Yes, you're right, safety is the real issue. My husband and I were just talking about this the other day because yet again, my "normal human politeness" was interpreted by some man as "she wants me." I'll never be sure how someone can interpret my saying hell back to them when they've said it to me as a come on, but here we are. My husband's solution, I should just stop being polite to men. That seems impractical.

As for your youngest, some guys know they're just friends, others don't. I actually just lost a male "friend" of over 10 years because he secretly didn't get it. He never said anything, he let me believe we were actaully friends. Then somewhere around 2 years ago, he started dopping hints about me and him and how I'd be a great "mother" to his kids (wait, what? who said anything about me wanting to mother anyone's kids? I mothered my own kids, I'm done). The comments were just here and there, so I ignored them. Then about 6 months ago, he totally ghosted me and that was that. What I really want to know is who hangs around waiitingfor someone for 10 years? I mean, I'm cute, but not that cute! LOL