[C.Roberts 1089]

Well, from experience last year, yes, some guys do come up and offer hugs etc. etc. But I don't think it is "just because we're girls". I think it's because they offer everyone hugs, guys included, but the girls don't realize this and can be offended by it. I have also been offered people's numbers, sometimes even without names, which is a bit strange... especially when sometimes it's not even the person's number that's giving it to you. Often a friend will come up and give you a number, and point someone out to you whose number it supposedly is. I'm not sure whether to take those people seriously and the guys are too shy to say something themselves, or if they're just playing jokes on their buddies. I have also been seeked out by the same people multiple times, if you would call it "following". Last year it was turned into a competition between some of the teams about who could have more of their teams buttons on me.. a bit odd, but they were all very friendly and nice, not offensive at all. And, as Arefin stated above, there are also girls who do the same to guys. However, i wouldn't really call it harassment; FIRST is supposed to be a family. Everyone is just being forward and trying to make a few new friends, and sometimes people interpret these friendship overtures as something else and are insulted by it. This would also explain why it seems to be mostly girls that feel "harassed," as they are more sensitive to such things than males are. If girls are disturbed by this, they should simply be straightforward and tell people that their behavior is making them uncomfortable, and also state why; this could solve the issue much more quickly, and the girls would not suffer. I don't see anyone in FIRST intentionally harassing someone else at a competition, so if you ask them to please cease doing something, I'm sure they will gladly comply and apologize as well.