Don't Let Politeness Override Your Safety

We are socially conditioned to be nice, to not make a scene, to give people the benefit of the doubt. Predators know this and exploit it deliberately. A stranger insisting on helping you carry bags to your car, following you after you've said no, or pushing past your stated boundaries is not being friendly — they're testing your compliance. Being "rude" by refusing help, crossing the street, or leaving abruptly is always, always preferable to being a victim. Trust the discomfort in your gut — it evolved to keep you alive.