heelma

Two years ago, I really enjoyed heeling through college campuses. I am certainly older than college age, but slowly approaching 40. However, I tried to fit by wearing long jeans and a blue sweat-jacket with hat. Whoever is around there is more open and certainly not impolite as it may happen somewhere else. Also, I must acknowledge that the challenge of walking on not completely even terrain, particularly with platforms, gives me a special thrill. College campuses often offer this.
Now after VA Tech last year, I am wondering though if I would look suspicious and raise security concerns. Obviously, I don't want to get asked by police what I am doing there, as I don't belong to the college. Of course, I could explain everything quite easily and would hopefully let go immediately, but it's clearly a situation to be avoided.
What is your take on this?

hoverfly

Sign up for some classes and get an ID.

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Hello, my name is Hoverfly. I am a high heel addict…. Weeeeeeeeeee!!!

fastfreddy2

Find somewhere else more suitable.......


I walked from the next town back home last night in 4" stiletto's. It's a little over 2 miles, and took circa 50 minutes. Walked along some of the worst terrain I've ever experienced. For some of it, I walked along (empty) roads because the pavement was in such poor condition. This morning I've woken with a very sore foot where it got bruised walking last night ... I don't think I'll be doing that a third time. [Did it for the first time a couple of weeks ago.] Wearing platforms would have been a wise move, I now know, but the one pair I might have worn are too attractive to wreck in 4x4 country ....


But your problem is being somewhere that might be inappropriate even if you didn't have high heels on.

....

heelma

Hi. Why is it inappropriate to walk around on college campuses? As long as I don't do anything illegal there, I thought campuses are public ground.
And as I said, the big advantage there is that the people there are usually more open to the idea than in a store or in a small town on the streets.

fastfreddy2

I responded after reading this: >>



You are not a student. You are not young enough to qualify for 'typical' student profile. Already you stand out.

Walk around in high heels too, you are asking to be approached by security staff. True, the students may not be bothered either by your age, nor footwear, but they aren't being paid to look for people who don't 'fit'.

If getting a 'tug' by security staff is to be avoided, then maybe avoid it?

I'm happy for you to give the College grounds a whirl in heels. But you asked of opinions, and I've passed you mine. As I indicated above, they must be more suitable places available, surely?


....

roniheels

Like hovefly said, if you want to pursue this further, there must be a college class that would be of interest to you and you would have to get a student ID, parking pass, etc. Then, depending how bold you feel, maybe even attend a class in high heels. The sky's the limit.

It is so very sad what happened at Virginia Tech and other institutions where random shootings have occurred. And due to those incidents, securities everywhere have beefed up. That is why something so innocent as wearing high heels, depending on the locale, could sadly be misconstrued as suspicious.

gwl1

While you're not doing anything illegal, your appearance in heels is out of line with mainstream students who (unfortunately) are NOT seen wearing heels very often, not even women. So you will stand out as different, and will be a lightning rod to attract security inquiries. If I were a security guard on campus and knew nothing of this forum or that guys like to wear heels, I'd surely ask what you were doing on campus. If you couldn't produce an ID card, you'd be asked to leave real fast.

I agree with Hoverfly. His advice is excellent. Sign up for a course (theater, maybe? Then you could say you're studying costuming!), get an ID card, and then you BELONG on campus and can wear whatever you like with impunity. Besides, you might enjoy the education, learn something valuable, make new friends, and definitely enjoy the freedom of wearing heels everywhere.

It's a small price to pay for safety, I think.

GWL

Bubba136

Heelma, you can do anything you want to do, go anywhere you want to go and wear your heels anywhere you want to wear them. However, choose wisely because actions do have consequences. And, if youi chose to walk around a college campus where you don't belong, then, you are subject to pay the price for your foolhardiness.

All I can say is Go for it.

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Being mentally comfortable in your own mind is the key to wearing heels in public.

vector

Theoretically you do have the right to do anything you want as long as it is not illegal.

However, with the number of "random"shootings in the US, anything that looks "out of the ordinary" is subject to scrutiny without recourse. That can include a man wearing high heels as the majority of the population in most countries views that as abnormal.

Thighbootguy

I will echo Hoverfly’s advice and sign up for a class and Gwl1 also offered a good suggestion about choosing theater but I will give you a different reason.

I worked on a university campus for 27 years. A university is a collection of warring camps that fight over the limited funding available. Each department, (Business, Math, Art, Science) is generally segregated from the other departments and each one has its own stereotypical collection of people.

Digression: One of the university presidents I worked was very interested in having a diverse student body and he spent a lot of money on “foreign student” scholarships. I offered him a serious suggestion that he could accomplish much of the same thing by holding business classes (for the business students) in the art building. The mixing of those two diverse cultures would have been good for both the business students and then art students. The idea never got off the ground because he correctly pointed out the faculty would never do it.

Second digression: I once was giving a talk to university folks on desktop publishing and I gave them an “art test” that didn’t require them to draw a picture of a pirate. I told them to walk around in the fine art building for a little while and if they didn’t feel too out of place, they probably were an artist

.

If there is anyplace that would accept heels its the fine art department of a university campus. Be ready for a very aggressive but tolerant bunch of folks (remember these folks don’t think twice about getting up on a stage).

On the campus where I worked, we catered to “non traditional” students so someone in their 40s (and older) would fit right in.

As far as security goes, I left the university 8 years ago so I don’t have a feel for the current level of campus security but 8 years ago, If you didn’t behave badly, no one would have stopped you.

One additional thought, theater, art, and music departments are always having shows and performances that are open to the public. Many are free or the cost just covers the expense.

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