The chat about distracted drivers and what we should/shouldn't do as pedestrians reminded me of something that happened to me a while back...
For background, I'm a very petite female and probably look like an adolescent or young teen from behind, especially in the dark (not that that should matter). I was running one evening after dark, in my immediate neighborhood, on the proper side of the road (facing oncoming traffic, had there been any oncoming traffic), but not actually in the road - there's a long parking lot running parallel to the road and I was in it, say a foot from the actual roadway on my right. I hear a car approaching from the rear, see the light from its headlights in my peripheral vision, and sense that it's 1. slowing down - WAY down, and 2. moving to my side of the road. Sure enough, it pulls over to the wrong side of the road, right next to me, and an older man rolls down his window. Idling forward slow enough to match my pace, he leans out the window and says, "You really need to wear brighter clothes so we can see you better, young lady!"
Further background: I was carjacked many, many years ago. The attacker tried to push me into the passenger seat, but I fought my way out. I don't remember most of it, but the indelible impression with which I was left was to be way more observant of my surroundings, and trust my gut when something feels wrong.
Back to the Old Man and the Car... I immediately knew that I was fine, he didn't mean me harm, and I was in no danger. But I was also PISSED. So I stopped dead, whereupon he stopped his car, thinking we'd be having a nice chat. I asked, "Did you see me well enough to not run me over?" He replied, "Yes..." And I said, "Then mission accomplished. Let me ask YOU something: do you have any idea how terrifying it can be as a woman to have a man in a car slow down next to you and start talking? Do you realize you're on the wrong side of the road right now? Did you think for even a moment that we live in a Concealed Carry state and I may be packing?" He just looked dumbfounded and I smiled and said, "Have a nice night!" and ran off.
I would never have done any of this under some other circumstances, but the paternalistic nonsense was just too much for me!