Creepers hang out in public places that people frequent--usually places where people can go for free or spend only a little money. So, you'll see them in cafes, book stores like Barnes and Noble, libraries, parks, etc. Sometimes you'll meet them in bars, but generally not, as they'd be more likely to have to spend real money at a place like that.
They hover, becoming regular features of their chosen haunts. They are alone, sometimes with a book, but usually not, just "people watching." What they are really doing is cruising for chicks. This, in and of itself, is not really a problem, nor is it unusual. However, there's always an issue--call it a disconnect--with creepers. For example, they may be hitting on women who are significantly younger than they are, or significantly more attractive.
They don't limit themselves to just one woman. They will approach any woman who looks vulnerable to them. They're generally good at telling who is likely to be polite enough (or scared enough) to give them the time of day, but if they misjudge, they simply move on to the next.
I have known many creepers in my life, but one in particular stands out, maybe because he's a recent encounter, or maybe because he has a special approach.
This particular individual is the library/bookstore kind of creeper. He frequents a library near where I work, one that I (now unfortunately) spend a fair amount of time in. He says he's an intellectual and claims to be high up in the world of education. He likes to pick up women who like (or have) to read. In fact, his opening line always seems to be something related to how refreshing it is to talk to an intelligent woman and then drops the names of a few authors he's read. Usually they are "Great Books" or canonical authors--the kind of thing English majors would have read in college in the '60s.
This brings me to his age. This guy definitely went to college in the '60s. I base this not only on the books he references--and I get the sense that he hasn't read much since college--but also on the jokes he makes and the way he describes his life at school. The women he talks to, though, are often currently in college or just out of it. In fact, I would guess that a woman who has been out of college for more than 10 years would be too old for him. He catches them looking at books for their English classes or looking for textbooks.
He's got his routine down pat. In my case, he started off praising my intellect and explained his connection with education. Then he asked for a resume and intimated that he wants to get me a job. (Note: It doesn't matter that I already have a job. He will "steal me away" for a better, and better paying, job.) He also wanted to fix me up with some of the many important people he knows. (He found out I'm not married by saying that my "husband is a very lucky man," although surely he has already looked at my bare left ring finger. He did not ask if I have a boyfriend.) By the end of the 45 minute conversation, during which he ignored the person clearly waiting for me, he was talking about "when" he takes me out to dinner, etc.
Here are some gems from the conversation: a joke in which a priest got rid of mice by baptizing them and making them part of the congregation, another joke about a man who thinks he's a chicken which I (somehow) had heard before, mentions of various "famous" people whom I had not heard of, and various allusions to his having a fat wallet including, but not limited to, showing me his credit card and taking out and showing me a check that he had written to a friend for $250,000. He was allegedly buying the friend's house.
The next time I was there he was using the same lines on a poor girl who couldn't have been more than 20. She had a friend with her, so I kept my head down and kept walking, lest he see me and head in my direction. I saw the girl later, leaving with her friend, so I guess she got away unscathed.
I'm looking for a new library.
