descendent.

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BillyJoeDubuluw@reddit

It’s shit form and they’re absolute bellends.

I’d like to assure we don’t all drive our vans like this and apologise on their behalf.

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1whoisconcerned@reddit

It’s a new tactic since cat-calling got people cancelled.

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Laescha@reddit

They just want to make you feel self-conscious and prove that they have the power to prevent you going about your day in peace. Doesn't really matter what you look like.

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sampapsi@reddit

No intention to make this worse, because fuck that kinda behaviour, but enthused barking would probably mean, afaik, they were saying you're hot. Feels like a kinda online thing.

If someone was like "jeez, yikes, woof" then it would be seen as an insult.

Trying to thread the balance here of please don't take any mind to them or let it hit your confidence in any way, but that's shameless behaviour from them and should be ignored. It's like a worse wolf whistle/cat call.

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