Weird interaction with someone + dog

@TheVorticon I hope talking it out helped. That interaction would definitely creep me out. Not the dog bit - a lot of dogs chase bikes, skateboards etc (not ok, but more common than it should be), but being offered a lift by a stranger? Definitely a gigantic NO!!!!!!!

I'm really sorry to hear you had this experience. Will you feel ok going back to that spot to practice your skating?

I love that you are learning to skate. I hate how when we start learning something new, we have to start off being really bad at it, before we can get good at it. It's like that with my violin playing. I know that a LOT of people can hear me practicing and I hate that. However, I keep telling myself I am only going to get better by practicing. I hope you can feel ok about going back to the secluded spot to practice your skating.

@Phoenix_Rising thanks, I'm glad it's not just me who thinks that was a weird offputting sort of interaction. He probably didn't even mean it to be weird and uncomfortable, but it was.

I am not going back to that spot. I'll have to find another spot. Since he mentioned that he's living from his van, he may very well start visiting that spot regularly and I don't want to run into him again if I can help it. I don't know where I'll go yet, but not back there for at least a few weeks. That was an awesome beginners spot too (I even took a photo of it so that I could be like "here's my first skate spot" if I ever wanted to show someone), but it doesn't feel very safe now.

I understand the dog wanting to play, and yeah dogs will be dogs if they're not properly trained and/or restrained by their owner. Honestly I was more worried about accidentally hurting the dog (since bikes are made of metal and hard plastic, while dogs are only made of dog), but I just wanted to leave without further incident and did not need that crazy-fast dog sprinting at/with me. Definitely didn't want to be wondering if the guy would then follow after me/dog.

I guess the only good thing about learning to do something where other people can see/hear is that we can show them how determined we are, by continuing to practice.

---

Honestly I was more worried about accidentally hurting the dog (since bikes are made of metal and hard plastic, while dogs are only made of dog).

---

ROFL. That made me laugh a lot @TheVorticon.

I can totally understand why that spot doesn't feel safe anymore. That's what I hate about those sorts of interactions - they come out of nowhere and then make a safe space feel unsafe. I super hope you can find another spot to practice in.

"...dogs are only made of dog" gave me a chuckle too, thanks 🙂

But yeah, creep radar is definitely pinging there. Good call getting out of there. I hope you find a new spot soon!

Ouch @Former-Member! I haven't gone down a hill yet 😛 But I imagine a similar outcome for myself. That sounds like a weird board setup. Maybe they were longboard trucks? I decided to make a separate thread for discussing skate stuff so feel free to add your story in there if you want. 🙂