I used to be young and outraged and fervent. I never had the kind of experiences young women deal with now, but then I kind of lived in a bubble of being married young and with few opportunities to pass by construction workers in the suburbs. But I completely understand that type of dismissive and inappropriate behavior because you are seen as cute, or kind. Part of you wants to be the kind of woman, big and strong and tough enough, to lay him out on the floor, or at least in your imagination.

The public cruelty that seems so pervasive and accepted now, in politics and social media, has given rise to people expressing themselves freely and without boundaries.

So, you did the right thing in my mind. Your instinct to revulsion was on target. Do not engage, do not enrage. The fact is there are many unstable, provocative and downright creepy dudes looking for a reaction, or worse.

In my opinion, your response was perfect. The simple shut down. And for the record, now that every other person is carrying a gun in my state, I have begged my husband to NOT beep, or make angry signs at drivers who cut him off. So, we are not alone.