Natwerk Designs - Why do men honk their horns at women they see walking down the street? Do you know that women don't like this?

Why do men honk their horns at women they see walking down the street? Do you know that women don't like this?

First of all, I realize that not all men do this. If you don't, then thank you for being a gentleman and know that this is not directed towards you. However, if you do honk at women, then keep reading. You might think that you're giving her a compliment by honking at her and letting her know that you think she's attractive, but women really don't find this flattering. You just wind up startling the hell out of them. Car horns are designed to alert another driver of something, such as when the light turns green and they don't go, or if they are about to hit another car, or they are driving dangerously. Honking your horn is the equivalent of yelling "WATCH IT!" or "WAKE UP!" and startling the other driver into paying attention. When you honk your horn at a woman walking down the street, you're startling her, too, and her nerves get all shook up for no reason at all. Instead of thinking, "oh, how nice, someone thinks I'm pretty," she thinks, "What the hell is that bastard doing honking his horn in my ear like that?" People don't like to be startled. Remember when you were a kid, and someone snuck up behind you on the playground and yelled "BOO!" You didn't like it then, and women don't like it now, either. So the next time you think a woman walking down the street is attractive, keep your thoughts in your head and your hands away from the horn. Mike: I meant the sidewalk, not the street. aerofish, I'm a woman, and therefore, I am more qualified to know what women like and don't like. Would you like it if a complete stranger parked outside your house and repeatedly honked their horn loudly until you finally came outside, and then said, "Oh, I just wanted to let you know that I like the curtains you have hanging in your window and figured this was the only way to let you know." My guess is probably not. Well that's just what you're doing to a woman when you honk at her. Yeah, well I don't like being scared or startled. It's not funny and it's immature. Anyone old enough to have a driver's license ought to know better. I don't know about you, but by the time I got into high school, the whole sneaking up behind someone and yelling "BOO" thing had gotten old for me and my peers. When you honk at someone, you're doing the same thing. madluv: Yes, I would rather not have strangers tell me that I'm hot. To me, it just seems sketchy, like they're stalking me or trying to pick me up like I'm a hooker or something. As I said before, if you think a woman is attractive, just keep the thoughts in your head. To I dunno b/c haha LOL!: See what I said to madluv. Miss Molly, I'm not trying to be funny any more than I'm trying to turn on the assholes who honk at me. I DO NOT LIKE BEING STARTLED, okay? So what are you all saying? That I should suddenly enjoy being startled? And BTW, I don't go out dressed like a slut. Sometimes men honk at me when I'm just wearing jeans and a t-shirt, or a blouse and a skirt. I dunno b/c haha LOL!: It's not that I don't like compliments. I like it when my husband compliments me. But when a man I don't know honks at me or whistles at me, I interpret it as, "I believe you are a whore, and I'd like to have sex with you." Dan A: No, at 6pm. They are usually behind me when they honk so that's why they startle me. You wouldn't like someone honking in your ear. Miss Molly: Are you actually saying that I ought to stay at home and never go out just because some people have bad manners? Dan A: It's not so much the attention that bothers me as much as the actual noise and the startling. I get startled whenever anyone honks a horn, even if it's for a legitimate reason (i.e., someone was about to crash into another car.) I understand that there are times when it's necessary, but all I'm saying that I dislike being startled for no good reason. (And being told "i'm hot" by someone who's never going to have a relationship with me is not a good reason.) Libertad: "why don't see many girls dating with guys who have honked at them on the streets?" EXACTLY! I dunno b/c haha LOL!: Ok, you're right, I was exaggerating slightly when I said you thought we were whores. However, It still makes me feel cheap and awkward. But thank you for understanding what I said about not startling us by honking. I dunno LOL haha: Also, there are many beautiful women out there, & I guess you'll just have to accept that there are times when you won't be able to personally tell each one that you think she's hot. When your driving your car and she's walking down the street is one of those times. Let's face it, if she's gorgeous enough that you'll notice her when you're driving 40mph, chances are she's got a boyfriend or a husband at home who is constantly telling her how beautiful she is, so it's no big deal if she doesn't hear it from you!

Public Comments

I appreciate HONKS on my behalf!
Speak for yourself! I take it as a compliment!
ARE YOU KIDDING ME THEY LOVE IT
umm i like having someone honk at me it means i got their attention. i also liked having people scared me when i was a child. BOO it was always so much fun. so sorry but some women do like it! Edit: someone sitting in your drive way honking at you about windows is different then driving down the street and honking!!! the hole standing in one spot is the odd part. but if i was out side and someone honked then yelled i like your curtains i would be flattered.
I really dont mind being honked at... I'm not startled if I'm on the sidewalk and they're driving by. If it happens directly behind me, I figured I have a right to be startled and that I better move my @ss=P
To be honest with you, I have never honked at a pretty woman walking down the street. It seems about as attractive as New York City Construction workers giving cat calls to a girl while on their lunch. But I believe that you put it best, men think they do it to give a compliment. They don't realize how much of a jackass move it is. More guys should learn etiquette. Thanks for the post, judging by your tone, this is a plight you have, as opposed to someone else. So hey, stay pretty, and know that your post gave me a laugh!
You speak for yourself! I LOVE it! Edit: ooo haha this is getting nasty! Not only do I love it, I give them a wave too!
Same reason I drive by construction sites on my day off........ EDIT: Sage why are you giving us all thumbs down for our answers? This is a funny question. When you start getting so old and guys stop whistling & honking THEN maybe you should start taking things sooooo serious. For now maybe you should consider staying inside or stop wearing the kind of apparel that makes men want to look at you. EDIT: SAGE OH NO ! Now you have started to refer to the guys as A**HOLES. You may have just stirred up a hornets nests today. Good luck to ya and oh yeah maybe you should stay off the streets. EDIT: SAGE No don't stay home because you don't like people and their bad manners. Bad manners will always be there, but reasons for guys to honk won't be. What I mean by this is... stop complaining and smile & wave as they go by.
Its just someone appreciating your look and moving on. Judging by what most of the women said here and people i know it does seem that many like it. In fact i think i will start doing the occasional honk now i will let them know they should keep doing whatever it is they are doing cause they are looking good ^_~ EDIT: Its not about looking like a s*** its just a compliment but driving past at 40mph its difficult to stick your head out the window and say i like your hair lol. Your walking by a road in a public area and your startled by the occasional honk what time you walking at 4am ??? EDIT LOL guys get honked at too sometimes by women other times for the irony. For example there was a topless fat guy (did not look good) people were driving past giving him the honk and the man was cracking jokes about it. People take offence at the most trivial of things its a honk, honks should be one of the sounds you should be accustomed too when by a road, they come hand in hand.
What about a gentle little honk rather than a full blare? Because I want all the women out there to know I think they are hot enough to warrant a horn honking. I think they like that and so I'm going to disregard everything you've said. :-) [Edit: Well maybe you are a little self-conscious and have difficulty with compliments then. When the honking stops, you might miss it. Just imagine a car driving past you and then honking at the next woman? ;-)] [Edit II: I think that is an extreme assumption you make, and vain as well. You make too much of a big deal about it. I understand not liking to be honked at because it's startling, but taking it as if they think you are a whore is indicative of a warped perspective. It is attitudes such as this that make me dislike feminism.]
its kinda a complament.. BUT guys think there cool as well. depends how you look at it
honking and cat calling are not the way to get a woman's attention. Both of these are a turn off for myself...
Oh god, I don't understand how some of these women who answered actually like it! I hate being honked at. I don't wear revealing clothing, so I don't even feel I deserve it. It's been getting out of hand now that more and more restaurants are prohibiting smoking. I have to go outside and smoke all by myself, and getting honked at is pretty much inevitable. I don't feel flattered, I feel like they are very immature and obnoxious. It does startle me sometimes, but I've learned to expect it. It scares me when they stop to try to talk to me or even when they just turn around for a double-take... at that point, I'm looking around for an escape. I absolutely hate it.
Compliment?...Come on!, is the most animal way to have attention, because if is a very kind compliment, why is I don't see many girls dating with guys who have honked at them on the streets??... Guys, is not nice.
I think it's awesome. Embarrassing, but awesome. And creepy, because I'm underage.
When you actually get someone to honk at you and not your friends then justify the posting. I can see it all now, you crave what others get as a compliment and turn it around as a problem. One of the basic drivers of the modern methods of human socializing is appearance and first impressions, apparently you have none of these to offer. It is called lack of personal self respect and not fitting the consumer model, you need to save lots of money or file a female entitlement action against the government for being defective product, get the surgery that is prerequisite for the modern female. Then you can place yourself on the meat market.
Because they get a cheap thrill out of it.
I honk my horn at a woman to get her out of the way.
Some women like it. I, personally, am not one of them. I do not appreciate being oggled at, honked at, shouted at, or treated like a piece of salami by gross, horny men. However, I know that if I go outside wearing something skin-tight or revealing, that I am just asking to be stared at by those types of men.
I like it a lot. I love the attention. It's just the way some men flirt. Who wouldn't like to hear a compliment? Isn't it really just a compliment to looking good?
Thats so annoying when guys do that lol but I had guys say disgusting things to me. I don't know how some guys can be so rude like this. Guys I know tell me they think girls like this even if the guy isn't good looking.
I never honk my horn. I prefer to run them down. Especially when they jay walk.
Is it ok if I honk at hot guys on the street?