"Ask For Angela"
This is an initiative in the UK for women who feel unsafe on a date in a public place like a pub or nightclub - they can go to anyone working there and ask for Angela.It's a coded message which says 'I'm feeling threatened, please can you help me' and without any awkward explanations or questions the member of staff knows to stick around, or make sure someone sticks around, until you can be safely removed from the situation.
I've only just heard about it, so in case I'm not the only numpty around, I'm mentioning it here. I think it's a great idea.
If your country has something similar, maybe you could add it to the comments for anyone local who didn't know.
And pity any real Angela types who will cause something of a kerfuffle every time they have to be asked for.
Comments (19)
What a wonderful arrangement.
I'm not aware of anything like that here.
Told my daughter about it in case she needs to order that when she's out clubbing.
Might need to get my daughter to ask around...
I don't know if it works here with the Spaniards????
When I was in a karaoke with a friend a few years ago where was Angela when we got attacked outside by some Morrocan guy who got in our car with a knife???
Everybody was watching till the police arrived some 20mn later!!
A bit like ICE on phones.
I have never heard of it here but i hope it does catch on.
It could be built into the training of all new staff.
It could be used by both men and women.
Maybe a similar simple system could be used for children who feel under threat.
Can you remember, was it the same name in Canada, or North America?
Point was that she wasn't having to say in a crowded bar to a busy barman, look I think I might be in a tricky situation could you possibly help me - just using the sentence was enough. No fuss no drama instant comprehension.
Do you know if there is a code for men when the feel threatened.? Other than shouting 'HELP'.
Men don't usually feel that threatened by their dates, I don't think? I could be completely wrong, we heard of some scary women in my last blog! But the average guy is - usually - bigger and stronger than his date, and more likely to get up and leave without caring if there is a scene.
This does tend to be more the 'I am getting nervous, please give me a way to remove myself without a scene' situation
As for your knife-wielding guy, yikes.
That's a story you have to tell in full someday!
To me it is the difference between saying to a busy member of staff 'I think I need help' in the half-minute Mr X is off in the loo, then trying to hurriedly explain, or saying one simple sentence which is instantly understood as 'I feel threatened'.
There are worse things to sound than Irish, so
Bob.............
I didn't know about it. So I am numpty too.
I see numpty underlined red when I type. Is this a word you came up with or is that in the dictionary.